Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1862-06-06

/ port was sent to Gon. banks, and AID was
also sought, and soon after its need became
evident, for the enemy advanced in force
with infantry, artillery aud cavalry, upor
blind dirt road, and cut off the detach
ment between our infantry and the bag
gage train. Their artillery consisted o
Armstrong guns.
The most disastrous and bloody slaugh
ter of our cavalry which has occurred
during the three days fighting now FOL
lowed.
Cut off as they were from the mair
body of our troops by vastly superior
number of the enemy, most critical sit
nation was before them. There were five
companies of the First Maine Cavalry
and two companies, A and G, of the Yer.
mont.
Lieut.. Colonel Doughty of Maine Cav
airy, was there, and Major Collins of Yer.
mont cavalry, also inferior in command to
the Lieut.. Colonel aud to Gen. Hatch.
\ charge was now made, to describe
which is not an agreeable task. In such
desperate straits, nothing seemed to daunt
the determination of the men, which only
served to make their destruction the more
sure and terrible.
Dashing onward with drawn sabres, at
the GREATEST speed, the foremost were sud-
denly stopped, and those behind, unable
to restrain their horses, fell one upon an
other, forming large pile of men and
horses, some of whom, pierced through
with the sabrcs of their own comrades,
were killed, and many in the promiscuous
heap were crushed, and died, unable to
extricate themselves. A few only escaped
fleeing across the fields to the mountains.
All the time the rebels kept up yell,
and killed many with their sabrcs and
bayonets who lay wounded upon the
ground.
This fatal catastrophe is said to have
been the result Of an unauthorized order
to charge, given by Major Collins, the
the third officer in command, who was ta-
ken prisoner by the rebels. II so, he has
much to answer for, and We hope he may
be able to show himself innocent of 50
serious an accusation.
After the afflir previously de-
scribcd, in which the Maine and Vermont
cavalry suffered 50 severely, the enemy
turned back upon the baggage train which
was between them at Strashure, and caus-
cd the greatest confusion which can be
imagincl The wagons, some Of them
turned about and running against others,
broke down, filing up the roads, while the
mules AMI horses and cattle remaining in
the greatest fright, produced an indcscrib-
able state Of confusion.
The cavalry finding the road to Vim
chester thus barricadcd, both by wagons
and an enemy, had no other alternative
than to turn their horses towards Stras-
burg.
They had crossed Cedar Greek and ta-
ken with them the Xouaves d'Afriquc, and
a line of battle was tormel. \ battery
was also there, and was placed in position
1t soon became obvious, however, that the
enemy We're near in strong force and they
then, under guidance Of Maj. Sawyer OF
the Vermont cavalry, commenced re-
treat by mountain road They met Col
DcForcst with the New York cavalry,
who Joined them in the retreat.
The whole force Of cavalry were soon
up the mountain road, aud were proceed
ing finely, recrossing Cedar Greek, and
moving rapidly toward Winchester.
ALL or l. o'clock at night they ar
rived in town, relieving the anxiety which
had been felt for them, who it was sup
posed had been cut off and captured.