The national Republican., 1862-06-17
THE BATTLE % Ponr REpusLuc.

THE BATTLE % Port REPUDLlC.
/ In an account given yesterday Of the battle
of Port Republic, which occurred on the 9Th
instant, We unintentionally did injustice 10
Colonel Carroll, who commanded the advance
brigade. ltwss represented 10 us that Colonel
Carroll was ordered 10 burn the bridge at hs
place; whereas we have information Of the
most reliable character that the order Of Gen
eral Shields 10 Colonel Carroll was 70 sape tho
bridge, and throw his force upon Jacksou's
flank. This could only be done by saving H.,
bridge, as the Shenandoah lay between Shields
force and Jackson'e; and the latter could only
he attacked by ,his route. However unfbr,u.
nate the sequel may have shown this order to
have been, II was nevertheless given, and Col
Carroll was forced to obeyit.
Col. Carroll entered Por, Republic on the
sth and made his dispositions to hold lb-
bridge, as ordered by Gen. Shields. He hal
with him less than thousand effective infau
try, one hundred and fifty cavalry, and six
piec's Of artillery. He had hardly entered
town with bis cavalry and two pieces of artil,
lery. than be- was attacked by three regiment.
Of the enemy's infantry, by cavalry force SUI
perior to bis own. and by three full bstierisp
or eighteen guns, 70 planted that they had
complete command OF The town, aud ol all az
proaches TO il. He wss, Of course, Obliged to
retire, or he aunihil.tsd. He retired, and on
reaching the nearest dsfensibls position. soms
two and half miles from the town, he halted
and put himself in . posture Of deftncs. While
here be was joined by Gen. Tyler. with hi,
brigade, which made the total force of the ad
vance some twenty five hundred men. p..
Col Carroll here advised 4 retreat -as thc
more commanding position Of the enemy, and
his superior force, made the risk Of battle
with him extremely hazardous 10 this be was
overslsA. Il Was dxcided 70 m Ale q sand !;
ami the two skeleton brigades were thus pilted
against the main body Of Jsckson's army hum.
herring from twelve to fifteen thousand men,
with a full regiment OF cavalry aud four full
batteries. The result conld have been readily
foreseeu, The little force fought with des
peratlon, but tdey were overppwersd and
driven from the field I; not, however, until they
had held II between four and five hours had
driven the enemy on the right, where Col. Car.
roll commanded, nearly three quarters Of a
mile, taken one Of HE guns, nearly snnihilated
one Of bis crack regiments, and more thai,
decimated the others on our front.
1t is no disparsgemsnt to othsrs on the field
to say that during this tarrible fight the bravery
OF Col. Carroll shone conspicuous. HIS WA ID
the front from the first volley to the last, whild
The battle continued leading up each regi.
ment into ths f:ld, posting II there, and id
many instances bearing the coIors In advance,
as an Indictment to courageous conduct on the
part Of his men. Aud when retreat al la, /
became necessary, to avoid general slaughter
or capture, Col. Carroll covered the retreat ID
his own person showing there, as In the heal
Of the action, q rscklessnsss Of daring that
excited the sdmirau 10 OF his whoIa command.
- On whomsever the blame Of The disaster ~,
Port Republic may fall, VIZ are assured, from
authority on which ". have right To rely, that
II cannot fall on Col. Carroll, who strictly
obeyed bis orders, and carried himself through
out a. brave and competent Cficsr.