The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-04-03
THE SECOND BATTLE.

-
On Monday morning the rebels re-
ceived reinforcements under Gen. Gar.
rett, amounting to five thousand men.
The Union forces did not exceed ten
thousand men, and, with the exception
of about five hundred, were of Gen.
Shields division exclusively.
AT half past ten, the enemy made a
feint on our left, commanded by Act
ing Brigadier- General Sullivan, open.
ing heavy fire of artillery, while the
real attack was directed against our
right, with the object of fanking it.
Gen. Kimble commanded on the right
where the heaviest fighting was done.
The enemy were strongly posted in the
woods and behind stone wall, and the
rebel artillery were posted on eminen.
ces on both sides of their left wing.
Our whole artillery force was engaged,
consisting of four batteries, of twenty
four pieces in all. The contest ragged
furiously till three o'clock p. NJ, the
fighting being done chiefly by the ar
tillery and musketry, at a range of not
more than three or four hundred yards,
and often much less. ,E4fJ at-s tl
The rebel infantry opposite our right
now emerged from the woods and at
tempted to capture Doan's battery by
a charge. The first effort was nearly
successful, but the heavy discharge of
grape compelled them to retire in con-
fusion. A second and weaker attempt
likewise failed, and the enemy fell back,
with heavy loss behind the stone par
apet.
Gen. Tyler now ordered his brigade
to charge the enemy's batteries on the
left, and a most deadly enc counter fol-
lowed. Twice our men rallied under
the storm, but in the third effort they
routed the enemy with tremendous
slaughter. $50 a ssr
Our loss in these struggles was
heavy. Ont of 800 men in the 4Sth
Pennsylvania, 16 were killed, and SO
wounded. Many officers were killed
and wounded. The 5th and 9th Ohio
shared the glory and the losses, with
the 4Sth Pennsylvania.
The enemy's killed and wounded
|strewed the ground now in profusion,
and their left wing was utterly broken,
and the centre wavering on their side.
The 4th and 5th Virginia regiments
suffered most. The former was terri
bly, decimated., Several attempts to
rally the right wing failed, and to add
to the confusion, the Irish Battalion
of one hundred and fifty men, aohe.
brought .for,cdrd and ordered to fire
atpo'a the Union troops, refused, and a
rebel regiment Immediately drove this
gallant little band forward and could
not compel them to fire upon us.
Forty corps of the one hundred and
fifty afterwards strewed the field.
Meanwhile the rebels gave way on their
left and centre, with loss of seven
hundred killed and wounded, and two
hundred and thir,y-six prisoners. Be-
sides these about fifteen hundred mus
kets were taken, and many other val
liable trophies. Also one four gun bat
terry making twenty-six guns, among
which were some captured at Bull Run.
-Four color bearers of the 5th Ohio
regiment were severally killed, when
Capt. Whitcomb seized the colors and
was shot through the head.
A youthful rebel soldier received
two wounds in his breast, and when he
was approached by one of our officers
inquired if the officer knew Gen. Banks.
He received an affirmative reply. He
then said: "Tell him l want to take
the oath of allegiance, for have three
brothers in the Federal service, l want
them to know that | die true to the
| Union." bga a
The arm of Gen. Shields is badly
shattered, and owing to an imperfect
setting must be reset tomorrow.
Tonight all is quiet in the neighbor-
hood of Strasburg.
1t is reported that two sons of the
late John A. Washington were in Mon
days fight, and that both were wound.
ed and one of them taken prisoner.
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
have taken charge of the Winchester
and Potomac Road. Persons can pur
chase tickets of the Baltimore Company.
We have buried all the rebels dead
which have been brought to town; So
were buried on the battle field, and l2a
on the roadside between here and
Strasburg. A messenger from Stras'
burg states that Gen. Johnston was 10
have joined Jackson at Strasburg, but
'he subsequently sent word that he
could not until Monday night. Their
combined forces would have numbered
$4,000. They were intending to keep
Banks from moving to another point
but Jackson being impressed with the
belief that our troops had nearly al
1left, hazarded his fatal advance alone
Our pickets are six miles ibeyone
Strasburg. q, szHe
! Jackson is not in sight.
All the fences, trees and ground
along the road show the terrible effec'
/ of our artillery on the retreating enemy
! Gen. Shields arm has been reset
He is comfortable, and will probabl,
be able to resume active duties in TIVE
weeks.
i 9.H 20 WASHINGTON, March 26.
: The following dispatch from Gen
Shields to Senator Rice, dated to-da.
at Winchester. was read in tho Senat'
this p. M. :" Son the morning OF tn
23d instant, my command, 1000 o
! s 900 strong, was attacked near thi