New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-06-26
THE BATTLE OF PORT REPUBLIC.
InI PART HORNE LII ~ COL. CAKROIL.

The hrsi reports of battles are often incorrect.
The confusion incident TO AN engagement OF itself
precudes the os,ibility Of fair estimate OF affair,
at the fret, and II Is only aer The smoke OF battle
has paced away that clesr view can be had.
The battle OF ForI Republic forms no exception
TO ths general experience. Approaching, a. every
body could, after the disaster there lad occurred,
that il might have been avoided by the destruction
of the bridge arosr the Shenandoah Mt that place II
wa taken for guanttd that 1t should have been
burned, and that orders had been given TO that
effect. Upon that assumption Col. Carroll, who had
command Of the advance, has been loudly censured,
and the failnre of the expedition, and the terrible
destruction Of life com, quett upon II, nave been
yisited upon bis head. without rejecting 10 any
WAY upon others il ir the purpose OF this oomnuni-
cation 10 show that Col Carroll acted strictly nc
cDrdns TO imperative orders, and that he carried
himself in their execution like true ard gallant
soldier.
Ou the ith instant while az Conrsds Store Col.
Carroll received orders TO 20 forward at once, with
cavalry and guns, to save the bridge ~ Port Repnb-
he. AZ hat time II was impossible Tor him 10 move.
he heavy rains which had prevail for come days
hal 80 swolln the streams that Col. Carroll was
entirely separated from tie communicating with
him only his sta fifteen cavalry aud two pieces Of
sriIery Uis infantry war five miles IN his rear
and compelled 10 remain there, by the mfassabIe
cTeeks, between two aud three days
On saturday, the 7rh, Col Carroll received orders
10 move forward To Wayne-bOrO' distant some b OF
81 miles, by the way OF Port Republic, for the pur
T0-e ofdestrOying the railroad depot track, bridge
&c., at that place, and 10 seize jackson train and
throw hls force upon JaoksoD's ilank Col. Carroll
INA II he'd, obedience To these orders, Saturday
afternoon IIs infantry, cavalry and artillery had
III the mean tine come mp, ana he started rom Con-
rad Store with lees than thousand Of the former
with 10 cavalry, and WI - single battery Of siA
guns.
Iial.ing in the night, six miles before reaching
Port Republic, Col Carroll sent forward party Of
scouts who returned with the information that
JAG k.ons train was packed near Por, Republic with
drove OF beef cattle heIded near by and The wloie
guarded by about two or three hundred cavalry. On
learning THE Col Carroll pushed forward, with The
design OF capturing the train aud cattle as his ordera
directed. lie halted some two miles from the town,
maze Reconnaissance, and received further mi0r-
nation confirming the report 81 bI- scouts and then
dashed into town with hs cavalry and two tieces,
driving lie euemyB cavalry oat and taxing poser
Sion ol the bridge. lie halted there for his infantry
10 come up and disposed Lis pieces aud little force TO
prev cnt q Iepulso from tie tram ard when be-
lore he had occupied The village twenty minutes lie
was attacked by three regiments VI The cDemys in
futry, ry eighteen Of their guns, and by cavalry
force superior 10 his own. In toe ihoe OF this Ire
was forced to retire and the project OF proceeding
twenty odd miles lurlEer up TO Naynesboro lad to
be abandoned. 40 saied above, Col. Carroll did not
hold tue place twenty minutes; and there was 40 IN
slant OF time after his arrival in which he could
have DESTROYED bridge in the presence OF such
enemy even had he been ordered 70 - do.
Refining from Port Republic. Col. Carroll brought
his force 10 stand al the first deensbe position,
.ome NO and half miles distant from the town.
Here he was reinforced by Gen. Tylcrs brigade,
numbering about . 1000. Col. Carroll approaching
tie superior position Of the enemy, as we'll as MS
vastly superior force, advised retreat upon Con-
rad store under cover - the night lu this he was
ovsrruled, and the battle of Monday occurred on
the ground 10 which be had retired from Sundays
repulse. -
Ii is not the intention to apologize for Col. Carroll
but to show simply that he obeyed orders. How
be carried himself through the hot contest of Mon
oay, bis superior on the field can testify to more
properly and with better knowledge than any one
else In his report Of the engagement, as pnblirhed
in the papers, Gen Tyler says among other Ike
compliments: "Gen. Carroll distinguished himself
by bis cooness and dazzling bravery. Upon him l
relied, and was not disappointed
II is confidently stated that whatever blame may
hereafter be attached any officer account OF the
disasrous battle Of Porn Republic, none can be fairly
laid to the charge OF Col. Carroll but Tint the more
the facts connected with IL are investigated, the
greater will BE- the praise accorded to bin for hls
gallant and sodierly condicl his advance aud IN
the iiQht.