Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-09-02
A Particular Account of the Battle
on Saturday.


ALEXANDRIA, SUNDAY EVENING, Aug. 81.
According to all accounts Stonewall jackson
yesterday Saturday., succeeded in forcing
his way through the federal troops surround
ing him and effected junction with the re-
mander of the confederate forces. The
result was not obtained without fearful loss
on both sides, as the most desperate fighting
took place.
From all that can be learned, in the alb
sence of any regular report, the corps of
Generals Mcdowell, Heinzleman, Porter and
Sigel, were engaged, the former having the
left, the latter the right and the others oper-
ating about the centre. The principal part
of the fighting seems to have been on the left
and centre. The left was thrown up from
Manassas Junction towards Thoroughtare
Gap, the right about Centreville, and the
centre on the old Bull Run battle field out
from Manassas.
The action was commenced by the enemy
opening his batteries upon our left. between
one and two o'clock in the afternoon. Their
guns were strongly and advantageously post
ed upon a ridge, while our battery had to fire
from the open plain. Gen. MorrelPs division
supported our batteries at this point. After
some severe cannonading, the LIST Virginia
and the LIST Vermont cavalry were ordered to
our extreme left to reconoiter, to guard
against any attempt to turn our left flank,
which movement was threatened by the enc
my.
Riding beyond our left, where our infantry
were formed close behind our batteries, which
were playing with great precision upon the
enemy while our troops were cheering vOCif-
erously, our cavalry reached a slight emf
uence, and were about to send out detaCh-
ment to explore, when the enemy were seen
coming up in force along the line of the ad.
iacent woods. A rebel battery was seen to
wheel into position, and then came shell
thrown into the midst of our cavalry, followed
by canister and grape. Thus was discovered
the intention of the enemy to attempt flank
movement.
Long lines of rebel infantry could plainly
be seen hurrying up to take position, and soon
other rebel batteries were brought up and
opened upon our left. Our cavalry were
forced to retire behind low ridge, but the
clouds Of dnst revealing their place of retreat,
the rebels continued Smelling them, and anoth-
er change Of position was made. Here body
Of cavalry were observed riding towards the
spot, and the sabres Of our cavalry were
drawn to meet the coming foe. The squadron
proved to be friends the 4th New York cav
airy. Where they had come from, as Gen.
Sigel was on the right was and is a mystery.
They reported the rebel cavalry under Gen.
Stuart as about making a charge
The New York cavalry fell in behind Gen.
Butord's brigade, the buglers sounded,
and over the hills galoped our men to meet
the advancing rebels As our men Spproach-
ed them the rebel cavalry discharged double
barreled shot guns and then met us in full
charge. Our men broke the eneny's line and
pursued them The rebels rallied in splen-
did style and dashed forward again to meet
the charge. Again their line broken,
and as our cavalry was preparing to charge
again the rebels opened fire upon them from
their batteries, with muSketry, compelling
them to retire.
Meanwhile our left had given way, and was
on the retreat, passing the cavalry. \ bat
terry which had run short of ammunition, was
on the point of being captured, but under the
determined resistance OF our cavalry it was
safely brought off. The troops fell back upon
Gen. Franklin's division, which had just
come up, and were formed in line to prevent
struggling, and anything like Il panic. Had
Gen. Frankln'S corps arrived two hours ear
lier upon the field, the result of the days
fighting would have been different. The fact
OF Gen. Stuart'S cavalry being armed with
double bareled shot guns, is proved by a
number of the guns being captured, and sew
cral of our cavalry having buck-shot wounds.
Col. Broadhead, commanding tho first
Michigan cavalry, was captured; Lieut. Mer-
RAM was wounded and taken prisoner; Lieut..
Morse was killed. Gen Franklin's division
retired to Centreyille, after preventing contu-
sion, and in the evening our retreating troops
had time to rally.
During the fight a body of the enemy con-
ceaed in the woods, annoyed our forces much
by their rifle practice. Gen. Martins brig
ade charged them, and drove them from the
woods amidst the cheers Of our line. Gen.
Hartsut S brigade made similar charge, but
with a different result. They penetrated into
the woods, when a deadly fire of grape and
canister was opened upon them from a
masked battery. AT the same time muir
derous volley of rifle balls came from one
side and a desperate charge of the enemy
from the other. Our men fought bravely, but
were forced to retire. The enemy remained
upon the battle field over night.
To-day there has been some skirmishing
Reinforcements are going up to-day, and q
battle is anticipated tomorrow. The roaC
from Alexandria extending to Centreville, wa:
crowded all day with wagon trains, ambulan.
way from the latter place. The number O.
wounded sent to Washington was compare.
lively small. Not few persons had reached
Centrevlle and intermediate points, intending
to aid the sick and wounded were turned
back, for the reason that the battle field o
Manassas was in the possession of the rebels
and that their services were not needed Ma
nv who had rode to Centreville have returned
to Alexandria on foot
Pickets had been thrown out all along the
road, to prevent stragglers from deserving the
front. Four government employees who hat
started from Gen. McClellan's headquarters
last night, in company with mail carrier, in
tending to act as nurses, were arrested at
Balls Cross Roads, on suspicion OF beng
spies, but, on being returned to Gen McClel-
lan's headquarters, they were discharged.
From Washington.
WAsH1NGToN, Sept. l.-Gen. Taylor, wh(
was wounded in the recent battle, died las