Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1862-09-04

4
rebels, instead of standing ground or ma
king show Of force. fell back, in no very
lelsurely manner. either, for half mile.---
Sigel followed a while until it was evident
that they. wished to entrap him into an
ambush. when he halted and took MP fine
lposition in the edge of some heavy timber,
the approaches to which were over open
fields. Their design foiled. the enemy had
no choice, but to face about and attack
Schurz In his own position. which they
did in force. One Of the officers who was
wounded 10 this fight tells me that he
iconnted twenty-fve pieces of ordinance on
their side which were in action at once,
supported by adequate forces of infantry
and cavalry. " -'''''
The fight on this trans -Rappahannock
field was hotly contested--as you may we'll
imagine from the fact that it commenced
at about o A. NJ. and lasted until 6 o'clock
in the evening! Charges were repeatedly
made by both sides, and the rebels. seem
ingly determined to conquer in spite OF
every obstacle. even stripped to their pan
falcons in many cases-ss our Irishmen
are said to have done at Bull Run. But
although the musketry was sharp, and the
fighting mostly at short range. the rebels
seem to have forgotten their marksman-
ship for once, for up to 5 o'clock, when /
passed that way, Sigel had not lost above
80 or 60 in killed and wounded. But one
brave man and true patriot had gone to his
account Brigadier- General Bohlen of
Philadelphia, commanding the 1st Brig
ade, Sd Division, Sigel's Army Corps, had
fallen, while at the head Of his command
he was waving his sword and cheering on
his men. The news Of his death will be
received with the deepest regret in Phila-
delphia. where his social qualities are well
known. Besides him a few officers, very
few, considering the number engaged and
the stnbborhcss of the fight, were killed or
wounded but except those in the list an
nexed. l could not obtain their names in
the confusion of the fight. ~
Toward evening. Sigcl's object havirg
been accomplished. and Schurz's force not
being efficient to hold his extremely advan-
ced position, our troops were withdrawn
to the north bank of the river They
were holly pursued to the waters edge by
the enemy. and during the passage through
the ford, the rebel vollies were as sharp
as any i ever heard. All OF our killed
and wounded were brought safely across.
and small number of prisoners( not five
whole regiments, as one report has it. =
That Gen. Sigel should have come safely
through the day himself truly remarkable,
for he exposed himself in most reckless
manner wherever he thought it necessary to
do so. and in the final grand fnsilade he
was in real storm Of bullets.
With night came cessation of hostili-
ties. The enemy had been foiled in his
attempt to flank us. and We had gained an
other day-worth everything to our army
and nation.
On Saturday there was an artillery duel
all along the opposing lines The ball
opened at our center, and the fire extend
ed not only up the river toward Sigel
but down toward tie Railroad bridge.
where we occupied two hills across the
river. 1t had been raining the evening be-
fore and also all night. and the red waters
Of the Rsppahannock had so swollen as to
carry away the bridge above: Barret's ford.
and the debris lodged against the lower
one in such masses that there was great
danger of its being carried away. Our
advanced position had become very inse-
cure. and it was accordingly determined
to abandon it. The movement was execu-
ted in perfec. order. Mathews and Thom-
sons Batteries. supported by the 18th and
\ t13th Massachusetts and 1lth Pennsyl-
vina. were safely Withdrawn to this side
| of tho -rixor ub.1a uopony IF l.
vanie rihemen and section of Mathews
guns held the position until the last man
and last gun were brought over New po-
sitions were taken on this side. from which
the old ones could be enfiladed. and on
rebels appearing in strong force terrific
cannonade was opened upon them by
Mathews. Hills. Thomson's. and Lep-
Ipier's. Batteries of Ricketts, Division,
which caused great loss TO the enemy
Every sttemp. to plant batteryon the
abandoned eminence was repulsed with
great slaughter. and the enemy were fair
Ely driven back to the woods when / left
the ground.sls h sfisom sa5 GO .si.-nos !.
The topography of the ground about the
railroad bridge is most favorable for de-
Tending the northern hank, there being on
that side chain OF hillocks extending a.
way toward Warrenton Springs. AT the
i opposite shore there are two of these emf
nences. q level plain beyond. bounded by
by thick woods. In the edge Of these
woods the rebel infantry could be seen all
4 Friday, and once IN q q whilei squads Of
their mornted videttes would. ride out
from cover. to, reconnoiter. US until driven
back by shot and she'll from our batteries.
| From the crest Of the hiiiock we could
see 4he grey coated cavaliers and muske-
teers depioyed insfull sight. end while we
were watching, every now aud then 2 little
puff of smoke and sharp. cracking noise.
and one of tho rebel horsemen would either
1flmch or fall IS the bullets ofour sharp
shooters grazed or Init Shim.1s "a Il aoil =
y The positions Of our batteries near the
bridge. on this side Of the river. we're eho-
sen in the. advance for enflading those
opposite ID case they should be abandon-
/ ed, but when our guns had fairly got to
work and driven the rebel away. onr men,
found that on their part the enemy had, idu-
ring Friday night constructed their batter
les SO as to COMMAND our new position
snd so AFTER some loss Ia men and horses,
and having twoa1of Mathsw's gums dis,
amounted. Gen. Ricketts, gave the order to
lin her nm and file off litfla more to the