The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-06-04

in the Faction Lieutenant Perkins. one OF Gene
raj Butternsld's aids, was also in tho house
whittier he had been brought sick In al
ambulance. ssveralkcayalry men lwere also OF
the premises. The rebels camo forward nring at thu
house. There was need OF waiting for shs command
"To horse, for tbs gallant cavaliers, with precpitats
haste sought their swift footed animals and each jump
ing the first stesd he dashed of at speed which
never surpassed by tho most terrific charge. Ths
temperance Of the rebels here altogether unsx
pected Dr. Bentley had just time enough to mount his
horse and escape with the others into the woods.
DR.. Waters was in effect taken prisoner but he was
permitted TO remain with the wounded Lieutenant Per-
kins however taken prisoner and the rebels made
him take Dr. Waters horse which no borno away
q sick and unwilling captive.
EXCITED CAVALIER.
The attack Of the rebels on the hospital which, In
like the nag OF truce always considered sacred.
highly reprehensbls il they intended to lre on It
knowing 1t to be used as q hospital while at the same
time the effect produced upon our men by the attack
must have been extremely ludicrous. the road
of those belonging the Sixth regular cavalry who
escaped from that hospital. He flying down the
load at furious rate, In the knighty style
must confess, the horse and himself almost out OF
breath. his chapeau non est his eyes full Of fire, his
counenance flushed with excitement till II a. red IS
the hair his uncovered head He said the rebels had
out and fred the hospitals slain his horse, killed
every Of our who the building, and
that he, out Of at least Dozen tho only lucky nd
vidual left tell the dolerul tale. Presently however
his comrades along all safe and sound only little
animated and thoy said they had successfully esctsd
their escape like him, by appropriatng the nearest ami
NAL, and dashing through the woods.
ADVANCE ENEMY YoRCE
Ruf affar In
narration Of what TRANSFERRED during the remainder OF
the afternoon and the operations subsequent 10 the
ton. A portion Of the F0rty-fourth New York
wn sent down the road to repel this attack on
the hospital, when they were Immediately recall
cd because the rebels came out into tho
open Acid In gallant line Of battle 1t is seldom that
rebel regiment appesvs in open field 70 meet in air
fight Union regiment. The moment the rebel regi-
mental Ane seer with its markers on either flank,
the Second Maine. instncveiy. burst out into
tremendous cheer. Then the enemy moved By the
right flank left where the Fortyfourth New York
had been posted. sharp encounter srsued, the mus
kerry continuous, and presently tho force opposed
ours retired the woods the left At the
moving the Ashland road, tho obvious intention of
which was attempt enter the woods and turn
right.
The ENEHY DRIVEN BACK WITH LARGE uDG8.
The Second Maine, to meet this movement, wont to
the right and secured position behind the fence, made
OF posts interaosd with branches, which swept round
the corner Of the woods Immediately in front Of them,
and into which tbs rebels were moving. At the same
time other forc,was support tho battery,
cept fragment Of the Twenty nth New York, whose
Colonel and other Geld officers had been already wound
ed This fragment postedin the CENTRE bofind tho
battery the Second Maine the right and the Forty
S,,rt Ma onA ha M had in
sition been srscted than rapid and destructive fire
opened all along tho rebel li1e from the road the
right round to ths- woods on the left. The fire
returned by our men in the most efsctive
style. Those regiments, especially the Second Maine,
which was behind natural covering held their ground,
and for one fearful hour did tremendous exscntion
among the enemy. use exaggerated language when
say that almost every tree In those woods for dis
Of several hundred yards Is marked by tn'les.
Larger trees bear the impress Of dozsn more Or less.
while saw several saplngs severed The dead asd dy
ing OF tho enemy found in great numbers In these
woods, a. we'll along the whole line round to
the left. And of own many fell killed and
wounded the opsa field. The Forty fourth
and Twenty.hfth suffered moro severely than
the Second Maine for tho that tho latter hd the
advantage OF position behind tho fence have spoken or
nerlaced with branches which formed the
work. After that hour Of hard lighting several horses
In battery having bsAn killed. the fragment Of tbs
Twenty fifth New York whose Colonel Colonel
Adutant and several oiisr ocers had previously been
wounded having dwindied down 10 less than :uo hun
dred the right wing Of Tie Forty began to
and the battery Violently in danger Atsngh the
promise Of coming rsnforcemonts and the sght Of the
stars and Stripes borne by regiment coming
their relief along the road to tho right inspired the
with renewed confidence and they bravsly hsho enemy
in check until relieved by the approaching reinforce
ments.
ARRIVAL REINroRcExESrs,
General Por tor s whole command was now Fastening
back TO support tho troops under General Martndale
which severely pressed. The troops returned
in inverse order, the regiments which in advance
going out being In rear on the return The colors
which the exhausted soldiers under Martnalcs
command had seen approaching those Of the Four
teenth New Yerk, under Lieutenant Ceaopel skilen
This regiment bad been the support Of tho Forty
fourth and Twenty-hfth New York and tho Second
Name whose ammunition almost entirely expended,
arriving just time render necessary assistance.
1t Is proper here to state that two
giments Of General Martinaele's own brigade were
not the scene Of action, the Eighteesth
having been picket the previous night
and the Thirteenth New Y0sx, Colonel Marshall having
been detached other duty. The Eighteenth however
had marched from camp later In ths morning. anA the
Thirteenth having gone ON ROAD 10 Inc eft near Gene
raj stones command captured quite number o. prison.
ers Both regiments joined tho brigade in the evening
after the operations Of The day were ended.
while the Fourteenth New York relicv.Ag the
firing troops, the Sxtysscond Pennsylvania, Colonel
Black, and the Ninth Massachusetts, Colonel Glass; had
proceeded further te the right tho ret2sn and had
como out in 'front.' Of battery, which st throw
ing shot and shell into the enemy. The sixty
the right and the Ninth on the lSft, advanced
across the railroad Peaks station, and
with hor ocstinuous rs succeeded in holding the enemy
in check. The Fourth Michigan. Coooel Woodbury.. had
followed the Fourteenth but the Colonel did mot have
opportunity TO bring his soldiers into action.
rng END AFFAIR.
Then General Butterneld's brigade, which had also
march cd inysrssly the return, arrived the name
date lighting ground in time TO participate in the closing
scene The Seventeenth and Twelfth New York by
the Hanover road, while the General, guided by the
or,rd tha the EIGHTY rd Penn