The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1862-09-06
WEEK.
VERY LATEST FROM THE FIELD.
The Great Fight of Friday.
THE STR UGGLE OFSATURDAY.
sIGEL THE HERO OF THE DAY.
Correspondents Of the New York Tribune. ]

August 81
The battle of yesterday and the day
before, on the already classic field of
Bull Run, will rank with Napoleon's
bloodiest. And more than one General
fought in them to whom, ere this hour,
he would have given MarshaPs baton,
while he would have made proud hum
dred privates with the ribbon of the Lee
gion of Honor
Let me first detail the movements by.
which the two days struggle was
brought on.
While at Warrenton, early on Wednes-
day, learned that jackson was in our
rear, and that we should once more try
to trap him. Gems Sigel and Mcdowell
marched that morning up the turnpike
from Warrenton towards Centreville.-
This road passes through Bull Run bat
tlefeld, five miles west of Centreville.
Hooker, Porter and Reno moved from
our left (now, as we faced about toward
Washington, becomes our right toward
the same point via Manassas junction.
Sigel, in advance of Mcdowell, reached
GAINESVILLE, four miles from the Bull Run
field, that night, and came upon the en-
emys cavalry and stragglers. Resting
few hours, by 3 o clock he was moving.
The enemy did not appear in front, and
leaving Mcdowell to take care of the
road, Sigel turned to the right to CON
meet with Hooker al Manassas Junction.
Hooker had fought there on Wednesday,
of which will speak in moment, and
it was possible ne needed help. 81
When within two miles of the juno
ton, Sigel learned that the enemy was
on the Warrenton road, and turning
short to the left, he marched to the south
side of the Bull Run field 1t was then
6PM. Mcdowell, who, as before stated,
had remained ON that road between the
enemy and Warrenton, had been throw
ing shell some hours, and now we could
hear musketry. Gaining the nights
where Hunter fought year ago, and ap.
preaching the turnpike, we could locate
the scene of the engagement by the line
of musketry flashes. 1t was Kings Di-
vision repelling the enemy in his attempt
to escape toward Warrenton. The affair
lasted two hours, and King held the
field. We had come upon the enemy S
OCucHCh OlNlSlOn UCCdiuC
TALLY engaged, gave the enemys cavalry
a few shell, then the whole corps rested
for the night At the very time King
was fighting on the Warrenton road
Ricketts, was engaged fighting rebel re
endorsements coming up through Thor
oughfare Gap, five miles farther West
He was compelled, having suffered a loss
of 250, to withdraw and join King, after
the latter had finished his days work
Reynolds Division (Pennsylvania Re
serve), then temporarily with Mcdowell
corps, was in the same vicinity.
The situation then, Friday morning
was this: Sigefs corps Divisions O
Schurz, Milroy, Steinwehr and Schenck
on the Bull Run field, fronting to tn,
west, was close against the enemy Nc
| Dowells corps was nearly connectet
with Sigel on the latter's left, but wa
not within fighting distance of the enc
N.Y. Heintzleman corps Divisions o
! Hooker and Kearney, and Reno's corps
were at Centreville, moving down tn
turnpike, which would leave them upol
Sigels right Porter was far back
seven or eight nliles-in Sigers real
These corps-Sigel's, Renos, Heintzle
mans, McDowelPs and Porter r's-wer
all that were engaged at any time dul
ing the two days, Friday and Saturday
They came upon the field in the order
have named them. l1st.
Fortunately, had been with Sigel dul
ing his two days march to find the ent
my, and was with him now that it fell t
him to open the main struggle. HI
corps had held the advance under heav
artillery fire ON the Rappahannock tn
four previous days, had now marche
two days, part of the time in line (
battle, and taking but four hours res
moved into battle-not a skirmish, NJ
an affair, not an action, not an engag
ment but great battle, for such are Il
names given to fights in the order
their magnitude.
i Long before daylight Sigel had visite
every position of his line, had seen to IL
placing of every battery, and with Il
daylight his artillery sounded. I'll
"Jessie Scouts" transferred by Fremo
to SigeD reported the enemy as masst
in and beyond stretch of woods mi
long, west of and running nearly para
lei with the road Their line, howeve
extended on their right to the roa
where they had guns on commando
heights on their left to Bull Run streaI
with battery or two across upon Il
north side. Sigers line was opposite, (,
the south side of the road.
.. The first hour it was all artillery.
gel was advancing battery after bate
: to this and that eminence, supportil
, each with a brigade, hearing the repol
of scouts, sending cavalry now far to t
right, now far to the left, gradually q
yancing his divisions in cover of hills !
on which he had placed guns-;n wol
feeling for the enemy, rapidly adr
cling, but cautiously every step. 7
!, enemu disdained to make any sign. /