The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-07-25
BATTLE OF Port REPUBLIC.
REPORT OF COL. 8. s. CARROLL,
COMMANDING FOURTH BRIGADE,
SHIELDS DIVISION.

SHIELDS DIVISION.
HEADQUARTERS FOURTH BRIGADE,
SHIELDS DIVISION,
GH LURAY, Va, June 18th, 1862.
Capt. L. H. PELoUzE, A. A. General
SIR I have the honor to make the fol-
lowing report ......
In accordance with orders from the GEM
eral Commanding Division, I reached the
vicinity of Port Republic about 81 O'Clock
A. NJ, on Sunday, the 9th instant, with
about $50 LIST Virginia Cavalry and four
pieces of Battery a." LIST Ohio Artillery.
1 found the enemy's train parked on the
other side of the North Branch of the She
nandoah, with large quantity of beef cattle
herded near by, and the town held by a
small force Of cavalry only. chose the
most commanding pos ton l could find
about half mile from the Bridge, and
planted there two pieces of artillery to
command the ends of the same. I then or.
dered Major Chamberlain, commanding the
cavalry, to rush down and take possession
Of the bridge: Finding that be had been
injured by a fall from his horse-that his
command in consequence was in confusion,
and hesitated as they came to the South
River, and body of the enemy's cavalry
were assembling at this end of the bridge,
giving me fears that they would fire it, 1
ordered the artillery to open upon them,
and sent Captain Goodrich to urge the cav
airy forward Immediately, which he did,
and took possession of the bridge, driving a
portion of the enemy's cavalry across it, and
part of them out of the town by the road
leading to the left. then went into town
myself, and look with me two pieces of ar.
tillery QUE of which / planted at the end
of the bridge, and the other at the corner of
the street commanding the road by which
part of the enemys cavalry had fled.
While occupying position between
these, and devising some method by which
l could hold the town until my infantry
should come up, suddenly perceived the
enemys infantry emerging from the woods
a short distance from the bridge, and dash.
ing down upon it at run in considerable
force. As soon as my cavalry, which was
now under charge of its own officers, per-
ceived them, they broke and ran in every
direction by which they could secure re
treat. Seeing that I could not hold that
position, I ordered the two pieces of artille-
ry to be withdrawn. The enemy's infantry
fred so heavily into the timber horses of the
piece at the bridge that they ran away
with the timber, and that piece had to be
abandoned. The other piece was brought
away from its position by Captain Robin
son, but instead of taking the road, he fol.
lowed by mistake some of the flying cav-
airy into the woods, and not being able to
eAtIiCato il Lie concealed tho Same and
abandoned it:
In the meantime my infantry had almost
reached the position where had left the
two pieces of artillery planted, and they
were opened upon by eighteen pieces of the
enemy's artillery from the hills on the OPP
posite side Of the river, and partially catch.
ing the contagion from the panic stricken
cavalry, were retreating amid a heavy
shower of shot and shell.
The two pieces of artillery which l left
upon the hill, superintendent by Captain
Kelley, had been withdrawn from their 90
sition and one of them abandoned in the
mud by its cannoniers; the other also aban
doned with tie pole of the timber broken.
By the indomitab!e energy and courage OF
Colonel Daum and Captain Kelley these
pieces were saved, and I managed to fall
back with my force to better position,
without range of the enemy's artillery.
At this juncture General Tyler with his
brigade Joined me. After that the enemy
made no further attack upon us. Our loss
upon this day in killed, wounded and mis-
sing was as follows, viz:
9TH Regiment Indiana Volunteers, killed
8 enlisted men; wounded, 2 Captains, l
Lieutenant and ~ enlisted men; total 80.
Battery L, LIST Ohio artillery, killed, l
Sergeant; missing, l Lieutenant; total 2;
aggregate 40.
Lost in action, IA horses and 2 pieces and
limbers.
Too great credit cannot be given to Capt.
Robinson and Lieutenant Robinson for the
noble manner in which they stuck to their
pieces after they were deserted by their GAYS
airy support. The latter gallant young Of
fcer was either killed or taken prisoner en-
deavoring to save bis piece.
Early on the morning OF the 9th, Colonel
Daum urged upon General Tyler, under co
yer of the fog, to move down and destroy the
bridge. l rode forward with General Ty.
Ter and showed him the impracticabiity of
such proceeding, and told hin that if we
could effect retreat from our present posi-
tion without disaster, that would be doing
as well as could expect.
Immediately upon our return the enemy's
infantry and cavalry, in considerable force,
were observed passing into the woods OPP
posite our batteries upon the left, and ut
the same time they opened upon us with
battery near that point. I then again urg.
ed upon General Tyler the necessity OF in-
mediately organizing for an orderly retreat,
and upon his noncompliance with the same,
at my suggestion, two regiments from my
brigade and two companies from the Bird
brigade were sent into the woods upon the
left to meet the advancing force before men,
toned.
At this time Colonel Daum ordered
Lieutenant Baker OF Clark's battery, with
two pieces, into a wheat field upon our
right; whereupon several regiments OF the
enemy's Infantry were observed advancing
towards them along the bank of the river.
Colonel Gavin, It'll Indiana Volunteers,
,roe cont IN opnooo Thorn At General To-