Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-09-04
The Fearful Struggle of Saturday,
GEN. sIGEL,s SPLENDID FIGHTING.

Saturday last written by correspond
ent Of the New York Tribune, who, not
withstanding the order for the expulsion
of newspaper correspondents, it seems was
in and through the battle fields of those
two bloody days. We make no apology
for the space the description occupies. If
it was double what it is, it would be read
with the greatest interest;
CrxTREvIIIE, Va, a m, Sunday, Aug 81.
The battles of yesterday and the day be-
fore on the already classic ground Of Bull
Run will rank with Napoleon's bloodiest.
And more than one General fought in them
to whom, ere this hour, he would have
given a MarshaTs baton, while he would
have made proud a hundred priVates with
the ribbon of the Legion of Honor.
Let me first detail the movements by
which the two days struggle was brought
on.
While at Warrenton early on Wednes-
dav, 1 learned that Jackson was in our
rear, and that we should once more try to
trap him. Sigel and Mcdowell marched
that morning up the turnpike from War
renton toward Centreville, where the
enemy was supposed to be. This road
passes through Bull Run battlefield, five
miles west of Centreville. Hooker, Porter
and Reno moved from our left (now as we
faced about toward Washington, becomes
our right toward the same point, via Man
assss Junction. Sigel, in advance Of Nc
DowelI, reached Gainesville, four miles
from the Bull Run field, that night, and
came upon the enemy's cavalry and strag-
glers. Resting a few hours, by 3 o'clock
he was moving. The enemy did not ap-
pear in front, and leaving Mcdowell to
take care Of that road, Sigel turned to the
right to connect with Hooker at Manassas
Junction. Hooker had fought near there
on Wednesday (of which will speak in
moment and it was possible he needed
help.
When within two miles of the Junction,
Sigel learned that the enemy was on the
Warrenton road, and turning short TO the
left, he marched to the south side of the
Bull Run field. 1t was then 6 p. m. Nc
Dowell, who, as before stated, had remained
on the road between the enemy and War
ranton, had been throwing shell some hours,
and now we could hear musketry. Gain
ing the nights where Hunter fought year
ago, and approaching the turnpike, we
could locate the scene of the engagement
by the line of musketry flashes. 1t was
Kings Division repeling the enemy in his
attempt to escape toward Warrenton. The
affair lasted two hours, and King held the
field. We had come upon the enemy's left
flank. Schenck's Division became partial
ly engaged, gave the enemy's cavalry a
few shell, then the whole corps rested for
the night. At the very time King was
fighting on the Warrenton road, Ricketts,
was engaged fighting Rebel reinforce
ments coming up through Thoroughfare
Gap, five miles further west. He was COM
PEELED, having suffered loss of 250, TO
withdraw and join King, after the latter
had finished his days work. Reynoldss
Division PA. Reserves, then temporarily
with McDOwell's corps, was in the same
The situation then, Friday morning,
was this :-Sigers corps Divisions of
Sohurz, Milroy, Steinwehr and Schenck)
on the Bull Run field, fronting to the West,
was close against the enemy. McDowelrs
corps nearly connected with Sigel on the
latter's left, but was not within fighting
distance of the enemy. Heintzelman's
corps were at Centerville, moving down
the turnpike, which would lead them upon
SigePs right. Porter was far back-seven
or eight miles-in Sigels rear. These
corps-Sigels, Reno's, Heintzelman's, Nc
Dowells and POrter's-were all that were
engaged at any time during the two days,
Friday and Saturday. They came upon
the field in the order I have named them.
Fortunately had been with Sigel during
his two days march to find the enemy, and
was with him now that it fell to him to
open the main struggle His corps had held
the advance under heavy artillery fire on
the Rappahannock the four previous days, |
had now marched two days, a part Of the |
time in line of battle, and taking but four
hours rest moved into battle-nota skir- |
mish, not an affair, not an action, not an
engagement, but a great battle, for such |
are the names given to fights in the order
Of their magnitude.
Long before daylight Sigel had visited |
every position of his line, had seen to the |
placing of every battery, and with the |
daylight his artillery sounded. The 'Jes- |
sic Scouts" transferred by Fremont TO |
Sigel) reported the enemy as massed ir and |
beyond a stretch of woods a mile long, |
west of and running nearly parallel with |
the road. Their line, however, extended !
On their right to the road, where they had |
guns on commanding heights on their left |
10 Bull Run stream, with battery or two |
upon the north side. Sigels line was op-
Dosite on the south side of the road.
The first hour it was all artillery. Sigel |
was advancing battery after battery to
h,2
with a brigade, hearing the reports of !
scouts, sending cavalry now far to the 1
right, now far to the left, gradually ad-
7aneing his divisions in cover of hills upon |
which he had placed guns-in word, feel
ing for the enemy, rapidly advancing, but
cautiously every step. The enemy disdain-
ed to make any sign-but not long. His |
artillery was compelled to answer ours,
and, pressing on we uneaTthed the infantry. |
There was light rattle, then q roar Of
nUsketry. Milroy, in the advance had
.ome square upon the Rebels in masses
Dur line of battle was formed, Schurz hav-
ng the right, Schenck the left, Milroy the
ldvance center, Steinwehr the reserve
enter.
Just at this opening of the battle 1 saw,
rom the hill from which Schurz was going
nto action, column bearing down upon
,ur right, and at first supposed them to be
ebels. Uuaecountably, they carried high
ver their heads sundry white flags, and
to march stragglingly, and it was
oon seen they were unarmed.
They proved to be GA prisoners taken
y Jackson when he appeared at Manas-
as three days before, now released on pa
ole. The enemy could not feed them, and
would themselves starve unless re-enforce-
nents should push TO them with supplies.
A little after Milroy, Schurz became en-
aged They drove the enemy a mile or
more and rested from outright fatigue.
During this time Schenck had been engag-
d on the left though not heavily. Tough