, 1862-02-19

=
Connecticut and the Fifth Rhode Island battal-
ion Of Gen. Parke's brigade. He carefully re-
o h e hs IL opea 5a eS t. tSs e
circle. Gen: Reno brought up his brigade,
Fifty~drst New York, Ninth New Jersey and
Fnty-fr Pennsylvania The troops in pass
deep in mud and water, and ut no time were
able to see over fifty yards ahead. Right and
left Of the road the woods we're very dense,
thick chappazel obscu1ing the view, and the
whole way being continuous swamp. 4 por-
ton Of tie troops went on the donb}e quick,
but the entire column was so packed into tue
narrow roadway that their progress was slow
and laborious. Skirmishers from the Twenty
fifth Massachusetts we're deployed to observe
the first appearance Of the enemy
TIE ENEaIY'S WORKS DISCOVERED.
The troops had passed along the road some
two miles, when they approached clearing,
and at 81 O'Clock firing commenced from the
rebel sklrmishers in front and on each side.
Several Of the Union troops ct the Twenty
fifth Massachusetts, fell at this first yolley,
, and in few moments wounded men were
being brought to the rear. The TWenty-tfth
| massachusetts, had now reached 4 curve in
the road, aud came in sight Of 4 rebel bat
tery, from which three guns poured a raking
which our troops were compelled temporarily
! to fall back under cover Of the woods. At
this the rebels set up shout. This move
mcnt was noticed by the troops in the rear,
Who, hearing the shouts Of the rebels, and
| not understanding the cause, Temporary con-
| fusion followed.
By this time Gen. Reno with his command
had come up, and deployed to the left Of the
! road, the Twenty-frst Massachusetts,, Ninth
New York and Fifty-hrst New York taking
as
| oblique direction, to the battery, with the in-
! tcntion Of turning its right flank They here
| found themselves III deep morass up to their
waists in water aud mud, and compelled to
ept away the tang el b1n's and ch'pparel with
The Twenty fifth Massachusetts, which had
| sustained the enemy's fire for about one hour,
| having expended al their ammunition, and
their ranks being badly thiuned BY the Gu
enoy's slaypshootcrs, were ordered to fall back.
ported them took the front of the line. Tie
most destructive Of this fire came from the
left Of the battery, where the Richmond Blues
Fifty ninth Virginia Regiment were posted,
under command Of 0. Jennings Wise, Lieut..
POTTER, Frank Anderson and others.
Your reporter, who landed early in the NOR
ming, had penetrated into road leading tow
| ard the rear Of the cncmy's position, and du-
ring the hottest Of the fire was SO near to tile
! field that he cou1d distinctly hear the sharp,
1 AtASAAS fOANG5 VI OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
and of Colonel Ferrero, encouraging their men
| and urging them forward, as both were strue-
| Cling through the swamp, for the purpose Of
nanking the encmy's position, Here they
fought for two hours. The Hawkins zouayes
Lad been sent into the swamp to the right,
where they we're exposed to the rebel fire from
the left OF the battery, but, BY mastery dodg-
ing, they escaped with tritiing loss. Licutcn-
ant. Colonel Aaggi, at the extreme right Of the
battery, came up with companies G and D.
and pushed around the right flank Of the bat
terry, all the time contending against raking
fire Of musEetry, as we'll as from the rebel III
fantry stationed at the rear in the woods.
The Tenth Connecticut occupied =the road ;
the Tweuty-third and Twenty seventh Massa-
clsusetts were skirmiefifng on the right, while
the Fifty-Grst PENNSYLVANIA were hold in re-
| serve
The four or five acres Of clearing directly
around and in front OF the eneny'S position
nGuvTe. Tic whole appearance of the posi-
ton showed that the rebels had no idea that
any troops would be able to penetrate the cy-
press swamp iu front Of their lines.
Major Clark, about II O'Clock, brought up
the remainipg companies Of the Twenty first,
| and formed in front of companies G and D,
| which had sustained the FIRE for over an hour.
At this point three companies Of the Fifty-tfrst
New York came up behind the Twenty
first, and were led by Lieutenant- Colonel Pot
ter into the wood, and formed on the left.
These were followed Immediately by the re-
malndcr Of the regiment under Colonel Ferrc-
70. General Reno now came mp to the front
line with tue greatest gallantry, and asked if
and take the battery. Major Clark responded,
Yes" and the order was given to charge.
The troops now laid down on their faces, load
cd, and prepared for the deadly onset.
Anticipating 1.-The charge, the rebels now
poured calling fire of musketry upon our ex-
| n0EpH r1nEe and SJvHNt fhnir frnr
Pcated charges OF grape and cannizter- This
last and most terrific discharge lasted five min
utes, and swept like whIrlwind over our
PROSTATE ranks, cutting of limbs OF trees,
overhead, and whizzing in most unpleasant
proximity to the person Of yonr reporter, WHO
was striving to get a view OF the field through
tho dense Intervening forest. During all tllis
time Gen; Reno stood erect upon bog 81
grass, coolly surveying the effects Of tic lead.
en- tempest az it swept By him. Col: Chas.
L. Russell, OF the Tenth Connecticut, who
had paused moment to rest, here received q
ball which struck his sword belt, killing him
Instantly. It made no wound on his person.
Lieut. John Goodwin Jr., Of the Twenty.
| third Massachusetts,, WIS shot in tic breast,
aud tell cheering on his command.
THE CHARGE.
The instant the rebels fire elackened, ouI
TROOPS sprsng forward with bound, Major
Clark and Lieut.. Colonel Maggi leading the
| Twenty-tir Massachusetts,. and Ferrero the
Fitty-First New York. They charged around
the right Of the battery. and at the same in,
: which lad ben skTmisb1ng to the right, charg:
ed up the road in face Of the works. The
pa1lic~strickcn rebels, seeing themselves out
fankcd, turned and fed in the greatest con
| fusion as the Union troops poured into their
battery. The Zouayes went over the pa1apets
and through the cmbrazures, while the Twen.
tN6rst Massachusetts and the Fifty first New
| York came in at the right. The American
/ colors Of the Fifty. first New I ork was planted
on the works. along. with the co1ors Of the
shouts as rent the air, sent up by the combined
. Union forces, never awaked such echoes be
| fore in the lonely forests Of Roanoke. Ths
day was ours.
ter, who commanded the six howitzer battery
| which held its position SO firmly in the heat o.
, | The engagement, and who suffered SO severely
in the loss Of his men. Capt. E. L. DaFton
| Of the Highlander, in charge Of his 12-poun6
howitzer, with crew picked from bis owr
!. men, also did good service in holding the reb
t els in check.
The officers of the above battery are: Mid
i shinnian B. F.. Porter, E. T. Meeker, n. ]:
Acting l!1ssa Masters ,.s[ aa!e, mHammoad 7;,t
Lieut.. Col. Vigfer de Monteil, late of tht
D'Epineui} ZouaVcs, had taken a carbine, ani
!, vent into the raphs Of the 9th New York. H
stood in the very front of their lines, loading
aHu HllHT Wild great coOlueSS, ullll Lnc Olue
. to charge was efren when lie started upon
quick run, beckonlng on the New York boys
| but ball struck him midway, and he fell bacl
dead, folding his arms across his breast Th.
| ball passed through his mouth, audout through
the back Of his head.
/ Within the fort were found three guns, vel
: mounted on field carriages; one 4 2i-poun<
l Dah1sren howitzer, an 1S-pound t1eld-gun, ant
i a 12-pounder, with a largo supply of ammuni
: ton In caissons. Four dead lay in the mut
| and water directly around the guns, deaf
| horse, which had been shot, With harness On
/ ready to draw the guns from the field; ant
| scattered over the place were broken muskets
. kpapsacbs, axes, blankets, and clothing of Il
: kinds, provisions, &C., which had been Icf
! | bt hind in their flight.
= At tie right of the battery, scattered oye
:. the field we're several rebel officers and sol
. | diers, their bodies still warm, and the life
blood toziDg from ghastly. wounds. Among
=. these / came upon one officer who lay near
. tree where he had fallen, pierced By bu1le
E in the left breast. His long, pale features
n / which were calm Is those Of q person asleep
: indicated more than ordinary character: ant
/ bis dark hazel eye, still half open, bespoke in
J.. | tenjgcnce not often met with On the field 81
l. was plain}y but neatly dressed, though with
c | ont Bythiug: like q uniform to Indicate hi
d rank. I fhought Of the parents Of this rash
misguided man, and though had no clue t
identity, could not resist the des1c to remorl
| lock of bis hair as mofnento. soon after
S met a, prisoner in tue person Of Dr. Waite
+ ! Coles. who WAS in search OF Capt Coles, Q
e the Wise Legion. I showed him tic body
r which he identified as that Of his cousin, an
d he stated that his parents resided in Phi1ade]
u pbia. Several others Of the, rebel dead lay OF