Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1862-10-15

w. w. Corbin
+" Joseph Snyder
4" Thomas III. Clark
WOUNDED. c,rLt
Lieut.. George Thop'362o o6,h ond IN tbo OH
Sergeant Alfrea oh 'le %oth' ana on tne - Il
e 1orward to Gainesville On the morn
Prig of the 28th he marched towards Manas
as, and at night received orders to attack
the enemy vigorously next Ii orning. lie ac
cordingly made the necessary preparations al
night and formed in order of battle at day
break, having ascertained that the enemy
was in considerable force beyond Young's
Branch.
The attack was made and the Rebels de-
feated. General Sigel says of the fight:
We had won the field of battle, and cur
army rested near the dead and wounded who
had 50 gioriously defended the cause OF this
country"
After the battle of August 80, he says:
"On Saturday, the 30th of August, was
informed by Major General Pope that it was
his intention to break the enemy's left, (" and
that |, with the First Corps, should hold the
centre, Major General Reno should take DO
sition on my right, and General Reynolds ON
my left. The First Corps took position be-
hind GrOvetown, on the right of the Gains
vile turnpike. Ny request to have two bat,
teres in reserve behind the centre for certain
emergencies-one of General Renos and one
of General Reynolds Division--was not com
piled with, although all my batteries were
more or less worked down. several pieces un
serviceable and short of ammunition, and
many horses killed or disabled.
A q II
ing the further development of the battle,
received a despatch through General Mellow
ell, and written by General Porter, express
ing his doubt as to the final result of his at
tack, and requesting Gen. Mcdowell to push
Sigel forward Although had not received
positive orders from General Pope, imme-
diately made Unnecessary preparations either
to assist General Porter or to resist an attack
of the enemy, should he repel General Porter
and advance against my own p, sition in the
centre, by directing General Stahel to deploy
his brigade in front and General Shurz to
form his regiments in line of reserve
. During the execution of these movements
General Porter's came out of the woods,
bringing a great number Of wounded with
them. In answer to my question why they
were retiring after SO short a time, they said
they were out of ammunition. Expecting that
the enemy would follow up this retrogade
movement of whole corps with strong
force, [ kept my troops we'll together to meet
such an event Thus we stood, when sudden
ly incessant volleys of musketry betrayed the
enemy in great force on our left, and showed
clearly his real plan of attack.
. To assist Colonel McLeans Brigade on
our left, directed General Milroy to join his
brigade with that of Colonel Mclean. In ex
81;
his brigade more to the rear than was intend
ed by me. BY this disposition an interval OF
seven hundred PAGES was left between thesa
two brigades, by which the enemy penetrated,
attacking Colonel McLean's troops in the
rear, and compelling them to change their
front to the left They thereby partially
evacuated the position they had occupied on
We maintained our position until night
had closed in upon us, when General Pope
ordered general retreat Following the
troops OF Generals Porter and Mcdowell, my
corps crossed Youngs Branch, where it re-
manned for two hours, until the commands of
Generals Mcdowell, Reno and Kearney had
crossed Bull Run, by the ford near the stone
bridge, and the whole train had passed the
bridge. 1t was now between and 10 z. NJ .
then marched to the turnpike crossed the
bridge over Bull Run, and took position on
the left and right of the bridge throwing nv
plckets on the other (south) side of the creek.
towards the battle field. Soon after an officer
OF General McDowel's Staff directed me to
iali back, as the enemy was threatening the
line OF retreat
- 1t was now after midnight, when | order
ed my command to continue its march toward
CentreVllle, trst destroying the bridge across
buiI kun. Our rear guard was composed Of
Ueneral ShurZ's division, two pieces Of Cap.
tain Dilyer's battery, and detachment Of
Colonel kane's Bucktail Rifles, which had
come up with several guns collected on their
march of retreat. | reached Centreville at
daylight on the 2lst of August, nv command
encamplng IN front and occupying the in
trenchments OF that place, att; ched to me
with our arrival at Freeman's Fud. Our
losses during the two days battle in killed
wounded, and missing, according to the Off
clai list sent IN, are ninety'twO officers and
one thousand eight hundred and ninety-one
non-commissioned officers and privates.
o be Just to the officers and soldiers un-
der my command, / must say that they per-
formed their duties during the different move.
hents and engagements of the whole cam
paign with the greatest promptness. energy
and t0rhtude. Commanders of divisions and
origaoes, Oh regiments and batteries, and the
commanders OF opr small cavalry force have
assisted me under GllGircumstauces cheerful
~ and to the utmost Of their ability, and so
nave the two batteries of Major General
Banks corps. and Captain Hampton's bat
teries under Major Rufos. 1t also affords me
pleasure 10 pention the faithful services of
the members of my staff, and of such officers
as were detailed fornly special duty To them,
as we'll as to the officers and members of nv
escort. and of the pioneer companies attached
to me since our arrival at Freeman's Ford, |
hereby express my high regard and warmest
gratitude.