The New York herald., 1862-02-06

1880 A. n GonerA Johnson ana myBelf sot out
for the immediate field OF action which reached in
the OF the Robinson and widow Henrys houses al
about IL meridian, and just as the commands OF Bee
Barlow and Evans had takon shelter wooded ravtne
behind the former souty held at the time by Hampton
with his legion, which had made stand thsre after hav
ing pevousy been a. far forward a. the turnpike where
Lieutenant Colonel johnston officer of brilliant pro
mise was killed. and other losses were Sustained
Before arrival upon the General Jackson had
moved forward with his brigade OF five Virginia reg
from his position in reserve and had judicousy
taken poet below tho brm OF the plateau nearly Of
the Henry house and 70 tne s Of inc Isyne and woods
Evans commands with lmbodens battery, and two OF
stanards pieces placed 50 asto play upon tho oncemmg
enemy supported in the immediate rear by Colonel D. L.
Preston's and Lieutenant Colonel Echols regiments
the right by Hapers and on the left BY Aliens and Cum
| ming's regiment
AS as General Johnston and myself reached tho
held we we're occupied with the reorganization Of tho
heroic troops whose previous stand with paral
lel has nothing more valiant in all the pages OF history,
and whose losses aty toll why at length their lines had
lost their cohesion IL was now that General Johnston
ooors OF the Fourth Alabama regiment by his side, all
the field officers of the regiment having been previously
disabled Shortly afterwards placed s. r, Gst, Adju
tant and Inspector General of South Carolina volunteer
| Aid de Camp Of General Bee, command OF this regI
mont and who led it cgan TO the front as became It's
previous behavior and remared with 1t for the rest Of
As as had thus rallied and disposed our forces
urged General Johnston to leave the immediate conduct
or the neld TO mo, while he repairing TO Porco-ths
Lewis House-sholld urge reinforcements forward A.
rst he was unwilling bat reminded that one OF us must
but fortunately, complied Fortunately, because from
that position by his energy and sagacy his keen per
ception and anticipation OF my naeds he 80 directed tho
reserves rs TO ensure the success of the day.
AS General Johnston departed for Portico Colonel Bar
tow reported TO me with the remains OF the Seventh
Georgia Volunteers (Gartrss), which ordered him to
post the left OF acksons line in the edge of tho belt
of pines bordering he southeastern rim Of the plateau
which the battle rage so long and so aercey
Colonel VIM Smiths battalion OF the Forty ninth vir-
gna volunteers, hav ing also come up by my orders
placed it on the left of Garrel's my extreme left at
/ q hp1 IN fha RIGHT MIA Hamn
tons Legion, which had suffered greatly that flank
somewhat TO the resr of Harpers regiment and also
the seven companies Of tho Eighth (Hunons) Virginia
regiment, which. detached from Cockos brigade by my
orders and those Of General Johnston had opportuney
constituted reserve TO protect our right flank from
advance OF the enemy from the quarter OF tho stone
bridge and served as support for the line Of battle,
| commands, in the centre by four regiments
Of Jacksons brigade with Imbodens four six xpounders,
Walton's five guns. (two rifed) two guns Zone piece
riaed) Of Stanards and two Founders OF Rogers
teres, the latter under Lieut. Heaon and the left by
Garrell's reduced ranks and Col Smiths battalion subse
quenty reinforced Fakners Second Mississippi regiment
and by another regiment OF the Army Of Shenandoah,
just arrived upon the field, the Sixth (Fishers) North
Carolina. Confronting the enemy at this time my force
numbered al most not more than $500 infantry and
arlerists with but thirteen pieces of artillery and
companies (Carters and Hoge's) of Stuart's cavalry
The enemys force, now bearing hotly and confidently
down position regiment after regiment of the
equipped men that took the eldeccordng their
own official history Of the daywas formed Of Coloncs
Hunters and Heintzelmans divisions, Coiones Sher-
mans and keyes' brigades OF Tyier's division, and
of the formidable batteries OF Ricketts, Griffin
and Arnold regulars and Second Rhode Island,
and two Dahlgren howitzers-a force of over 30 900
infantry companies regular cavalry and twenty
four pieces Of improved artillery Al the same time
peros, heavy reserves OF infantry and artillery hung
in the dis ance aronnd the Stone Bridge Mtcbss Black
burn and Union Mills fords visbly ready fall upon
US at any moment and was also assured OF the exist
OF other heavy corps at and around Centrevs and
elsewhere, within convenient supporting distances.
Fully conscious Of this porteaous disparity OF force
posted the lines for the encounter sought to infsc
into the hearts Of my officers and men the confidence
dsterm ned spirit of res stance 10 this wicked invasion Of
the homes Of free people which felt. 9ormed
that rcinforcemcns would rapidly 10 their support
and we must at all hazerds hold our posts until reinforced
reminded them that fought for our homee fre-
sides and for ths independence Of country urged
them the resolution OF victory death on hthat Geld
These sentiments loudly, eagerly ceered whereso
proclaimed, aud then felt reassured Of tina
querable spirit of that army which would enable
wrench victory from tina host then threatening with
destruction
oh, my country I would readily have sacrificed nv
le and those Of all the brave around me- TO save
your honor and maintain your independence from the
degrading yoke which those ruthless invaders had
TO impose and rcuGer perpetual and the days issue has
assured me that such emotions must also have animated
all under my command.
tesu which Robnson's and the Henry houses stu
aed-ths position h,s occupied in the morning by Cen
Bee before advancing 10 the support Of Evans Ricketts,
battery OF six red gunsthe pride Of the fedsralis.s,
the object Of their unstnted expenditure in outftant
the equally powerful regular light battery Of Griffin,
were brought forward and placed in immediate action
after having, conjoin,ly with the batteries already
toned, played from former positions with destructive
effect upon our forward battalions.
Tho Typographical features Of the plateau become
the stage OF the coniending armies, must bs described
outline
A glance at the map will show that it s enclosed on
theo sides by small water courses, which empty into
Bull ron within few yards Of each other halt mile
the south of the Stone Bridge Rising to elevation Of
quite hundred feet above the level Of Bull the
bridge falls of three sides to the level the
closing streams in gentle Slopes but which furrowed
by ravnes OF irregular direction and length and studded
with ciumps and patches OF young pines and oaks The
gsne. onevon 'ne p cres, @ oa 'ne & Pesn-r ooiqae
the Brentsviie and turnpike roads, which ntersect
each other at right angles Completely surrounding the
two houses before mentioned small open fields Of ir
regular outline and exceeding $50 acres in extent The
houses occupied at the time, the one by widow Henry
and the other by the free negro Robinson small wood
buildings, densely embowcred in and environed
by double row OF fences ON two sides. Around the
eas,orn and southern brow of the plateau an almost nm
broken fringe second growth pines gave excellent shell
ter for our marksmen who svailed themselves oil IL with
The most satisfactory skill To the west, adjoining the
fields broad belt o oaks extends directly across the
crcs both sides Of tins sudey road, in which during
the battle, regiments Of both armies met and con!ended
| for the mastery.
From the open ground OF this plateau the view en-.
braces wide eXpanse Of woods and gently undulatng
open country OF broad grass ana gram neds IN all drec
tons including the scene Of Evans and Bees recant
counter with the eney-some twelve hundred ysfds 10
\ the nofthward.
In reply to the play Of the enemy's batteries our own
artillery had not boen Idle unskiifu Tbs ground
cuped by our guns, level with that hold by he bat
terias of the enemy open space Of limited exeat
behind low unduaon just at the eastern verge Of he
plateau, some 600 900 yards from the Horny House
Here before said some thirteen peces, mostly six.
FOUNDERS wero maintained n action The several bat.
terics Of lmboden, Sanad Pendeton (Rockbrige aril
lery) and Abuls Of the Army Of the Shenandoah and
fve guns Of Walton's and heston's section OF Rogers
battery, of the Army Of the Potomac, alternating
extent with each other, and taking part needed all
from the outset displaying that marvellous cspscty of
our people as sriieriss which has made them il would
appear, at the terror and the admiration Of tho
| enemy
As apparent, the fsisraliss had suffered
verely from artillery and from the fire our mus
kerry the right, aud especially from the lett flank,
placed under within whose CALLING range they had
been advanced And told In their o!ici, reports
how regiment after regiment thrown forward disiodge
broken, never TO recover its entire organization
| On that Geld.
In the meantime also, two companies Of Stuart caval
ry (Csrters and Hoge's) made dashing charge down
the Breusye and Sudley road upon the Fire 2ouaves
then the enemy right on the platesu which added to
their disorder, wrought by our muskery on that flank
But stl the press OF the enemy heavy that quar-
ter OF the field, fresh troops thrown forward
,hers to outnank and three guns Of battery
attempt TO obtain position apparently 10 ennade