The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-08-16
THE WAR.
A Battle between Banks and
StoneWall jackson.
THE REBELS RETREAT |!
Headquarters army of Va, 6 miles
beyond Culpepper, Va, Aug. 10

Head quarters army of Va, 6 miles
beyond Culpeppcr, Va, Aug. 10
A battle was fought yesterday be-
tween Banks and Stonewall Jackson.
Gen. Bayard, of McDowell's corps,
with his cavalry brigade had been en-
gagged the day before in the extreme
advance, near the Rapidan river, Skin
mishing and maneuvering, taking some
prisoners, and ending with slight loss,
battling the efforts of a large force to
surround and cut them off.
Yesterday morning he was engaged
for some hours before Banks came up,
and with four regiments Of cavalry, the
1st Pennsylvania, 1st Maine, and LIST
Rhode Island, delayed and embarrass-
ed the enemy's advance. The rebels.
under Jackson and Ewel' had crossed
the Rapidan in force, and their adj
vance guard, $4,000 strong, was attack
ed by Bank yesterday afternoon, about
six miles south of Culpepper Court
House. @ef
The fight was almost wholly with ar
tillery at first, but infantry became en-
gagged about six o'clock, and a deter
mined and most bloody contest ensued.
Banks right wing under General Will
liams suffered severely. The position
ofthe rebels was in the woods, while
the troops which attacked them
were obliged to cross open ground.
1t was not until about six o'clock
that it become evident that the rebels
were attacking in force. Previous to
this there had been a rather desultory
cannonade. The whole rebel force
suddenly attacked in overwhelming
numbers at all points. Nearly all their
regiments had full ranks. At half past
seven o'clock Gen. Pope arrived on
the field from Culpepper, accompanied
by Mcdowell and part of McDowell's
corps.
The battle was substantially over,
Banks holding the same ground that
he occupied in the beginning After
the arrival of Pope there was an ar,il-
lery contest, lasting at intervals till
nearly two o'clock.
The night was unusually clear, and
the moon full.
The rebels planted a battery against
McDowell's center, where Gen. Pope
and Gen. Banks were, bringing both
Of them under fire. The generals and
staff were SO near the rebel lines that
a charge ofrebel cavalry was made from
the woods quarter Of mile off with
a view to capture them. The attempt
was repealed by Il vigorous fire from
Mcdowell S troops, and the Generals
and their stats left the ground under n
cross fire from the rebels and their own
| troops. ..s a
| The fire of the rebel batteries was
afterwards silenced Pope,on arriving
sent fresh troops to the front to take
the place of Banks exhausted columns.
The enemy did not renew the attack
except by artillery. Banks was on the
field throughout the action and con-
stantly under fire. His handling of his
troops and personal gallantry are high
| ly praised by his officers. The bravery
aud good conduct of the troops, were
conspicuous during large portion of
the fight. When overpowered by num-
bers some regiments retreated in disor-
der. aaa -as .... ~
The rebel general Wilder was woun-
ded.
The losses are very heavy on both
sides, not less than 1000 or 5000 in
killed, wounded and missing.
On each side some prisoners were
taken.
Jackson and Ewell were both present
in the battle.
Reinforcements under Gen. A. p.
Hill. to the number of $4,000 men,
reached the rebels last night at about
the same time that ours arrived.
Skirmishing in front is going on this
morning, but the troops on both sides
are SO much exhausted by fatigue and
the intense heat that no serious encoun-
ter is expected to-day. No details have
been officially received. 1t is reported
that Generals Prince, Anger and Geary
were wounded,
.... New York Aug, IL.
The Herald's account of the fight says:
Gen. Geary's Brigade of Augers division
had the advance.
No sooner had the troops taken their
places than the rebels opened musketry
fire upon them from two sides and in front
aided by the batteries before mentioned.
The batteries in the mountains kept up
most destructive fire, but our troops neY-
.r faltered. The fight became general at
"a o'clock, and continued until darkness
ended the carnage.
have witnessed many battles during
this war but none were the tenacious OBJ
stinacy of the American character was so
fully displayed. Our troops fought like
veterans. No sooner did volley of mus.
kerry or discharge Of artillery NOW down
the ranks of a regiment, than the gaps were
closed up and a new front presented. Reg
iment We'd With regiment, and brigade with
brigade, in deeds of yalor, and few instan
ces indeed, were there, where even indi-
viduals faltered.
The 9Th and 10Th regulars, led by Capt
Pitcher, did excellent service. Capt. p.
was wounded in the knee by musket shot
but kept the field.
When the firing of musketry ceased at
dark, the artillery on the mountains kept
up random firing till near midnight.
At dark our troops withdrew into a
small copse of wood where they were join
ed soon after by the corps of Mcdowell
IL e. Al n