Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-09-06

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the enemy with vigor and effect.
Gen. Birney formed his line Of battle in
front and on the centre of his own Brigade,
consisting Of seven regiments. A mus
kerry fire was opened on both sides and
continued with great sharpness for half an
hour. The enemy's line being unsustained
BY artillery, was greatly shaken by the
cannonade from our side, and by the heaT-
| mess of the infantry fire.
Gen. Birney, as soon as heperceived in
dications of the enemy's unsteadiness in
his front, ordered the 40th-known as the
| Mozart Regiment-and 1stNew York, both
commanded by Col. Egan, and the Scott
Life Guard-38th New York-Col. Ward,
to advance in bayonet charge.
| These three regiments moved across the
cornfeld, down the ravine, and up the op-
posite slope, with the greatest gallantry
and determination, and almost instantly
broke the Rebel line and put them to flight.
They were pursued by our artillery, but
/ owing to the darkness and .he storm, pur-
suit by infantry for any distance was i'm
possible.
Our troops occupied the position of the
enemy from which he had been driven,
| Gen. Berry's reserve brigade holding the
ground all night.
Our dead were buried and wounded car
ried off the ground. Some prisoners were
! taken from the enemy. Among them were
the Adiutant-General of Gen. Jones and
his Chiefo Ordnance.
Our loss in killed and wounded in Gen.
| Birney's command is about 20O-amoDg
them Major Tilden of the 88th N. 7. who
was mortally wounded, and died immedi-
ately after the victory.
The enemy's forces consisted Of parts Of
the divisions of Gems. Jackson, Ewell, and
| Hill-numbering from 10000 to 10000.
GEN KEARSEY's BODY.
Early the next morning, however flag
of truce came in from Gen. Lee, with word
that Kesrneg's body had been found, and
would be delivered up. Gen. Heintzel-
man at once detailed Major Birney, COM
manding 57th Pennsylvania, to receive it {;
and the Major started with flag and an es-
cort of infantry and cavalry, but before
reaching the outposts he met party hav-
ing the remains in charge. They had been
informally delivered up to our men, with
out waiting for the usual escort to come
up. The body had been rifed of sword,
pistol, watch, diamond broach, finger rings
and the pocket-book, in which the General
always kept large amount of money.
For a wonder the thieves had not stolen
his boots or coat. The body was carried
to our rear, and escorted by Major Birney
to Washington, where it was embalmed.-
1t was found that musket ball had enter
ed the left hip, and passed upward through
the abdomen into the cavity of the body, no
doubt causing instant death.
BUFoRD's CAVALRY CHARGE.
In the afternoon of Saturday, the follow
ing splendid charge was made:
At o'clock in the afternoon the enemy
threw heavy columns against our left,
where McCalrs Reserves and Duryee's
Brigade held position, the latter on the ex-
treme left. From their concealment in the
woods they suddenly opened on Duryee a
heavy fire of batteries, and threw his force
into a confusion which was heightened, if
if not occasioned, by the very large
body Of stragglers which swarmed
on the flank. Where they came from, or
why they were there, l did not learn, but
of all regiments, battalions, squadrons, and
companies they foeked TO the number of
two or three thousand, and when Duryee
gave way they started on stampede to-
ward the rear. Then came q crisis which
was really terrible. If panic should
spread from the bewildered, running
wretches, the roads and ravines of the old
battle ground might have seen such a pitt
able sight as they did in the dark days of
1861. Our left turned and beaten back in
confusion, no one could tell to what lengths
the misfortune would spread. But Buford' s
quick eye took in the position at a glance.
Ordering his cavalry brigade to form in
regimental line his bugle sounded
the wild notes Of the charge, and in
another moment the hoofs of his 1,200
horses woke laundering echoes among the
glens. Down the slope, and out on the
level ground his squadron swept on and
crashed against the cavalry which the reb-
els were gathering to hurl upon our wa
vering lines. 1t was a desperate chance
for the safety Of more than five thousand
men, and Buford never drew rein until
his horse had gone through and through
the enemy's squadrons. There was a
cloud Of dust and smoke, out from which
came pistol-shots, and cracks of carbines,
and the crash of steel on steel, and shouts
and yells, all mingled in a pandimonium
of sounds Before their impetuous charge
the rebel cavalry fed like leaves driven by
the wind, and the moment of danger was
passed. For quarter of an hour Buford
held the ground, while Mccall swung in
line around until he came to the left Of
our centre, and found support Themove-
ments ware made in order, and the strag-
glers got safely away to a safe place.
Recovering from their disorderly retreat,
the rebels gathered for great spring up
on Buford's brigade, and in few min
utes our one thousand two hundred men
were attacked by an equal force of caval-
ry, supported by brigade of infantry,
and a fanking battery Of artillery. Of
course, they could not stand against
such odds, and the order to fall back was
given and Obeyed, the enemy re-
repulsing us for about n mile. Here, how
ever, we stopped and waited for them to
come up until they got within short range,
when oar batteries were placed in posi-
ton, and then gave them such welcome
that they wayered, and whole division
being pushed out from our centre, they
retreated until we had regained all the
lost ground. Sigel turned the enemy's
left at about the same time that they turn
er ours and when night put an end TO the
battle our whole line stood about as it did
in the morning. The losses on both sides
were fearful, the men of both going down
by hundreds, and their bodies lying in
some places heaped atop each other three
and four deep.
INCIDENTS.
On Sunday morning, as the rebels near
ed our provision train Of cars at Msnas-
sas, Captain D. F. Smith gave orders to
save all that could be saved, and to burn
the balance, which was done. To carry
this out he directed two young men, clerks