The New York herald., 1862-04-03

On the main road, throwing out bkuunuSSb
sna an advance guard Of the Twenty nrss
and at distance Of six miles heard from Captain WIZ
mson OF the typographical Enginsers the result Of
Leutsnants Poll and Fearing Of General Burnsde's STAR
and by Leutenants Strong, Pcndeton and Strong, OF
mine, discovering an abandoned breastwork; ! % thsn
pushed on and entered the work, accompanied by Gen.
Reno, who had shortly before come up and assumed
command Of tho Twenty first Massachusetts,.
ed and running in straight line from the railroad TO the
river, distance Of about mile having flank facing
the railroad and fort the river flank there werefour
thanking bastons for guns and tho fort prepared for
four guns; none were mounted. however.
Tho troops halted inside the fort to rest and eat
Gen. Burnside then coming up, /, agreeably 70 his
ORDERS advanced my brigade about three O'Clock on the
country road Gen. Reno being ordered to take the rail-
road track which ran OF to the left Of the country road
We marched about four miles, halted and bivouaeked
Tor the night near the enemy's position.
AT daylight OF the next morning (the 14th) I'D
camn \, my n UsaaS oy order Of General Burnside until
ordered to the left by General Burnsde) and made the
Following disposions:-The Twenty nth thrown TO
the extreme right, folowe in order by the Twenty
fourth In line OF batethee left resting tho country
road Just on the left Of which placed the howitzer
from inc Highlander under command Of Captain Dayton,
suPpoItea 10 line OF battle, ON tho left by the Twenty
vsnth Massachusetts, and oponed re On the arrival
9t .ne navy boat howitzors, under command Of Lieut.
ncUooK they were placed in line the left OF Captain
tons gur and the Twenty third was ordered TO tho
o' Inc lwenty-seventh The firing was ncessant and
y Severe from the breastwoI and within very short
range.
General Burnside arriving communicated to him the
dispositions had made, which be approved, sending
over 70 General Parke to push the enemys right and
yng me TO hold the 'front.' he rode of TO reach General
Renos position.
Tho Tenth regiment Connecticut Volunteers having
rived were ordered to the left Of the twenty third and
70 support them II rendered necessary by want OF
munition-this being the case, they formed and to
the left of the position Of the Twenty third and opened
fire. Hearing from the Twenty seventh that they
very short Of ammunition, ordered the Eleventh Con-
necticut, OF General Parkes brigade, which had just
come up by order Of General Burnsdc 70 their support
~ th>tr
tion Tho Twenty seventh Massachusetts, then retired
in good order with orders 10 lie in hollow, out Of the
fire, with fixed bayonets, and wait further orders.
The ammunition OF the naval howtzers being nearly
exhausted and piece disabled the Twenty III Mas
sachusets were ordered to march by the flank and form
30 as TO support the guns leaving the Twenty
tho extreme right. About twenty -fve minutes from
this time tho head Of General Parkes column the Fourth
Rhode Island, had reached the breastwork at
the railroad crossing, and, after Q brisk 1re,
pushed on and entered the Drsastwork in opening
left for the railroad track, and where the ensmys
steady and constant fire Of the Twenty third Massachu
setts and Tonth Connecticut. This position Of affairs
being discovered ordered an advance along the line
which was promptly obeysd the enemy retreatng with
great precipitation On entering tho breastwork sharp
firing still heard 70 the right OF the ensmy's posi-.
tion, and hearing from General Parke that he
gagged with tho enemy's forces in their works the
right Of the railroad led the Twenty nth Massach.
sets to their support and received tho surrender Of
Colonel Avery and 100 men.
The brsastwork we had entered was similar In con.
structi0n to the abandoned one, running from Fort
II,
tance OF mile and quarter, and from tho railroad
track, rife pits and detached intrenchments in tho
form Of curvettes and redans followed each other for
the distance or mile and quarter, terminate dby two
gun battery. Fort Thompson, 1anking bason mount
ed thirteen guns, all thirty two Founders 1.-TWO rined)
-four Of which were turned SO az TO bear lines
Tho breastwork mounted with two complete field
batteries, besides several small pieces Of heavy ar
ery and manned by about 600 men, The force in men
and artillery Of tho other dcences am unable TO giye
they not coming under my observation
Pressing forward then with my brigade reached the
vent our following up tho flying enemy rested tho men
on hela on the east bank Of the Trent BY order OF
Gen. Burnside who had continued up with me shortly
after crossed with my brigade the and en-.
eampe the regiments with the exception OF the Twenty.
nth n the camp OF the enemy 1t the fair
grounds the enomy having left all his camp cqupage,
the being quartered in tho town for police
duty.
creek need not mention the horrible Of the road
the wearing labor 1t cost to drag for twelve miles the
~ for tSs nsht S0 @ ne Wo ground
I must mention In my brigade, where all behaved
bravsy with particular praise the Twenty fourth Mas.
sachusetts and the Tsnth Connecticut The former.
under . severe Gre from musketry in the front
and exposed TO = thanking IRE Of grape and ca.
mister from For. 1homp.Oa unprotected 6y the trees.
advanced close under the suemys Aro In line Of battle
fred with tho most remarkable steadncss and stood
steadily up, giving and taking the most severe Are
Tho howitsers, under the command Of lieutenant
McCook, Acting Masters Daniels and Hammond Captain a
Clerk Mseksr Captain Rewaas Clerk Gaberdan Lcutsn
ants Tlotson and Hughes, Of the Union Coast Cyard
were most admirably served during the day and whom
their ammunition exhausted they laid down By their
pieces rather than withdraw from their poaition
Captain Dayton volunteered again to land and coMmsnd
tho gun fren the Highlander His gun was first In pos-
ton and he served it, as before, with steadnees and
efficiency. Lieutenant Tilotson, whose gun WAS dis-
absd rushed ahead after the action in pursuit. With
such speed ss to Be captured BY the enemy.
COST Sl % the
Of the Twenty third Who fell early in the
action while urging and cheering tho men and Of
chusetts, shot dead in the field.
Major Robert II. Stevenson, Of the Twenty fourth
Massachusetts, was wounded in the leg but stood up
coursgng his till forced TO leave the field Adjutant
". L. Horton, Of the same regiment, was severely
wounded by grape shot 10 the shoulder while in the
Sargent and James b. Nichols were each slightly
wounded
Captain Parkhurs., Of the Twsnty.hfth Massa-
Lieutenants j. s. Aitchison and J. W. Traton OF the
Twenty seventh, slightly wounded. Captain r. r.
Swift also severely wounded, and Lieutenant George
Warner had foot shot of.
Captains Wesley C. Sawyer and William B. Alexander,
OF the Twenty third Massachusetts, both wounded
tho former severely In the leg, rendering amputaton
and the latter in the hand.
Lieutenant 7. ". b. Hughes, Of the Union Coast Guard
Epclosed hand you tho returns Of killed and wounded.
showing total Of 80 killed and 153 wounded.
II is with much pleasure that cnn rsportali Of my
STAFF uninjured. Tnsy consisted during the day OF
Brigade Surgeon j. H. Thompson, who volunteered in the
early part Of tho fight to carry any order for me- and he
did so till called elsewhere by his duties, under the
hottest fire.; Captain Souhard Hoffman, "A A. c. Captain
Edward Potter, A. s.; Lieutenant John +. Anderson
A. n. G.; Lieutenant J. NJ. Pendleton. A. D. c.. Lieu
tenant Jas. H. Strong, A. ID. c. Lieutenant Edward NJ
strong A. ID. Co. and Licutenants j. L. Van Buren, and r.
T. Gordon, Of the Signal Corps, who used az Aids
and most cordially bear my testimony TO the conduct
Of the above mentioned officers as most worthy gallant
set Of gentlemen They ndefatigable in carrying
orders. urging ON men. and in placing the regiments
cooly and correctly obeying every order, and always
under the heaviest are
without drawing any distinctions in the staff would
take advantage OF this opportunity to mention the names
of Lieutenant Jas NJ Pendleton and JAS H. and Edward
NJ Strong being volunteers, who without commission
cmoumcnt have acted during the ontire campaign as
aids and performed every duty ycaously sasfac
ory and whose conduct during the day have already
spoken Of and TO suggest that, under these circum.
Stances thor services deserve recognition r net award
from the government.
also desire TO return my thanks 10 the colonies
for the able assistance they rendered, in promptly
and correctly obeying, with the regiments under
their command, my orders during the day. They
wsre:Coonel Edwin Upton, Of the Twenty fifth Massa-
chusetts Colonel Thomos q. Stevenson, Twenty fourth
Massachusetts,; Colonel Horace Z. Lee