New-York daily tribune., 1862-05-06
THE ENGAGEMENT NRAB oOUTI
MILLS.
CCicinl Reports Of tho AnaiR.
HsApouAarERs DRPAHfxIxr o. NoHrH CAlorxA,
NEwPsRs April g. 1852

with my order, for the purpose OF accomplishing
certain objects already indicated in former dispatch.
the main order of which was most successfully &C,
eompshe3. Gen. Reno's report gives deiaile6
account of tie movement, ana | need only add that
feel increased confidence in the brave olicera
and soldiers who accomplished so much IN 70 short
time. Our loss in the engagement was IA killed and
80 wounded, and two taken prisoners. 4
TIE enemys loss must have been much greater,
az the Chaplain Of the NewYotk =, left in chargd
OF the wounded, reports having the field 30
killed beside several wounded, the main body of tho
wounded having been taken from the field when
they retreated.
Onr forces drove the enemy from the field in 4
most gallant style, buried or dead, biyouacked on
the field seven hours, transported all the wounded
except ii 20 severely wounded that they conlt not
be moved, but no comfortably provided fors
and left in charge OF surgeon aud chaplain. -
Gen. Reno then, in obedience to orders, returned
TO the feet, and embarked bis men. lie felt less re.
luctsnce in leaving behind these fourteen wounded
with the surgeon and chaplain, from the fact that
Rad but few days before released come 80 wounded
with the surgeons, who were ieft by the enemy 10
NewberD and the commanding officer In the neis hbors
hood would BE- less than human were be TO refuse 10
release these wounded as they can be tfans"
ported safely.
beg to inclose my ccngratnlatory order with the
report of Gen. Reno also the correspondence be.
tween the General and commanding officer al Souh
Mils.
have the honor to be your obedient servant,
A. T. BURNSIDE Major General Commanding
HgADeUARrERs SECOND Division. I
CAPT LEWIS RICHMOND. d..stant Adjutast General.
C,PrAis: have the honor to report that, IN obe<
dience to the order Of Mai. Gen. burnside, pros
ceeded from Newbern wi b the 2lst Massachnsetta
and 5lst PenDsylvauia Regiments to Roanoke, and
was there ioDed By part of the 9Th and osth New-
York and 9Th New-Hampshlre. n
We proceeded directly 10 Elizabeth City, and CONG
rnencei disembafking the 18th inst, al midnight,
Al point about three miles below On the eat side.
By ; y. NJ, Col. Hawkins Brigade, consisting
of the 9th and S9th New. York, aud 9Th New -itamP
shire were landed and ready to move: IA
! ordered Col. Hawkins 20 proceed az once wig
his brigade toward South Mills, TOR the purpose OF
making q demons tra,iOu on Norfolk. renamed "a
bring 10 the other two regiments, they having been
delayed by the vessels getling aground at the moata
of river.
They came up az daylight, and were landed by1
a. M proceeded directly toward South MILE, snq
abou, twelve miles out met Col. Hawkins's bsgade}
who il seeIns lost mis- way, either by the trtacherY
or ineomoeiency of his gulde he having marche8
some few miles out Of hs way. .
Az his men were very much )aded by their long
march, ordered them to follow the second bri9ads}
proceeding sbout four miles further 10 within mil{
and hall of South Mills. The Rebels opened upon
as with artillery before our advanced guard dscovs
cred them.
I Immediately reconnoitered their position, ard
found that that they were posted in advantageouA
posiion 10 line perpendicular to the road, their in.
iantry in diches and their artillery commanding at
the direct approaches and their rear protected by
dense forest. s.,
Gle to the rgh, and pass 10 the edge OF woodsJ
TO turn their eft also ordered the Dist Massaahaa
setts TO pursue ,he course, aud when COL Haw1
kins came up with his brigade cent him with TAG
9Th and S9lh New-Yors TO their support,
The 9th ew-Hampshire were formed In Ire t9
the left Of the road and ordered 10 support our touk
Of rrii Owing the fatigue
Of the men, they could not reach the position fo1
some time. In the mean t.me the enemy kept up
brisk artillery fire, which was gallan,ly responde5
10 by our snall pieces under charge Of Col. Howar1
of the Coast Guard, who, during the entire engage
ment displayed most conspicuous gailsntry. an9
rendered very efficient service, ooth during IN
action and upon the return, he brrgng up the reas
As soon as the 5lst Pennsy vaDia aud 2lst Massa4
cbusetts mad succeeded in turniog their left, thet
opened brisk muske,ry fire, and about The SANG
tine the 9th New-Yors also coming In range, ano
teng too eager to engage, unfortunately charged
uron the epemys artillery
posed 70 a most deadly fire OF grape and musketryl
and were forced to retire, bat rallied immediately
upon the s9th Nsw-York. then ordered both regA
ments to form junction with the 2lst MassaenN
setts. -.
Ia the mean time the 5lst Pennsylvania and 2lst
Massachusetts, kept mp an incessant lire upon the
Rebels who now had withdrawn their artillery ana
had commenced 10 retreat IN good ORDER. lDe otE
New Hampshire had steadily advanced ID line TO the
left of the road ard when within about 100 yaris
poured IN most deadly yolley, winch completely
denoranzed the enemy and ended The battle.
Our men Were 80 completely tagged out by tie n.
tense hest and their long march, that we eoGid nct
pursue them. The men rested under arms IN ilne %
battle until about 10 O'Clock ?. m when ordered
return 70 our boats having accomplished the princj
pal object Of the xIedtion-conveying the idea thas
the entire Burnside Expedition marching upou
Norfolk. Owing TO want OF transpoIt.uoo
was compe led TO leave sixteen OF our most see
yecely wounded men. Assistant Surgeon Wsrer
was eft with the men. | sent hag OF truce tas
next day 20 ask that trey might be returned 70 ~
Commander Rowan kiGdy volunteering 10 attend %
it We took only few prisoners, come ten OF ny
teen. Most Of them belonged 10 the ID "eoryi9
lie gImen;. =.
/ lie OH Now-York suffered most severely, owing
20 their premature charge. Our total loss 10 Nlie1
and wounded being about ~, some cO Delongei -
that regiment. The officers and men Of the s''erst
regiments all behaved with their usua! gaE'.htryl
and many are worthy of particular attention, ana
presume the brigade aud regimenial oommaIietS
viii DO Justice to their respective commands. wiz
/ forward their reports as soon as received II
/ The return march was made IN perfect orter, snS
few ii any stragglers were left behind 0ootielIs
that during The advance the weather WAS hVeiso'I
hot and that on the return a severe rain repaeIeS
the roads very muddy, and that portion OF .ns
commaud had TO march - miles and toe eI1eE ~.
and tght battle m the meantime, anh Una, tn 80,
WAS Accomplished in ess than u hours, tnih. u,as
/ the Commaudiny General has every reason !" w
oatstel with bis command. p.,ra,
desire To return my thanks TO Commsncer hgNsS
and the officers and men unjer him for their unInt
energy in dsembarking aud re-emoarAng my an, uVn,
mand and also 20 Lieut.. Fluser for the gallant ,ss
ner in which he assisted us by processing .gl Ina
river and driving the enemy out oil 'ne "O'''
the banks. v;.s, Rriosie.
o,S i.n, -Coi peu commanding the seeohi, u.s~