Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-09-09
The Battle OF ChantiIiy-Why it was
Fought.

Correspondence of the ew York Tribune.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 5.-The same hour
that Gen. Stevens was killed in battle a num-
Der of prominent gentlemen filling influential
positions were in consultation in this city and
in other parts of the country, with a view of
having him assigned to the command of the
| army Of Virginia Successive manifestations
| of incapacity during a year of war have
| caused thinking men to cast about for lead
er. These gentlemen had fixed upon Gen.
Isaac l. Stevens as the man. His splendid
conduct in the battles of Friday and Satur-
day had just directed attention to hint was
remembered that in pure capacity he had al
ways been first, having taken the honors at
West Point with scarcely an effort, and though
old political enemies, these men resolved to
ask that he be given leading command
while they were consulting he led on his men
and fell
The Importance of the engagement of Mon
day night which lost to the country Kearney
and Stevens has not been generally under
stood. The truth is, it was not a mere cpl
sode made noteworthy by the death of two
such leaders, but crisis where nothing but
decision and sacrifice on the part of those
leaders awaited to prevent disaster. The army
was retreating from Centreville. The battle
was fought against rebel force that had pen
etrated five miles nearer Washington than
our rear and was moving to strike upon the
flank. Gen. StevenS's division, the advance
OF Reno'S corps, was on the left of the road
taken by the trains, and intercepted the enc
my. He saw that the enemy must be beaten
back at once, or during the night they would
stampede the wagons, and probably so dscon-
cert our retreat that the last division would fall
prey to their main force. He decided to at
tack Immediately, at the same time sending
back for support. Having made his DISPOSE
tlons, he led the attack on foot at the head of
the 18th (Highlanders.) Soon meeting with
erlng fire, and the color sergeant, Sandy
Campbell, a grizzled old Scotchman, being
wounded, they taltered. One of the color
guard took up the flag, when the general
snatched it from him. The wounded High
lander at his feet cried, ''For Gods sake
general, don't yOu take the colors; they'll
shoot you if you do' The answer was,
''Give me the colors If they don't follow now
they never will; and he sprang forward, cry
ing, 1--WE are all Highlanders; follow High
landers; forward NM Highlanders! !" The
did follow their Scottish chief,
but while sweeping forward ball struck him
on his right temple. He died instantly. An
hour afterward, when taken up, his hands
were still cenched around the flagstaff.
moment after Selling the colors, his son,
Capt. Hazard Stevens, fell wounded, and
cried to his father that he was hurt. With
but a glance back, the Roman father said: 81
can't attend to you now, Hazard. Corporal
Thompson, see to my boy
The language | have given as Gen. Ste
vens' was, taken down upon the field by a
member of his staff. He had often remarked
that if it were his fate to fall in battle, he
hoped he should be shot through the temple
and die instantly. c. A. p.