Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1862-05-31

woods, and were not seen afterwards
Lieut.. Brockway then threw few shot
and shell at a house, said 20 be Head
Quarters, in front Of which were some
carthworks. SONG sibley tents were near
it. BY the side Of one Of these tents
trooper dismountcd and came forward to
reconnoitcr. ] The first shell struck him
down, and sent his horse flying across the
field. The soldier, (or ofhcer) struck did
not move during the engagement, SO
presume he was killed. Several she'll
struck in the earthworks in front, and
numerous horses ran from the woods in
the rear. One round shot went entirely
through the house.
Two masked batteries however opened
on Lieut.. Brockway, one 30 FOUNDER,
which enfladed the line of skirmishers OF
the 18th Ind, and also the Battery. The
first ricocheted from the crest Of the hill,
and making two bounds, passed immedi-
ately over Col. Humphrey, who being on
foot fell fiat and thought him killed.
This shot passed down the rear of the
whole line of the 18th Ind, as did several
which followed it. The Battery then took
another position, and tried an earthwork
Oh their extreme left, Hardly had they
taken position, when another masked Bat.
terry in front, not over 500 yards, replied.
The brush in front of this being knocked
down the first fire, Lieut.. Brockway di-
rectcd one of his pieces upon it with such
effect, that at the second fire one of the
encmys guns was knocked over, and the
horses ran gallopng away across the fields,
They fired but one more shot and were
silenced. The heavy gun still kept up its
fire Oh the extreme left of US, and having
shot and shell brought me from all the
Batteries, l concluded to order in Lieut.
Brockway and Col. Humphrey Lot know
ing where the sections that had passed to
our right had gone. called them in
nearer the main body to cover its flank,
aud started with three dragons, to the
rivers bank to ascertain, il possible, their
effective force. We had not proceeded far
when Battery within shot range opened
on us. | therefore dismountod and cravlcd
to the top Of hill, near some low ccdars.
There saw three different regiments un.
der arms, in front of their tents back of
the woods, two of which had batteries, or
sections Of batteries, on the right. One of
these regiments had huts. In the woods
were tents sufficient for three more rcgi
ments.
, The river was very precipitous on both
, sides, though less so on the side of the
= enemy than on ours. A regiment of Cav
t airy in line was also distinctly visible
J. The river was rs or so yards wide. The
. force of the enemy | estimate at between
c 5000 and 1000 Infantry, at least ono
C regiment of Cavalry, three full batteries
Il and two siege guns.
Finding no place for my Infantry tc
II open an effective fire, even with their ri
C fcs, without great exposure from crap,
k and canister, and knowing it was not you
n wish to risk a general engagement with
l. force greatly superior to our own and wei
r entrenched, or even skirnish whicI
), might prove disastrous to u, | rode bac
S and ordered the entire force out of range
i as saw them taking gun drawn by eigh
d horses in the masked battery between tn
" woods and their large works which la
d been silenced. | had hardly moved m
N command when they opened there with
s. "a pound shell, but badly out of rang
d and in our rear. They fired several round
n and ceased. / then rode to the right t
at examine the bridge, and had just arrive
re to where proposed to reconnoiter, whe
4 another masked battery opened so nea
= me with grape and canister, that coul
I'll distinctly sec the men working their piece
It, The shot flying entirely too close to
er pleasant changed my position, but onl
tn to find section of Light Artillery drivin
-. up; and unlimbcring, sent round she
" within ten feet of me, splattoring mud o e
:, both myself and horse.
IN The bridget could not see as i. W;
Y hidden by bluff But one pier is stan.
rv ing. The current is so rapid that rcbuilt
l. ing it would be difficult. The railroad
entire four miles from the river, but b.
ne yond that, the rails have been carried O
of or buried, and the slecpcrs burned or CT
el in two.
We The housns On our rorto ,r;,L .,,. -.