Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-09-12

20 6e closely followed by Hooker and Reno
and engage the enemy thus placed between M
lowell and Sigel; Heintzelman and Reno o
the east, and Fitz John Porter on the south.
also instructed Gen. Porter, with his own corn,
and Kings division, which had for some reaso
fallen back from the Warrenton turnpike tc
ward Manassas Junction, to move at daylist
In Tue morning upon Gainesville, along the Ma
nassas Gap railroad, until they communicate
closely with the forces under Gen. Heintzelma
and sige; cautioning them not to 70 furthe
tnan was necessary to effect this junction, a
we might DO forced to retire behind Bull Rur
tnet night, for subsistence, If nothing else.
Gen. Heintzelman marched early from Cen
terville toward gainesville, closely followed b,
Keno. Meantime, shortly after daylight, Sick
els's and Reynolds's divisions Of MCDOWELL
corps, became engaged with the enemy, who wat
brought to stand. Heintzelmsn and Reno eoor
after came up, when the entire line became 40
lively engaged. Porter marched as directed
followed by Kings division, which was by this
time Joined by Ricketts, division, which had
been forced back from Thoroughfare Gap by
the heavy forces of the enemy advancing to
the support Of jackson.
AS eeon as l found that the enemy had been
brought to halt, and was being vigorously at
tackled along the Warrenton turnpike, sent
orders to Gen. Mcdowell to advance rapidly on
our left and attack the enemy on bis flank, ex.
tending bis right to reach Reynolds's left; and
70 Cen Porter to keep his right we'll closed on
mcDoweils left, and to attack the enemy in
nank and rear, while he was pushed In front.
Inis would have made the line Of battle of Nc
Dowell and Porter at right angles to that Of the
other forces engaged. This action RACED furi.
ously all day, Mcdowell, although previously in
rear OF Pjrter, bringing his whole corps on the
held In the afternoon and taking a conspicuous
part in the operations Of the day.
10 my surprise and disappointment, l re-
ceiveo' late IN the afternoon, from Gen, Porter
note saying that his advance had met the on.
emy on the Hank, in some force, and that he
was retiring on Manassas Junction, without en-.
gaglng the enemy or coming to the assistance
OF our other forces, although they we're engaged
In furious action only two miles distant, and
10 iull hearing Of him. A portion of his forces
feli oack toward Manassas, while he remained,
as ee afterward informed me, where be was,
looking on the enemy during the afternoon of
Friday and part OF the Same night, passing
down 10 plain view to reinforce the troops
unoer Jackson, without an effort to prevent it
or to assist us.
One Of his brigades, under Gen. Griffin, got
round to Centerville, and remained there during
the whole of the next days battle, without
coming on the field, though in full view of the
battle which was raging; while General Griffin
himself spent the day 10 making ill-natured
structures upon the General Commanding, in
the presence of promiscuous assemblage.
Darkness closed the action on Friday, the enc.
my being driven back from his position BY
Helntzelman's and Reno's corps, and by a furi-
GUS attack along the turnpike by Kings division
and McDowell's corps, the enemy leaving his
dead and wounded on the battlefield.
do not hesitate to say that II the CORDS of
Porter had attacked the enemy in flank on the
afternoon OF Friday, as he had my written Or
ders to do, We should have crushed the enemy
before the forces under Lee could have Joined
them. Why he did not do so, cannot under
stand. Our men, much worn down by hard ser.
vice and continued fighting for many previous
days and nights, and very short of provisions,
rested on their arms. Our horses had not had
forage for ten days.
had telegraphed and written frequently for
rations and forage to be sent Us; but on SstuE.
day morning, before the action was resumed,
received letter from General Franklin, writ
ten the day previous from Alexandria, stating
that he had been directed by General McClei-
Ian to inform me that rations and forage for
my command would be loaded into cars and
available wagons as soon as | would forward
cavalry escort to Alexandria to bring them M.
All hope of being able TO maintain my position,
whether victorious or not, vanished with this
information,
My cavalry was utterly broken down by long
and constant service in the face of the enemy,
aud, bad as they were, could not be spared from
the front, even If there had been time to go
back thirty miles to Alexandria ana await the
loading OF the trains. l at once understood
hat al
had to do that day, or night would fnd us be-
hind Bull Run, II we wished to save men and
animals from starvation. The enemy's large
reinforcements having reached him on Friday
afternoon and night, he began to macs on his
right, for the purpose of crushing our left and
occupying the road leading to CenterviIle, in
our rear. ..rIr.- .....-
His heaviest assault was made about Eve
o'clock in the afternoon. When, after over
whelmiug Gen Fitz John Porter's forces, and
driving him back on the center and left, macs
after mass of the enemy's forces were push ed
against our left. A terrific contest, with great
slaughter, was carried on for several hours, our
men behaving with frmness and gallantry un.
der the immediate command of Gen. McDow
ell. When night closed, our left was forced
back about half q mile, but still remained firm
and unbroken, while the right held its ground.
Gen. Franklin, with his corps, arrived after
dark at Centerville, six miles in our rear;
whilst Gen. Sumner was four miles behind
Franklin. could have brought up these corps
In the morning, In time to have renewed the ac-
tion, but men and horses were completely ex-
hausted for want of sufficient food / accord.
iDgly retired to Centerville that night, In per.
feet order. Neither on Sunday nor Monday did
the enemy mako any advance upon us. Oh Mon
day sent TO the army corps commanders for
their effective strength; which, all told, fell
short Of sixty thousand men. 4.
The enemy during Monday again began to
move slowly around to our right, for the pur-
pose Of possessing Fairfax Court House, and
thus turning our rear. A portion of Summers
division had been left there, and sent Gen.
Hooker, on Monday afternoon, to take com
mand and post himself at or In front of Ger
mantown; ct the same time directing Mcdowell
to take position along the turnpike from Cen.
terville to Fairfax Court House, about ten miles
vest of the latter place. Heintzelman was di.
rected to post himself in the rear, and in cup.
port Of Reno, who was pushed north of the
road at Q point about three miles east of Cen
terville, and to cover the road.
1t was my purpose in the course of the night
to mass my command on the right, in the direc-
tion of Germantown, where felt convinced the
next attack Of the enemy would be made. Late
in the afternoon on Monday the enemy made his
demonstration upon Germantown, but was met
by Hooker at that place, and by Reno, rein
forced by Kearney, further west. The battle
Was very severe, though of ehort duration, the
enemy being driven back one mile, with heavy
loss, leaving his dead and wounded. 2 In this
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