Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-09-17
The Battle OF Chantilly--Why it Was
fought-Inoident ofStevens' Death
Ills Last Words.

Correspondent Of the Nea YORK Tribune.
WtSnIN.TtN. Sept, .
The same hour that General Stevens
was killed in battle number of promi-
nent gentlemen filing prominent posi-
tI1n- were IN consultation in iIiS city and
in other parts OF The country. with ., view
of having him assigned to the command
of the Army of Virgins. Successive
manifestations Of incapacitv duriu2a ear
of war have caused thinking u,1, L" ,ssi
about for leader These gentlemen had
fixed upon General lsad, !. Stevens a. the
man. His sple1r,fil conduct in The bat
ties of Friday and Saturday had just di-
reeted o HHItion - limit wls remrin-
bcred ihal ruro capacity he had slwayS
ho-'f 'r-i ;iavin@ taken the hOnor- at
~ith scarcely an effort and
though III political cnrfnic; these men
resolved 10 ask that he he given leUlins
command-while they were consulting he
led his men on and fell
The Importance Of the engagement ot
Monday night, which lost to the country
Kearney and Stevens. has not heen gen
orally understood. The truth il, it was
not Il mere episode made noteworthy by
the death of two such leaders. but = cri-
sis where nothing hut decision and s1crl-
fee on the part of those leaders availed !
to prevent disaster.
The army was retreating from Centre
vile. The battle was fought against .
rebel force that had penetrated five miles
nearer Washington than our rear and
was moFing to strike upon the flank
General Stevens division. the advance of
Reno corps. was ON the left, the road Ia
ken by the trains, and intercepted the
enemy. He saw that the enemy must be
beaten back at once, or during the night
they would stampede the wagons, and
probably so disconcert our retreat that
the last divisions would fall a prey to
| their main force. He decided TO attack
| Immediately, at the same time sending
back fer support Having made his dis
positions, he led the attack on foot at the
head Of the 7ath tHighhn'lers.l Soon
meeting n wignering fire aHal the color
sergeant, Sandy Campbell, grizzled old
( Scotchman, being wounded, they taltered.
One OF the color guard took up the fag,
when the General snatched il from him.
/ The waanded Highlander at his feet cried.
For Gods sake. General. don't yo,l take
/ the coiors: they'll shoot you il YOU do.
/ The answer was, Give me the colOrs II
/ they don't follow now. they never will"
and he sprang forward, crying. I'VE are
all Highlanders forward my Highland
ers,' The Highlanders did follow their
Scottish chief. but while sweeping for
ward ball struck him on his right tenn
pie lie died instantly. An hour at
/ terward, when taken up, his hand WAS
still clenehed around the flagstaff.
4 moment after seizing the calnrs.
his son. Captain Hazard Stevens, fell
wounded. and cried to his father that
/ he was hurt. With but glance buck.
( that Roman father said: Il can't attend
to you now, Hazard Corporal Thomp-
son, see to my boy.
The language have given as General
Stevens was taken down upon the field
by member of his Staff. lie had often
remarked that if it was his fate to fall IN
battle, he hoped he would be shot through
the temple and die instantly