Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1862-02-11

which, at this crisis of the battle. I felt callad
upon to:lead in person. This attsek was general
and was, shared in by every regiment then IN the
field, including the 9Th, Fishers North Carolina
regiment, wi.ich had just come up and taken no.
sitis on the imm, date lett Of the 49th Virginia
Regiment. The whole open ground was again
swept clear of the enemy. and the plateau around
| the Henry and Robinson Houses remained final
" 10 cur posse>siou with the greater part Of the
Ricketts, and Griffin batteries, and O. flag Of the
l4t Michigan Regiment, ptured by The 27tb
Virginia Regimen, Lieut. Col Echols. J of Jack.
sous brigade This part of the day was rich
| with deeds of.individual coolDess and dauntess
conduct, as we'll as well il-directed. embodied res
olutiop and bravery but frapglt with the loss TO
the service ot the conntyy, Of lives of inestima
pie fpreclonspess at this iuEcture. The brave
Bee Was MORALLY wounded at the head Of the
4'h Alabama and some Mississjppians, in the
open field near the Henry House. and few wards
distant the promising life OF Barlow. while lead
ling the 7th Georgia Regiment, was ouenched il.
blood. Col. f. }. Thomas, Act: :ng Grief of I Ord
nance Of Gen. Johnstons Staff. alter gallant con.
dnct and most efficient service was slain. Col.
Fisber-6th North Carolina-l likewise fell after
soldierly behavior at the head ct his regiment.
with ranks greatly thinned
from this point the advantages were.pressed
which resulted in the total rout of the enemy.
Surely Old Augusta may we'll be proud of the
conspicuous services of her gallant sons on the
hard-fooght feld]
4
| The conduct of Gen. Jackson requires rtion
as eminenty that of an able, fearless soldier and
sagacious commander, one fit to lead his efficient
| brigade; his prompt, timely arrival before the
plateau of the Henry House, and his .iudicious
disposition of his troops contributed much to tie
success of the day. Although painfully wound
ed in the hand, he remained on the field to the
end of the battle, rendering invaluable assis-
| lance.
| Col. VIM. Smith was as efficient as self DOS
sessed and brave. The Influence of his example
and his words of encouragement were not con-
| fled to his immediate command, the good con-
duct of which is especially noticeable, inasmuch
as it had been embodied but day or two before
| the battle.
Colonels Harper, llunton aud Hampton, COM
| manding regiments Cf the reserve, attracted my
| notice by their soldieily ability, as, with their
gallant commands, they restored the fortunes of
the day at a time when the enemy, by last
desperate onset, with heavy odds, had driven
our forces from the ferce]y contested ground
the Hen and Robinson Houses. Veterans
could not have behaved better than these well
led regiments.
The Congressional War Committee and the
Battle of Ball's Bluff.
Colonel DeveDs, of the gallant Massachusetts
Fifteenth arrived here last evening, in answer TO
a subpoena from the Committee on tue Conduct
OF the war. To- day he appeared before that
body, and gave 81 account of the part he took
with his regiment in the battle of Balls Bluff IL
will be remembered that Colonel Devens had
two sharp fights, with six hundred of his com.
| maDd, before General Baker 5r,.ssed the river,
and that three hundred of that number Were
either killed wounded or taken prisoners. After
standing their ground like old regulils for eight
hours, the regiment WAS driven to the river by
the overpoWerlng plumbers OF the enemy and MA
nv men were drowned attempting to regain the
| Mary land shore. General Devers himself swan
across the river after doing all lie could to secure
a safe retreat Tor his men, that being his last
resort next to surrendering or suffering instant
death from the sword or the bayonet. Colonel
| Devens' testimony is considered highly impor
tant in lis bearing upon the battle OF Balls Buff
but cannot be published at present. -
~ Tie 18th Mississippi Regiment-Tbe
fist OF TIE killed and wounded in the Somerse
Fight in this gallant regiment, published 10 the
Nashville papers, tells story OF desperate
hghtiug. Ont of AS who went into the battle
nearly one halt were killed or wounded, as the
following recapiiulation shows:
Number killed, A
Wounded, 15s
Missing "a