Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-09-19

ed, was on piece of rising ground on the
right and left of the main road between
Bolivar and the mountains. As the day
| advanced and our forces moved forward,
the position was changed, but never for
the better. The nearer we approached the
mountains, the more successfully could
the enemy bring his artillery to bear on
| our columns. No matter what position
we held, the Blue Ridge mountains COM
manded that position. 1t will be observed
at once, that the enemy had formidable
ground of defence, and nothing but un-
daunted courage wrested from him.
THE FORCES ENGAGED.
The first division to enter the field on
our side was Cox's, of Renos Corps
Next came the Pennsylvania Reserve
Corps, Ricketts, and Kings Divisions,
under command of the gallant and brave
Hooker. We had batteries stationed on
both wings, but at no one time was there
over ten or twelve pieces in practice.
The enemy's force is supposed to have
amounted to about 10000 men. He proba-
bly, used twelve pieces of cannon. The
forces of Gen. Longstreet and D. H. Hill
were engaged.
THE BATTLE.
The battle commenced with artillery at
A. NJ, Robertson's o. S. Battery of
! four light field pieces firing the first shot.
This battery was stationed about six hun
dred yards to the left of the turnpike, the
fire being directed at no particular place
but with a view of shelling the woods
generally, so as to draw reply from the
rebels. The firing was continued for over
an hour, but the enemy did not respond
until Cox's division appeared in the main
road, advancing to take a position. Two
pieces stationed in the Gap were then
opened upon the column. The troops
however, turned into field at the left of
the road, and got out of harms way before
any injuries were effected. Here they re-
mained in line of battle for an hour and q
half In the mean time the enemy's DO
sition having been discovered, ROBERTSON
directed the fire of his pieces to the Gap
| Soon after the rebels opened another bat
terry at the right of the Gap, and subse-
quently, still, another battery at the left.
1t was then evident that the rebels in
tended to make u vigorous stand on the
mountain. Since the preceding day they
had brought up extra pieces Of cannon,
for as before stated, they had used but
three, at the most, in the skirmishers du-
ring the week. The enemy was now fire.
ing from nine pieces, consequently, to
make a vigorous reply, Haynes q. S.
Battery of six pieces moved up to the as
sistance of Robertson.
heavy oanonading then ensued., but
as usual in artillery duels little damage
was effected on either side At 10 A. NJ
the enemy withdrew his pieces on the
left and right of the Gap and worked prin-
eipally with those in the Gap. A half an
hour later all of the enemy's. guns were
silent, but upon the moving of Cox's Di-
vision soon after to the edge of the woods
on the side of the mountain at the left, the
rebels again produced their pieces at the
right of the Gap. Cooks Massachusetts
Battery of six pieces was now brought up
to the support Of Robertson's, and con-
centrating fire was poured into the Gan,
many of the shells bursting directly over
the rebel guns. At first the enemy threw
solid shot, but after a while changed his
projeetile to she'll
Three times during the day the rebels
were forced to change the position of their
pieces, and late in the afternoon their
guns were silent altogether.
By II o'clock COx's Division had ar
rived at the woods, and few minutes
later had entered for the purpose of get
ting round the enemy's right.
At this juncture Gems. Mcclellan and
Burnside, with their Staffs, rode upon the
held, where they remained during the
continuance of the battle.
COOK Battery took favorable position
for sheiing the woods in advance of the
DIVISION, but had hardly got to work when
tie rebels fired a tremendous volley of
musketFy at the cannOniers. This was
repeated several times in quick succession.
until at length the cannoniers abandoned
their pieces, and ran to the rear leaving
four or five of their comrades dead upon
the ground. The drivers of the caissons
also partook of the panic, and dashed hes3-
long through the ranks of COx's Division,
which was drawn up in line Of battle q
few yards to the rear. Two companies of
cavalry regiment which were supporting
the battery, also galloped through the line
of infantry, thus leaving four pieces of
artillery (the other tive having been de-
tached to another part of the field to fall
into the hands of the enemy. The event
caused temporary, and only temporary
confusion among the troops. They quick
ly Strengthened the line and prepared TO
resist a demonstration observable on the
part of the enemy to seize the abandoned
pieces. The rebels march forward to Sc
cure their anticipated prize, and at the
same moment the Twenty-third Ohio and
One Hundredth Pennsylvania Regiments
advanced in splendid order to repulse
them. The rebels had approached to with
in about ten feet of the gans when the
contest commenced. Each side seemed
desperate to its purpose, and the struggle
was most exciting. As length the Forty
fifth New York came to the rescue and
turned the tide of fortune in our favor.
Both parties suffered severely in the ac-
ton. The rebels retreated in great con-
fusion, while our men made the woods re-
sound with cheers.
For the succeeding two hours the infant
ry under command of Reno ceased opera
tiOns, and the artillery alone continued the
duel. The guns used thus far were 6, 10
and l2-pounders. Simmons Ohio battery
Of four 20-pounder pieces was now placed
in position on the left, and commenced
throwing shells to the right of the Gap, ct
which point the rebels had again stationed
battery. The firing for while was ex-
ceeding sharp and animated, but the 20
Founders proved too much for the rebels,
and they were compelled, in the course Of
an hour, to change the position of their
guns. At the expiration of the next half
hour, their guns were silenced. In the
battle the enemy I'd mot have so many
guns as usual. or if he did have them, he
aid not 'Lng them into practice. The 80
Pouno 'sr which he was so fond Of using
a' ,4inst us on the Peninsula did not make
its appearance here.