The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1862-08-15

three successive charges, in the face of such a
deadly fire from so superior numbers, conceal
ed in woods, is really the wonder of the war.
These charges developed the fact that the en-
emy actually engaged greatly outnumbered our
forces, about seven thousand in action.
Being thus informed of the location of the
main body of the rebel infantry, our artillery
played sad havoc with them, driving decimated
regiment after regiment back into the shelter
oil the dense forest, to have their places Instant
iiy occupied by fresh regiments to be decimated
IN the same way. Among others this fire kill
ed the rebel Generals Winder and Trimble.
Inc arm OF the former was torn off by shell,
and he died very shortly afterward from the
How OF blood, and Trimble was knocked dead
from his horse by the explosion of a shell.
having put the forces of Mcdowell and
Sigel IN rapid motion for the field of action,
Gen Pope, with his staff. accompanied by Gen.
Mcdowell and his staff,fmmediately proceeded
together from their headquarters to the front.
As they passed Ricketts, division, and the head
OF Slgefs army corps, that lined the road for
the whole six miles, each regiment halted for
the instant, wheeled into line, and gave Gen
eral rope three cheers and tiger, and then
wheeling again into marching column, pushed
forward with signal eagerness for the fray.
AT seven o'clock p. NJ Generals Pope and
Mcdowell reached the thickest of the fight,
and the advance guard of Ricketts,, coming up
at the same time, took position Immediately in
the rear of that occupied by General Banks
corps.
There being no room on the field for deploy-
ing more troops of ours than were under
Banks, those of Ricketts, could not get into
actual action before night came on, which for
some hours prevented further fighting. In the
course of the engagement our forces engaged
had retired perhaps mile from the position in
fhpu oa1 tl,a L.&I ~ 4
O'Clock. p. NJ, the rebels advancing slowly as
we receded before them. This movement on
the part of General Banks, Notwithstanding his
heavy loss and the overwhelming force opposed
to him, was as regularly conducted as though
he was executing an evolution of a dress par
ade. Not man of his corps-or indeed, of
any other-showed the white feather, nor did
man even straggle to the rear to the distance
OF more than half mile, where stood a pro-
vost guard ofRicketts' corps, bayonet in hand.
10 check any, II there should be, disposed to
skulk of the field. Hundreds of our wounded
passed up, limping or being carried to the hos
pitals established in the rear, and in not one
OF them retaining consciousness did we dscov-
er aught but the most undaunted eagerness to
prosecute the engagement.
We left the field at eight o'clock for the
night, in course of which, at midnight, dis
charge from one of our batteries brought on a
renewal OF the engagement for two hours, in
the course of which each side is believed to
have lost two or three hundred more i'm killed
and wounded. BY cavalry charge after mid
night, of the enemy, Gems Pope and Mcdowell
and their respective stats, were within an inch
of being killed or ridden down. They had dis
mounted in the front to rest a few minutes
from the saddle, when the enemy's cavalry
made so sudden dash upon them that they
had barely time to mount and get quickly out
oil the way. In so doing they were mistaken
Dy company OF their own men for charging
rebels, and received their fire, killing few Of
their horses, only, we believe.
At six O'Clock in the evening seven hundred
and fifty were brought to Culpepper Court
House, and there were then at least two hum
dred remaining in the two or three houses in
the rear Of the field occupied as hospitals.
Both armies rested Saturday night upon
their arms, in the positions in which the close
OF the battle found them, Gems. Pope Mellow
el, and their stats, being unrenittincly en-
gagged until daybreak in getting theirs into the
positions for the expected conflict of yester-
day assigned to them.
At daybreak Sunday morning the sharp
shooters of the enemy were found precisely
where their front was at the close of SATURDAYS
battle, and skirmishing with ours Immediately
commenced. Their forces had, however, dis
appeared from sight.
by a break in the telegraph the reception of
Gen. Popes order to Gen. King to join him
with his division, was delayed twenty-four
hours. He, however, started his advance from
the vicinity OF Fredericksburg at 4 p. NJ, of
Saturday, and at o'clock yesterday morning
had reached Elk Rudford so he is doubtless
up with the main army by this hour. From
our own knowledge of the situation we feel
sure that the reception of this important add-
ton to his fine army has already been taken
advantage of by Major Gen. Pope, and that he
Is again in motion towards Gordonsvie. His
men all believe him irresistible, and feel certain
that signal victory will attend his movements
at their head, as on all previous occasions when
at the head of his western army.
We lost a single piece of artillery, one of
Bests. 1t upset in a ditch, and as it could
not be righted by those in charge of it, was
abandoned.