Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-06-18
BRIGADIER GENERAL. TYLER's Of
FICIAL REPORT OF THE BATTLE OF
PORT REPUBLIC.
HEADQUARTERs 8D BRIaADE,
Nnnr I.lrnr Vn lima 10

NAkAW0NAALMAn Old 0ANtHAHEt
Near Luray, Va, June u.
Gen. James Shields, commanding decision
SIR In compliance with your order to
proceed to Waynesboro, left Columbia
Bridge on the 7th inst, reaching Naked
Greek the same day, going into camp under
orders 10 march at o'clock, A. NJ, aext
day, that we might reach Port Republic at
the time you indicated to me. When with
in about six miles Of the town I learned
Acting Brigadier General Carroll, with the
4th brigade, had engaged the enemy at or
near the town. Immediately / halted my
train, clearing the road for the troops and
artillery, and pressed forward TO his sup
port as rapidly Gs possible, reaching the po-
sitiOn occupied by him, some two miles
north Of the town, at 2 o'clock p NJ 9Th
inst. The position was selected by Col.
Daum, | understand, MS the only tenable
one in that vicinity. From that officer
learned the enemy had eighteen pieces of
artillery, planted so as to completely COM
mand all the approaches to the town, and
from the engagement with Gen. Carroll
that morning had obtained the range of the
different points Immediately on the ar
rival Of nay command, Col. Daum urged an
attack, with the combined force Of infantry
and artillery, TO which l so far consented
as 10 order the infantry into position un-
der cover Of thick wood which skirted
the road-and commenced observing the
enemy's position myself; which appeared
to me one TO defy an army Of $4,000 men.
at once sent for Col. Carroll, Lieut.
Col. Shriber, Capts Clark and Robinson,
| who had been over the ground, they all
-
would result in the destruction of our lit
tie force. About this time your order to
" Commandant Of Post at Port Republic"
was handed me; upon it and the opinion
Of these officers, L ordered the infantry
back to bivOuac for the night. A heavy
/ picket was kept we'll to the front to observe
any movement of the enemy, and at 4 A.
1 NJ. Gen. Carroll and myself went to the
outer videttes, who reported there had been
no movement Of the enemy across the
bridge during the night, their pickets only
/ appearing-which we were able to discover
ourselves. We returned to camp, and
/ few moments after your order Of june 8th,
| Il P NJ, from Columbia Bridge, reached
me, and while writing reply was inform
ed that the enemy were advancing upon
u.s. or rather into the woods opposite their
position, evidently with view Of outhank-
ing US upon the left. Capts. Clark and
Robinson opened their batteries upon them
with effect, and Capt Huntington's guns
were soon doing the same good work Two
companies Of skirmishers and two regi-
ments Of infantry were ordered into the
woods to counteraet this movement of the
enemy. The fire of our skirmishers was
! soon heard, and l ordered two moro regi-
ments to their support. Utt@l
A sharp fire was kept up in the woods,
for few moments only, when the enemy
retired and was soon seen coming out of
the woods, crossing to join column NOV
! ing upon our right. In the meantime o
section of two guns had opened upon our
battery on the left, and another section
was taking position on our right. The 7th
J Indiana infantry, Col Gavin, was sent to
the extreme right and was met by two
rebel regiments, under cover Of the river
I bank A section Of Captain Clark's bat
terry took position well to the right The
| fire of the enemy, from their masked posi-
tion, compelled Col. Gavin to retire a short
| distance, which he did in admirable order.
! The 29th Ohio was sent to support him,
moving forward in splendid style on dou-
bic quick The 7th Ohio was next sent
forward to support Capt. Clark's guns, the
9Th Ohio next to support section of
| Capt Huntington's battery These two
last named regiments moved forward and
engaged the enemy in a style that COM
manded the admiration of every beholder
Regiment after regiment Of the enemy
moved upon our right and the engagement
became very warm.
The 1st Virginia, Col. Thoburne, who
had been ordered into the wood on the left,
-u'as rAnEs-A-dArAd dnzurn To tha right, aniar-
/ ing the open field with loud shout. Ny
entire force was now in position. On our
right was the 9TH Indiana, Col GarTin,
29th Ohio, Col. Buckley, 7th Ohio, Lieut..
Col. Creighton, 9th Ohio, Col. Dunning, 1st
Virginia, Col. Thoburne, with sections of
Capt Clark's and Huntington's batteries.
On our left, the key Of the position, was a
company of the 9th and one Of the Goth
Ohio infantry, deplOyed through the woods
as skirmishsrs. The 84th and 10th Penn
SylVania regiments were well up in the
woods. The 66th Ohio, Col. Candy, was
directly in the rear of the battery, com
posed of three guns of Capt. Clark's bat
terry, three guns of Capt. huntingdon and
one Of Capt. RObinsOn's battery, under
Lieutenant Colonel Hayward, and upon
him and his gallant band depended
everything at this critical moment; and
the duty was well and gallantly executed.
Had they given way the command must
have been lost. The left wing Of Colonel
Candy's regiment was extended into the
woods and close in the rear of the battery,
which position they held until retreat
was ordered. 7z--.s
Additional reinforcements Of the enemy
were coming up on our right, having
abandoned their position on the left, and l
ordered the 84th and 10th down to the
right, but before they reached the position.
assigned them the enemy was in full re-
treat before our brave men and I at once or
dered them back into the woods again. I'm
der cover of the engagement on our right the
enemy had thrown another force into the
woods and pressed them down upon our
batteries on the left. So rapid was this
movement that they passed the line on
which the 84th and 10th were ordered un-
observed-making a dash upon the battery
so sudden and unexpected as to compel the
cannOniers to abandon their pieces. Col.
Candy met the enemy with his regiment.
with great coOlness, his men fighting with
cOnmenudDle bravery. Inc IJn ana Otn
Ohio were soon supporting him, driving
the enemy from their position and retaking
the battery. The artillery officers made a
strong effort and used great exertions.to
remove their guns, but (the horses having
been killed or disabled) found it impossi-
BILE. The enemy had given way along the
whole line, but saw heavy reinforcements
crossing from the town, that would have
been impossible for us successfully to re-
sist After consulting Gen. Carroll, or
dered the troops to fall back under his di-
rection-with a view of retreating until
we should meet the reinforcements Of Cen
erals Kimball and Ferry.
Gen. Carroll took command Of the cover