The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-08-30

WICK, up W 0ssoSosJ etsEnOOO. ~ Will Oe
found interesting, though it may not be minute.
" correct, in oil particulars:
WAsBIHGIoN, n. G., Aug -, 1862
have just returned from the lines of our
army ON the Rappahahnock, and bring particu-
lers Of the progress Of affairssup . Saturday
afternoon.
By Wednesday noon the retreat of our army
from the Rapidan to the Rappahannock had
brought it to the banks Of the latter river, and
the rear guard, composed in part of General
Hatchs Brigade Of cavalry. were just:at Brandy
Station (the FIRST on the railroad beyond Rap.
pahannock Bridge when the head Of the rebel
pursuing columns first came in sight Through.
out the whole sassch from C.lppepper to this
point the enemy were following closely upon
the heels of oar forces, their advance guard
being but short distance behind our rear. and
their main body only some six or eight miles off.
At this Insignificant little railroad station. then.
the grand armies Of Pope and Lee first cot sight
Of each other, and conflict Immediately ensued.
Our rear guard, suppoeing that the rebel force
Was mere skirmishing party sent in advance,
and Wishing to check such presumptuous recon.
noiteriDg, turned upon it, and the order to
charge VAS given. Immediately the three reei.
ments Of Hatch's Brigade-the "Harris Lieht. y
Let Pennsylvania, and LIST New Jersey-forned
in line Of battle and swept forward With tremen.
dous cheers; but coming suddenly upon 4 broad
and deep ditch they were compelled to draw
rein, and at the instant large force Of rebel
infantry rose from cover and poured heavy
volley into the ranks, which emptied many sad.
dies and threw our squxdrons into confusion. -
The line gave way at the center, but the wings
waveriDg and showing disposition to hold their
ground, smother voiley was poured into them by
the enemy, and our whole force then rapidly re.
treated 70 the Rappahannock river. The rebel
followed holly after; but ct the moment when
they thought they had driven us pell.mell over
must be IN easy AFFAIR, the fire Of two batteriea
-Aatthewss 6Pennsylvania snd Thompson's
Naryland-wae poured into their faces with ter.
rife effect Their impulsive advance VA
checked in the instant, and the exultant yells
died upon their lips In haste they retired from
the exposed situation where they stood TO the
cover Of . thick wood, which skirted the level
plain ct distance Of half mile from the river.
Their pieces not having been brought forward,
they could not reply to our fire, 30 their column
moved TO the left, under cover of the woods,
with the view Of Aanking us BY efectipe !
crossing at one Of the fords between Rappahan-
mock Bridge and the Warrenton White Sulphur
Springs. Their design, having been anticipa.
led, was bafaed by Gen. Pope, who pushed his
column corresponding distance along the north
bank Of the river, and guarded esch ford with
three batteries to command it in front and from
either aide. The two armies were kept thus
moving oil Thursday, each Of the two able play.
srs at this grand game Of var seeking to check
mate his antagonist without bringing on .
serious engagement before his forces were fully
massed. An attempt was made down ct Kelly's
Ford, on the left Of our line, 70 cross, and turn
our position, but this was effectually foiled BY
Gen. Reno, who showed no force until he had
lured the enemy into the place he desired, and
then suddenly opened Ere with his batteries, and
then followed it up With cavalry charge, which
put the foe to fight, and determined him t. make
no more attempts that day to cross at Kellys
Ford.
Friday morning came, and with it sharp can.
nonads along the whole line, from KsllyS Ford
(Reno's position) to Barnett's Ford, which was
defended by Sigel. The first gun was fred at s
O'Clock at our center, and answered by 1cDow-
elrs batteries; but the answering echoes of the
Blue Ridge had hardly sent back the peals of
ordnance before Sigel also Was attacked, and
from that on until dusk the cannonads was al
most incessant The fact was that the main
body Of the enemy had come up, and, in advance
Of choosing their final position, they were feel
Ing us all along the line. At Barnetts Ford,
however, their attack was most determined, as
favorable for their designs. But the gallant
corps of Sigsl did not come short Of ito duty one
iota, for their batteries played upon the Rebel
batteries all day long, and even after nightfall,
worn out and fatigued as men and horses were,
they kept up the fight until the enemy drew off.
In the morning, Banks had occupied q position
to the left Of Mcdowell, but when it became ap.
parent that the attack upon Sigel would be the
main feature of the day, his corps was moved
up to the right to support Sigel, and Reno's Di.
vision was marched from Kellys Ford to point
above Rsppabsnnock Railroad Bridge, near Gen.
Popes headquarters. The blst New York was,
however, left to guard the ford, much to Lieut..
Col. Potter's disgust, who longed to lead his men
into the thickest of the fight, az usual.
All day Friday General Pope's headquarters
we're on bold hill, whence tolerable view
could be had Of the line of battle, which
stretched for eight or ten miles along the Rap
pshannock, and hither came and thence went
mounted aids and orderlies In hot haste, with
reports and orders, verbal and written. The bill
top vas shaded BY group of large oaks, under
whose branches saw At one time clustered sew.
eral generals and general stafa
Il. When the artillery attack on Sigel had lulled
little the brave General determined to feel the
Rebel strength opposite bis position. Accord
ingly he ordered Gen. Carl scburz to reconnoi-
ter with bis Division, and, if possible, to cross
the river. Schurx's division comprises two bri.
gades, Of which he took only the FIRST, General
Bohien, for the reconnaissance. The 74th Penn
sylvania vas sent over first, the men wadina
breast deep through the water, holding theil
pieces and ammunition above their heads Il
keep them dry. The 9Th Virginia and slst Ohio
followed after, and some time after McLean'i
Brigade was sent to support them in their en-
eagement With the enemy. 1s ylJ s. e.
Schurzs crossing WAS unopposed. He KEEP,
on up the opposite bank, and out upon the leve
ground, and went more than mile before biz
pickets came face to face With the epemy's. A,
soon % our fellows cav the gray. backs, they
fred. bu. the Rebels, instead Of standing ground
OF making show of force. fell back, ID no verJ
lelsurely manner either, for half a mile. Sige
followed while, until It was evident that they
wished to entrsp him into IN anbusb, when b.
halted and took up fne position in the edge
OF some heavy timber, the approaches to which
al =. IL 1.~s. - H. A.