The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1862-09-04
$3.50 PER ANNUM In ADVANCE.
NUMBER 10.
The Contest on the RappnbannOcIt

SOhteht OH the
Correspondence OF the N Y. Tribune:l
WASHINGTON, d. c., Aug. "a, 1881 hav
ust returned from the lines of our army on tn
| Rappahannock, and bring particulars of tn
| progress of affairs to Saturday afternoon
By Wednesday noon the retreat of our army
from the Rapidan to the Rappahannock haC
brought it to the banks of the latter river, anC
he rear guard, composed in part Of Gen
Hatch's brigade of cavalry, were just at Bran
dy Station (the first on the railroad beyond
Rappahannock Bridge,) when the head of the
rebel pursuing columns first came IN sight
| throughout the whole march from Cupeppel
TO this point the enemy were following closely
upon the heels of our forces, their advance
guard being but short distance behind our
rear, ynd their main body only some six or
eight miles off. At this insignificant little rail.
road station, then, the grand armies of Pope
and Lee first got sight of each other, and con-
| tlict Immediately ensued. Our rear guard sup
posing that the rebel force was mere Skin
mshing party sent in advance, and wishing to
check such presumptuous accommodating turned
upon it, and the order to charge was glven,-
| immediately the three cavalry regiments OF
Hatch'S brigade-the "Harrls light, lst Penn
sylvania, und 1st New Jersey formed in line
of battle ard swept forward with treIneuduous
cheers but coming suddenly upon broad and
deep ditch they were compelled to draw rein,
and at the instant large force OF rebel intan-
try rose from cover and poured a heavy voliey
into the ranks, which emptied many saddles
and threw our squadrons nto confusion
The line gave way at the centre, butthe wings
wayering and showing disposition to hold
their ground, another volley was poured into
them by the enemy and our whole force then
rapidly retrested to the Rappahannock River.
rhe .ebel forces followed holly after; but at
rLo 49, Il, thaV han
US pel-meil over the liver, end the capture OF
the railroad bridge must be an easy matter,
the fire of two Observation-Disclosures Pennsylva>
MIA and Thompson's Maryland-was poured in
to their faces with terrible effect. Their I'M
pulsive advance was checked On the instant,
and their exultant yels died upon their lips
In haste they retired from the exposed posi-
siGion where they stood to the cover OF thick
wood, which skir;ed the level plain to dis
lance of half mile from the river. Their pee
es net having been brought forward they could
not reply TO our fire, so their column moved
to the left, under cover of the woods, with the
view of fanking us by effecting Il crossing at
one of the fords between the Rappahannock
bridge and the Warrenton White Sulphur
Springs Their design, having been antlclpa.
ted. was baffled by Gen. Pope, who pushed his
column a CORRESPONDENT distance along the
north bank of the river, and guarded each lord
with three batteries to command Ill front and
from either side. Two armies were kept thus
moving all Thursday each OF the two able
players at this grand game OF war seeking to-
checkmate his antagonist without bringing on
a serious engagement before his forces were
fully massed An attempt was made down at
Keilv's Ford-on the left of our llue to cross
and turn our position, but this was eIfectually
fooled by Gen. Reno, who showed no force I'M
til he had lured the enemy into the place he
desired, and then suddenly opued fire with his
batteries, and then followed it up with ca val~
~ cha,oe, which put The foe to flight, and de-
him to make no more attempts that
day to cross at Kelley's Ford
Friday morning came, AMI with 1t sharp
along the whole line, from KeIly's
Ford (Reno's position) to Barnett's Ferd, which
was defended by SigeL The first gun was
fred at 5 o'clock at our centre, and answered
by McDowells batteries; but the answering
echoes Of BLU Ridge had hardly sent back
the peals of ordinance before Sigei also was at
tackled and from that until dusk the cannonade
was almost incessaut. The fact vas that the
main body of the enemy had come up, and i'll
advance OF choosing their final position, they
were feeling us all along the line, AT Barnett's
Ford however, their attack wa most deter
mined, as that poinC was, OF all along the RVS
err, the most favorable for their designs. But
the gallant corps of Sgel did not come short Of
its duty one iota, for their batteries played up
on the rebel batteries all day long, and even at~
ter nightall, worn out and faugued rs men
and horses were, they kept up the fight until
the enemy drew OIL
In the morning, Banks occupied position
to the left of Mcdowell, but when it became
apparent that the attack upon Sigel wOnidbe The
mai feature of the day, his corps was moved
up to the right to support Sigel and RenO's di-
vision was marched from KellyS Ford to a
point above Rappahaunock Railroad Bridge,
near Gen. Pope's headquarters.
All day Gen. Pope's headquarters were on
4 bold hill, whence a toerable good view could
be had of the line of battle, which stretched
for eight or ten miles along the Rappahannock,
and hlther came, and thence went mounted aids
and orderes in hot haste with reports and or
ders verbal and written. The hill top was
shaded by group Of large oaks, under whose
branches l saw at one time clustered several
generals and general stats.
When the artillery attack on Sigel had lulled
a little, the brave general determined to feel
the rebel strength opposite his position. AcN
cordingly he ordered Gen. CAR Schurz to re-
connoltre with lis division, and if possible, toi
cross the river. Schurz 5 division comprises
two beigades, of hch he only took the first,
Gen. Bohien, for the reconnaissance. Inc ~
PENNSYLVANIA was sent over first the men wa
their guns and ammunition above their heads to
keep them dry. The 9Th Virginia and 31st Ohio
followed after, and some time after McLean's
brigade was sent TO support them in their en-
gagement with the enemy.
Schurz's was unopposed. He kept on up
the opposite bank and out upon the level
ground, and went more than mile before his
pickets came face to face with the enemy g.
As soon as our fellows saw the' grey backs,
4 - .. I'll. E,
ground or making a show of force, fell bac'E, in
no very leisurely manner either, for half mile
Sigel followed while, until it was evident that
they wished to entrap him into an ambush,
when he halted and took up fine position III
the edge of some heavy timber, the approaches
to which were over open fields. Their design
foied, the enemy had no choice but to face
about aud attack Schurz in his own position,
which they did in force One Of the officers
who was wounded in this fight tells me that he
counted twenty-five pieces Of ordinance on
their side which were in actoe on their side,
supported by adequate forces CT infantry and
cavalry. ..., ...s |
The fight on this trans Rappahannock |
field was holly c0ntested-as you may well
imagine from the fact that it commenced at
about 9 a. H. and lasted until 9 in the evening. !
Charges were repeatedly made by both sides.
and the rebels. seemingly determined to con. !
uuer in spite OF every obstacle, even stflpped
to their pantaloons in many cases--as our
Irishmen are said to hsve done al Bull Rum
But although the musketry was sharp and the
fighting mostly at short range, the rebels
seemed to have forgotten their craftsmanship
Co.. once for up to O'Clock, when / passed
tbot way. Sgel had not lost above fifty or sixty
IN Killed and wounded. Bot one brave man
and true patriot had gone to his account
Rria Gen. Bohlen OF Philadelphia, command
ing the LIST brigade, Sd division, Sigels army
corps, had fallen, while at the head Of his COM
mand he was waving hic sword and encourage
ing on his men.
Toward evening Sigel's object having been
accomplished, and Schurz's force not being
efficient to hold his extremely advanced posi-
ton, our troops were withdrawn to the north
bank Of the river They were hotIy pursued to
the very waters edge by the enemy, and dur
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