The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-05-14
The First Virginia Battalion In the
Battle Of kernSsOWn

In the several accounts that wa have pub.
iished Of the battle OF Kernstown, fought on
the Esd OF March, NO mention has been made
Of the gallant officer who commanded the CO.
LIBERATED First Battalion generally called the
"Irish battalionD in that meIporabls engage.
msnt. We are now enabled to place on record
Bridgford, led that corps into the action.
and was prominent among the heroes CT the
bloody field OF Kernstown. From his official
report. copy Of which has fallen INTO our
hands, we copy the following:
both lines. The ground we occupied WAS
dotted with dead and wounded men. The tire
Of the enemy was exceedingly severe. The
colors OF the battalioa were planted on the
ridge by Color Sergeant Kinney, under the
guidance Of Captain Leigh, OF company A.
This officer acted with the most conspieu nous
gallantry during the whole OF the action
He took q most exposed poaition by the side
up his men % the crest Of the ridge. and
point out to them where 70 aim thar flre.-
He was cool and collected, and ENCOURAGED his
men to f1ght bravely and effectively, by OK am-
commenced on our part, ID Lieut. Joha
Hstn, com manding Company ID, fell, pierced
b. bali through the body, whilst CALAMITY
directing the IRE Of his men. First Lieut..
x0I40I, COumoAOtu& OVuPA0x d tWQO lQV
sisted upon taking part in ths operations Of
the day, Notwithstanding ths fact that he
was quite i'll and fesble,) behaved in an OK.
csedingly gallant manner Escond Lieut..
Over.on, OF Company a, also behaved with
great gAilsntry. exsrting hims4lf to ma 20 the
men move forward to the ridge, and deliver
theii IRE effectively. Second Lieut.. Ooltr ain of
Company attracted MY attention By simi.
fell, In advance Of the colors, with ghaStjy
wound In his face, whilst in the act OF takip 2
aim at the enemy. The men, especially the
non. coMmissioned cf1oers, acted with great
undiminishsd fury. until half.past 9 O'CLOCK,
when received orders 70 fall back, lighting
The retreat became general. After passing
made by ia otafns Thom and Lsigh. Lieutsn.
ants Overton and Uol:rain. and perhaps tn.
ers, to rally the men, waich parially-suc-
ceedsd; but the enemy advan cing and pour.
OF the rlags, and The crowd Of fusitivss rush.
ing by as, the attempt proved ine6sctuai.--
- In respect TO that part OF thr
right wing of the battalion which, as I
Doay, I learn from captain Thorn, Of Com.
pany u, that a. the time OF the separation
no proceeded with his men TO the right
In pursuance OF al ordsr 70 that effect from
Gen. Garnet, and took position In our line
that the firing on both aides was exceedingly
hot that the enemy's line In front OF that DO.
siti0n Of cur line was twice broken that
soon alter reaching tbs position he received
q ball against his left breast, (which was pre-
vented from penetrating his body by small
copy of the New Testament In q pocket of
his shirt,) and one through the q sshy part OF
his RICH. hand. when he ielt; that he then
gave orders ~ Lieut.. Randolph to 70 tor
ward with his company; aud that the men
under his command did NOS fall back until
the line was entirely broken. Capt. Tnom
adds. that Lieut.. Randolph behaved In q
most gallant manner, AS ola also Lieut. How
ard.
cannot close this report without making
honorable mention Of active aud eth Glen SER
vices rendered during the day o. Lieat.
white. &C Ing Adja.ans Of the 0a.tslion."
the report closes with an allusion to the
casasities In the battalion. 1t entered the
field With II commissioned Ofbesrs, " non.
commissioned on 'ers. and los privasss. and OF
these were killed, y wounded. and II miss.
linz