New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-02-03
Important Intercepted Correspondence.
From Dor speell Correspondent.


upon n Journalist is 10 describe correctly battle.
No two human eyes ear overlook lie Whole aud .
observe every noteworthy incident Of one Of thesc
eliminating episodes Of war. AID furthermore, the .
number Of tie actors enesgod-tteir constant shiii-
,sgs g postoD-their inevitable excitement aud
comparative confusion during and alter the tie &C
lion, render the immediate availability of other
eources of trrstwoghy information tlan hs own Oh
servatous FrecorOus TO the cirouicer. Thus 10 nap
paned Tat my first account Of the memorable engage
neut Of the 18Th init, although Of considerable :
length, WIS not quite fol- in all tie details. Below,
have underworld to supply he deficiency.
The 10th Indiana is Truly entitled ic historical
credit lor the bravery exlbi. ed IN The action. il
really stood tie blu[. Of the battle. According to
statements made by rebel prisoners it wds actua J!
stacoed by several regiments and resifted item
successfully, until most Of tie companies had ex-
hausled their ammunition. Company X maintained
its ground even after the balance of The regiment
had fallen back come distance, and continued IN our
front line Of battle. Lieut.. Simpson oi thiecoupany,
lately connected with The Lafayette DAILY journal,
especially distinguished himself.
TIE praise bestowed upon the I'd Minnesota in my
frst letter was well canned. This gallant regiment
a. orc time engaged hand TO hand with tbe 10TH
Mississippi Regiment 80 close that some OF tie Mn
nesolian. seized the guns OF their foes, and others
bad regular duels at the point OF tie bay onet.
The 5ayonet charge Of the 9Th OHIO was the most
sriking incident OF tie battle, and the pluchy Ger
mans continue 10 receive elcomiums from all tAai
witnessed it. TIE captured Secessior.aif themselves
acknowledge their superiority to any regiment on
their side. Dr. Gift, one Of the CJnirde sur
geons says that the Sch swept every thing before 1t
like a mighty, iesistless wave A5out dozen
Mississipri4ns suffered death at tler steel probably
the FIRST rebels killed by bayOaets in tits war. Cen
eral Thomas highly compimented the Germans Tor
having decided The battle by their valor.
did not do justice 10 the Uaion artillery IN my
frst report. Captains Kinney, Sandart'f and
Whetmore's Ohio batteries al participated more or
less in the fight. They got their guns III position
and pepIered the enemy whenever an opportunity
offered and with considerable effect. The prisoners
of the Goth Tennessee STATE thai one Of orr shells
killed four and wounded several more Of their men.
The active pat performed by these batteries may DC
inferred from the fac; that Staudart fired no less
thai 49, Kinney's Il, and Whetmores 10 rounds.
| wrongly estimated the number Of tie Union
forces engaged at iOOO. They did not exceed $780,
thus rendering the victory over the Ioany--mes
stronger enemy the more glorious. According to Of
fetal statements tie lOlr Indiana bed about go, the
% Minnesota eco, the 9th ONO t3l, the ith Ken
lucky $50, Woford's Cavalry 40 men engaged,
while the batteries manned by atom, DO.
General Thomas was under fire during The greater
part Of the battle. He showed the utmost coolness,
and acted throughout like a true general.
Colonel McCook displayed almost reckless valor,
k!wsys being in the thckest OF the hail Of hos lie
lead, and encouraging his troops. After he Was
wounded, bis surgeon urged him to retire from the
field, lut he left lis command until the Inou'
ing after the battle.
There is, indeed, retibntion in history. The
Balls Bluff slaughter has been fGlly avenged, al
now ascertained. counterpart 10 its taddes
feature-the drowning Of retiring troops III h'
Potomsc-has been enacted by TIE reirestiug rebels
When they reached the bank of the river, aer tAei
preciptaie flight from the battlefield, they rushoC
IN crowds upon the fat-boat that with Il steamboat
formed their means Of crossing. SO great was the
rush upon the former that many were pushed over
board. Others hung themselves III such numbers III
the water, holding to the sides Of the boat that
they threatened to upset the boat, and compelled
those upon ii to loosen their hold by force. large
number rushed headOng into the river after tie boas
had stood OF the bank, and tried TO twim across.
Over l50 are thus supposed 10 have found watery
grave. The rebel cavalry dsmoun;ed on the bank
and tired 10 swim their horses over, willie crgssing
on the boats. The animals however, all swan back
10 this side
Four additional pieces Of artillery have been die.
covered, making the total number captured twenty
one. Nearly 200 prisoners, who had scattered
through the woods, were taken. Some scouting
parties sent out from the amendments found the
bush on the LETT bank full Of horses, aud brought
IL over 200 Of them. On Saturday last, two com
panies of the 10th Indiana crossed the river and
pushed far south Monticello. They, also, all
came back mounted rebel borses They reported
that the flying rebels came through that town on a
run on Monday last, Crit,enden at their head, and
informed the inhabitants that $4,000 Yankees were
a, their heels. So reduced were they TO a starving
condition, that they rushed into cornfeds and
satisfied their hunger with the raw grain.
Zollicofers and young Bailie Peytons bodies have
been sent to LOuisyilie under charge Of DIR, Cliff.
The latter acting Captain IN tie 20th Tennessee
Regiment and was shot in the head.
AZ presumed, my irst list Of the Union loss in
killed aud wourded was incomplete. Below will be
found full of the killed and wounded Of the 9th
Ohio and "a Minnesota. OF the other corps that had
suffered the action, the 10th Indiana has in killed II
on the field, 2 died since of wounds, 46 wounded;
4th Kentucky, killed 10, died since of wounds &c
wounded Wolford Cavalry, killed z, q wounded;
giving total Including those OF 9th Ohio and I'd
Ninnesota) of AZ killed and IJ9 wounded. One Off.
Ger, Lieut.. Miller Of Woford's Cavalry, il among
Ia