The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1862-02-11

rich with deeds OF individual eoolness and dault-
less conduct, as we'll we'll directed embodied
resolution and bravery, but frausht with the loss
to the service OF the country of lives of inestima
bic preciousness at this juncture. The brave Bee
was mortally wounded at the head Of tse 4th
Alabama and some Mississippians, in an open field
near the Henry House; and few yards distant
the promising. life of Barlow, while leading the
7th Georgia regiment, was quenched in blood.
Col. T. j. Thomas, acting Chief of Ordinance, of
Gen. Johnston's staff, after gallantsconduet and
most efficient service, was also slain. Col Fisher,
9th North Carolina, likewise fell, after soldierly
behavior, at the head of his regiment with ranks
greatly thinned
Withers 18th regiment, of Cookies brigade,
had como up in time to follow this charge, and in
conjunction with Hampton's Legion, captured
several rifle pieces, which may have fallen pre-
yiously in possession of some of our troops; but if
so, had been recovered by the enemy These
; pieces Immediately turned and effectively
served on distant masses of the enemy by the
hands of some of our officers.
While the enemy had thus been driven back on
our right entirely the turnpike, and beyond
Young's branch on our left, the woods yet swarmed
with them, when our achievements opportunely
arrived in quick succession, and took position in
that portion of the field. Kershaw's I'd and
Cash's 9Th South Carolina regiments, which had
arrived soon after Withers'. were led through the
oaks just east Of the Sudley- y-Brentsvle road
brushing some of the enemy before them, and
taking an advantageous position, along and west
of that road, opened with much skill and effect on
bodies of the enemy that had been rallied under
cover Of strong Federal brigade.
Another important accession to our forces had
also occurred about the same time, O'clock P
NJ. Brigadier- General E. K Smith, with some
LOO infantry of Elzey's brigade, of the army of
tha
upon the field, from Camp Pickens, Manassas,
where they had arrived by railroad at noon.
The report goes on to state that the enemy was
pursued by our infantry and cavalry until recalled
in consequence of false report that the enemy's
reserves were threatening another portion of our
army. One of the federal brigade commanders,
Col Wilcox, and Col Corcoran, with large num-
Der of men, were captured about this time. The
report continues:
At about 80 p. M, the enemy driven back on
their left and centre, and brushed from the woods
bordering the Sudley Road, south and west Of the
Henry House, and formed line of battle of truly
formidable proportions of crescent outline.
The woods and fields were filled with their masses
of nfantary and their carefully preserved cavalry
1t was truly magnificent, though redoubtable
spectacle, as they threw forward in fine style, on
the broad gentle slopes of the ridge occupied by
their main lines, cloud of skirmishers preparatory
for another attack.
Gen. Early now came up and formed his line,
and as Beckham's pieces played upon the right of
the enemy, Elzey's brigade Gibbons 10th Vir-
ginia, Lieut-Col. Stuart's 1st Maryland, and
Vaughns Sd Tennessee regiments, and Cash's
8th, and Kershaw's I'd South Carolina, Wither's
18th, and Preston's 28th Virginia, advanced in an
irregular line almost simultaneously, with great
spirit, from their several positions upon the front
and fanks of the enemy in their quarter of the
field. At the time, too, Early resolutely
assailed their right flank and rear. Under this
combined attack the enemy was soon forced, first
over the narrow plateau in the southern angle
made by the two roads SO often mentioned, into a
patch of woods on its western slope thence back
over Young's branch and the turnpike into the
fields of the Dogan farm, and rearward in extreme
disorder, in all available directions, towards Bull
Run The rout now become general and complete.
When the Colonel of the 4th Ala. regiment was
killed, Gen. Johnston seized the flag and led the
regiment forward himself Gen Beauregard says
that the number of Confcderates killed outright,
during the battle, was 369, wounded ,483, max
ing an aggregate of 1852. He estimates the loss
of the enemy at over 500 in killed, wounded and
about 1000. Among the captured were officers
and men Of forty scven regiments of volunteers aud
mine regiments of regulars. Our army captured
% cannon 81 caissons, forges, battery wagons,
ia artillery horses completely equipped, 500 mus
kets, 100000 of small arms ammunition, 4,500
sets of accoutrements, regimental and garrison
aags with large number of pistols, swords, KNAPP
sacks, canteens, blankets, axes, entrenching tools,
wagons anbulances, horses, camp and garrison
equippage, hospital stores, and some subsistence.
In regard to the reason why the Confederate
army did not push on to Washington, Gen. Beau
regard says:
"In conclusion it is proper, and doubtless ex-
pected, that through this report my eountrymen
should be made acquainted with some of the suf- |
icient causes that prevented the advance of our
forces and prolonged, vigorous pursuit of the ene-
my to and beyond the Potomac. The War De- |
partment has been fully advised long since of all |
hose causes, some of which only proper to be |
here communicated. An army which had fought |
rs ours did on that day against uncommon odds,
lnder July sun, most of the time without water /
md without food except hastily snatched meal
1t dawn not in the condition for the toll of an
EAGER effective pursuit of enemy Immediately /
lfter the battle. On the following day un-
usually heavy and unintermitting fall Of rain IN
ervened TO obstruct our advance with reasonable /
prospect of fruitful results. Added to this, the .
want of a cavalry force of sufficient numbers
made an efficient pursuit impossibility"