Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-09-04

Il
Our Army Strongly Re enforced aud
Safe Interesting Details of the .Skir.
mishes-Fom Days .Secere Fighting-
Deah Of Gen. Bohiep- His GoHanhyI
at tie Hcad of has Mea-B,fv,amt CaU-
ally Charges:
Correspondence of the n. v Tribune.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Aug. "a, 1862
have Just returned from the lines of our
army on the Rappahannock, and bring par
ticuars of the progress Of affairs up to
Saturday afternoon.
BY "Wednesday noon the retreat of our
army from the Rapidan to the Rappahan-
mock bad brought it to the banks Of the
latter river, and the rear guard, composed
in part of Gen. Hatch's Brigade of cavalry,
were Just at Brandy Station the first on the
railroad beyond Rappahannock Brdge)
when the head of the Rebel pursuing col
umns first came in sight. Throughout the
whole march from Culpepper to this point
the enemy were following closely upon the
heels Of our Forces their advance guard be-
ing but short distance behind our rear,
and their main body only some six or eight
miles off. At this insignificant little railroad
station, then, the grand armies of Pope aud
Lee first got sight of each other, and Il con-
fiict Immediately ensued. Our rear guard,
supposing that the Rebel force was mere
skrmishing party sentin advance, and wish
ing to check such presumptuOus reconnoi-
tering, turned upon it, and the order to
charge was given. immediately. the three
cavalry regiments of Hatch's Brigade--the
Harris Light" lst Pennsylvania, and lst
New Jersey-formed in line of battle and
swept forward with tremendous cheers /;
but coming suddenly upon broad and deep
ditch they were compelled to draw rein, and
at the instant large force of Rebel infantry
rose from cover and poured a heavy volley
into the ranks which emptied many saddles
and threw our squadrons into confusion.-
The line gave way at the center, but the
wings wavering and showing disposition to
hold their ground, another volley was pour
ed into them by the enemy, and or whole
force then rapidly retreated to the Kappa
hammock River. The Rebel forces follow
ed hotly AFTER but at the moment when
:. they thought they had driven us pell mel
, over the river, aud the capture of the rail
J road bridge must be an easy affair, the fire
of two Observation-Disclosures Pennsylvania
and Thompsons Maryland--was poured
into their faces with terrific effect. Thei
impulsive advance was checked in the in
stant.. and the. exultqnt yells died up9r
|. then lips. In haste they retired from the
, exposed situation where they stood to thu
cover of thick wood, which skirted tht
level plain ut a distance OF halt mile from
the river. Their pieces not having bee
: brought forward, they could not reply t.
D. our fire. so their column moved to the left
under cover of the woods, with the view O
hanking us by effectng Il crossing at one o
the fords between Rappahannock Bridg
and the Wanenton White Sulphur Spring;
Their design, having been anticipated, wa
baffled by Gen. Pope, who pushed hi
column corresponding distance along tn
North bank of the river, and guarded eac
D. ford with three batteries to command it i
= front and from either side. The two a
mics were kept thus moving all Thursda.
each of the two able players at this gran
game of war seeking to checkmate his a,
- tagonist without bringing on serious ell
Ito gagement before his forces we're fully mass
an An attempt was made down at Kelley
p.p p Ford-ou the left of our line-to cross, al
tial turn our position, but this was effectual
he foied by Gen. Reno, who showed no for
4 until he had lured the enemy into the pla
- he desired, and then suddenly opened fl
with his batteries, and then followed it !
KT with "a cavalry charge, which put the foe
W fight, and determined him to make
more attempts that day to cross at kell
Ford
Friday morning came and with it sha
cannonade along the whole line, from X
cling lys Ford (Reno's positionl to Barnet
'ers- Ford, which was defended by Sigel L
=, first gun was fred at O'Clock at our cent
q and answered by cDowell' batteries;
n the answering echoes of the Blue RlC
:. :, had hardly sent back the peals of ordna
6S before Sigel also was attacked, and from d
on until dusk the cannonade was almost
cessant. The fact was that the main b
Of the enemy had come up, and, in adva
e.. of choosing their final position, they W
feeling us all along the line. BY Barne
- Ford, however, their attack was most
-. termined, as that point was, of all along
river, the most favorable for their desig
, But the gallant corps Of Sigel did not c(
s. short of its duty one iota, for their bate
played upon the Rebel batteries all day X
and even after nightfall, worn out and
PTS Of tipued as men and horses were, they
s'evs we, up tho fight until the enemy drew of.
He Is In the morning, Banks had occupie
at a'l position to the left of Mcdowell, but "
it became apparent that the attack u
OK Sigel would be the main feature of the
= his corps was moved up to the right to
port Sigel, and Reno Division was ma
ed from Kelly's Ford to point above
>, pahannock Railroad Bridge, near Gel
uoI Pope's headquarters. The 5lst New
milling was, however, left to guard the ford, II
to Lieut.. Col. Potter's disgust, who lo
J. to lead his men into the thickest Of
fight, as usual, . saii n
All day Friday Gen. Pope's headqua
Co. o were, ON bold hill, whence a tolerable
=. could be had Of the line Of battle. v
Inc. stretched for eight OF ten miles along
Rappahannock, and hither came and Il
~ went mounted aides and orderlies in
4; ESTs ST haste, with reports and orders, verbal
written. The hill top was shaded 4
group of large oaks, under whose bral
Oil for [ saw at one time clustered several ger
PRICE and general stalls.
When the artillery attack on ,Sigel
+ lulled little the brave General detern
No to feel the Rebel strength opposite his
oil Ohio ton % Accordingly he ordered Gen.
Schurz to reconnoiter with his Division
If possible, to cross the river. Sch
SNrNo division comprises two brigades,, OF y
~ he took only the first, Gen. Bohlen, K
IRIS. Reconnaissance. The 74th Pennsyl