The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1862-08-30
The Four Days Fighting on the Rap
n naha nnOck

the letters Of u New York newspaper ccr-
respondent, is MS complete and graphic n
description Of the four days fighting Oh the
Rappahannock as we are able to gather, in
which the army of Pope retired from the
lsapidan to the Rsppahannock, holding the
rebel army in check till McClsllan's and
other troops could be masscd ON that new
field Of military operations of the grand
armies
BY Wednesday noon August Goth, the
retreat of our army from the Kapidan to the
Rappnhannock had brought il TO the banks
OF the latter river, and the rear guard, com.
posed in part Of Gen. lIaich's Brigade of
cavalry, were ust at Brandy Station 1.-THE
first ON the railroad beyond Rappahannock
Bridgc) when the head of the Rebel plrsu.
ing columns first came in sight Through
out the whole march from Culpepper to this
point the enemy were following closely upon
the heels Of our forces, their advance guard
beng but u short distance behind our rear.
and their main body only some six or eight
miles off. At this insignificant little rail
road station, then, the grand armies OF Pope
and Lee first got sight Of each other, and IL
conflict Immediately cnsued. Onr rear
guard. surprising that the Rebel force was
mere skirmishng party sent in advance. and
Wishing to check such presumptuous recon
noitering, turned upon it, and the order to
charge was given. Immediately the three
cavalry regiments Of IIatch's Bsigadc-thr
+" Harris Light lsb Pennsylvania, and first
.Sew >'s.-ey .5rmca in line of battle and
swept forward with loud cheers ;but coming
suddenly upon broad and deep ditch they
were compelled to draw rein, and at the
instant II large force of Rebel infantry rose
from cover and poured II heavy volley into
the ranks, which emptied many saddles and
threw our squadrons is,y confusion. The
line gave way ut the center, but the wings
wayering and showing disposition to hol'i
their ground, another rdllcy was poured
into them by the enemy, and our whole force
then rapidly retrcptcd to the Rappnhannock
River. The rebel forces followed holly
after; but at the moment when they though,
they had driven us pcll.mcl over the river
and the capture of the railroad bridge must
be an easy affair, the fire of two batteries
Matthews's Pennsylvania and Thompson $
Mnryland-was poured into their faces with
terrible effect. Their impulsive advance
was checked in the instant, and the exultant
yclls died upon their lips. In haste they
retired from the exposed situation where
they stood to the cover of n thick wood,
which skirted the level plain at distance
not having been brought forward, they could
not reply to our fire, so their column moved
to the left under cover of the woods. with
the view of ianking Us by eiiccting a cross.
ing at one Of the fords between Rappohan.
mock Bridge and the Warrcnton White Sui.
phur Springs. Their design. having been
anticipated, was ! fill cl by Gen Pope, W %
pushed his column u corresponding distance
along the north bank of the river, and
guarded each ford with three batteries to
command it in front and from either side
he two armies were kept thus moving all
Thursday, each of the two able players at
this grand game of war seeking to check
mate his antagonist without bringing on a
serious engagement before his forces were
fully massed. An attempt was made down
at kclly's Ford-on the left of our ine-to
cross, and turn our position. but this was
ctiectually foilcd by Gen Reno who showed
no force until he had lurcd the enemy into
the place desired, and then suddenly
opened fire with his batteries. and then fol.
lowed it up with q cavalry charge, which
put the foe to flight, and determined him to
make no more attemps that day to cross at
Kelly Ford
Friiay morning came, and with it $ arp can,nalc
along the Who'll. line, from Kelly ,ri tR-,s p,.itin)
to II rncs Ford which def nled by Sig. T ~ first
gun was fired at o'clock ut our center. sud answered
ny hclh'wcs batteries; hut the answering eChoes
the Bln- Rrige had hardly sent rk the pcas If ordi-
nance before Sgel attacked. and from that until
dusk the cannon,dc almost inressant. Til. feet was
that the main body of the enemy had mp and in
advance Of choosing their final POSITION they were feel
ing US all along til. line At Barnrts Ford. however.
their attack WAS more determined a. that ppint was Of
all along the river, the mst favorable for their designs
But the gallant corps Of Sigcl did not short If its
duty "ne i,ta. for their batteries playcl upon the Rebel
batteries all day long and after nighall. worn out
amt httsnrd ms men and horses were, they kept up the
| hight until the enemy drew Of.
IN tn. morning Hanks had occupied position to the
left If Mcdowell hut when bccan,e apparent that t-
attack upon Sigel would lie the main feature day
his corps was moved up I" the right to support SSc
When the artillery attack srrl hal lullcd it'll.
the brave General determined to frvl the Rebel strength
opposite his position. Accordingly he ordered General
Carl Scnrz reconnoter with his Division and If nos
s;he the river. Schurzs division cnmurzc. Two
brgades. Of which he took only the first, Gen Bohl.n
| for the Reconnaissance.
Schutz's crossing unoppoatd liz kent on ,,p the
"p"@iie bank, anil out upon the lrv. ground. aud
n'rc than mil" before his pickets face to f,c.
with the rnemy's. As fellows the gray
hacks they fired, hut the Rebels Instead If standing
sruu,d "r making show Of force. fell back in NJ very
ieisnreiy manner either fr hafa mile Sigel followed,
while until it was evident that they wished -ntrnp
him into ambush. when he halted and t1,k up n fine
position IN the edge Of some heavy timber the spproach
cs to which open fields Their design filled
the enemy hal n" rl,urr but face about and attack
Srhuz in his own position. which, they dill in free
One 81 the officers who was wounded In this fight tells
M" th't he counted twenty-five pieces If ordinance
their side which in action once supported Nv
adequate forces Of infantry and cavalry
|
cohtrsed-as yn may well imagine from the fact that
1t commenced about A. N. and lnstsd until six o'clock
IN The evening Charges repeatedly made ty both
sides. and the Rebels seemingly determined to cnq,rr
In spite Of every osticl' even stripped to their panta-
looms In many cascs-as "ur Irishncn said TO HAZE
done Mt Bull RGu. Eut although the nrsketry was
sharp and the fighting mostly at short range tho Rebels
seemed to have frgfton their Workmanship FIR onrr.
fr up To oclUk when passed that way Sig-l had not
| lost above 80 or co in killed and wounded Int one
brave and true patriot had g,e to his
brig General lohlrn If Philadelphia aniing tile
LIST Brigade, I'D Division Sigels Army Corps had fallen
| while ut the head Of his command he waving his
| sword AMI cheering on his men.
Toward evening Sgcs object having been accom-.
plishe' aud sehurzs force not being sufficient to hold
his extremely advanced position. troops with
drawn to the north bunk If the river They were otly
pursued to the very waters edge by the enemy. and dnf-
ing the passage through the ford the Rebel volcys wrrc
A. sharp any ever heard. All If our killed and
II prisoners (not five whole regiments report
IT, That General Sigcl should have come safely through
the day himself is trucly remarkable for he exposed
himself IN the most reckless manner wherever he
thought necessary to do and in the final grand fus
iade he was in the midst Of real storm Of bullets.
with night came cessation Of hosttcs. The cneiay
had been fniled In His attemps to nnk US, and had
gained another day-worth everything uyssy and
| the Eatoi
On Saturday there wa. an artillery u,. all along the
opposing lines The hall entered at CENTER and
the firing extended not ny mp the river toward Sigel
but down toward the railroad bridge, where occupied
| two hills across the river,
New positions taken this side. from which the
old ones c.ud be eHladrd and the Rebels appearing
in strong force terrific cannonadc opened upon
them by Matthew's Halls Thonpsons and L-ppirrs
Batteries of EickettSs Division, which caused great
loss to the enemy. Every attcmp to plant battery
on the abandoned enincnce was repulscd with great
| slaughter, and the enemy fairly driven back to
1 left fhp ollnd