Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-08-15


tinuous infantry fire from the woods with
which they were met each time demonstra-
ted Enthusiastically that our forces were
greatly outnumbered by the foe.
THE INFANTRY CEASE FIRING.
with Che settling Of night the musketry
firing ceased; but the artillery on the
mountain kept up IN intermittent firing
until near midnight. At twilight our
troops Withdrew to a small copse Of wood,
about half o mile to the rear Of their first
position, where they were joined soon af-
ter by the corps of Generals Mcdowell and
Sigei who formed on their rear. It was
then that the hungry and wearied troops
of Gen Banks were relieved by portions Of
these fresh troops. The former fell back
half mile where, in a pleasant clover
field, they rested on their arms from the
fatig ues of the day.
THE BATTLE VICTORY, AND WHY.
The victory has been complete, though
am aware that many newspaper writers
look upon the issue of Saturdays fight as
disastrous defeat, simply because, at the
sitting in Of darkness, our forces retired
half mile 10 the rear. But the enemy did
precisely the same thing. On Sunday
morning, however, we advanced again,
took up our position upon the field and
commenced burying our own dead and the
rebel dead. Nothing but rebel pickets
were to be seen in the vicinity all day
Sunday. No batteries opened upon us, and
| in the course of the day General Jackson
| sent in a flag Of truce to ask permission to
bury his dead-a favor not generally ask
ed by q victor Of his vanquished foe. 1t is
| true, also, that when our troops retired
| from the wood TO escape the enemys shells,
which their camp fires had invited, they
did SO in some haste; but it was not pan
| ic or anything Of such q nature. The en-
emy's guns were posted high above our own
and out of our reach and to remain in
such a position would have been suicide.
Consequently they retired individually,
but not in disorder As to our losing a
couple of pieces of artillery, the story is all
the purest fiction. We captured two from
the enemy.
THE BATTLE HAS BEEN A TERRIBLE ONE,
both in regard to the number killed and
wounded, on both sides. The terrible
ordeal of arms, together with the oppres-
sive heat of the day, rendered hors du CON-
bat an unusual number Of the combatants
GENERAL sIGEL's TROOPS.
Many will probably ask why the corps
of Generals Sigel and Mcdowell did not
come up in time to reinforce Gen. Banks
The question is easily answered. General
Banks only encountered the enemy al
about four o'clock P. NJ, and it was moi
until FIVE o'clock that it was known that
there was more than few regiments Of
rebels mere advance guard, similar tC
Banks own force-upon our front. Gen
Banks thought himself to be, and, as the
sequel proved, was, able to maintain his
position, and only sent back for reinforce
ments when he found the enemy were
bein greatly reinforced and were massing
troops upon him. As soon as General Nc
Dower, who was five miles away on the
Culpepper road, found that he was needed
his army corps was pushed forward, arri
wing upon the ground just as the firing OF
both sides ceased. It must be remembered
: that the day was an oppressively hot one
perhaps the hottest of the season, and NJ
, troops in the world, under the circum
| stances, could have reached the field soon
: er. Experience will teach any one tina
I there is a vast difference between double
l ouickingn four or five miles over dusty
! road, with the thermometer at SO in thu
! shade, and performing the same feat il
e January, when he has to agitate his limb
nimbly to keep his blood from congesling
? McDowelIs forces came up in good time Il
cover our exhausted troops as they resteC
e for the night, and that was all that coulC
be expected of them Sigel had to marcl
eight miles to reach the same.
! ! INCIDENTS OF THE FIGHT-A sPUNKY PRI
vATE OF THE OHIO 7TH.
Just after the firing of musketry be
came interesting I noticed a private sol
: der coming off the field, and, thinking
perhaps he was running away to avoi'
! danger, rode up to him, when found h
had two fingers Of his left hand shot ava.
! and third dreadfully laeerated. l saw a
once that he had at least hand in tn
q fight. I assisted him to dress his woun'
I as well as my limited knowledge Of surg
cry would permit, he in the mean tim
propping up my pluck by his quaint re
marks. Said he, 'I don't keer a dUrn TO
that third finger, for it wasn't of no 'coun
# no how; but the 'pinter' and tother on
It were right good ones, and hate to los
e 'em I shouldn't have come to the rear
: had been able to load my gun; but wa
r MT" After had dressed his hand, h
/ looked over in the direction of the frinl
/, and stood q moment Turning to me, h
e said;-"Stranger, wish you would jis
h load up my shooting iron for me; wan
., to have little satisfaction out Of theI
h eusses for spiling my fore paw" loade
n his gun for him, and he started back 70
d the top Of the hill at a double quick i
d quest Of satisfaction" His name is LaI
pin, or Lapham, of the Ohio 9TH.
Al GEN. GEARY's BRIGADE.
te SGen. Geary's wound will probably caus
g, the loss of his arm. He rode back int
l. the fight bloody and full Of pain, and CON
i'd manded his regiments with the utmost e1
E. actness. The following is believed to be
re summary of his losses
r 9th Ohio has left commissioned officer
y and 104 men.
h. 7th Ohio has left 4 commissioned of
GERS and 40 men.
29th Ohio has left commissioned of
+ GERS and 80 men.
n 66th Ohio has left 8 commissioned of
10 GERS and A men.
.s : Total, 16 officers and 2l8 men remain
s. ing.
4, our Foreign ReIatiOns--OpinionsO of Cassir
az NJ. Clay.
s. At Soldiers Relief Fair at Washing
/ ton, on Tuesday night Cassius NJ. Cla
!, - made speech mainly devoted to our 70
Sign relations.
4 He said he was only one of our foreig
ministers who had been singled out f
"a abuse in European papers in the interest
1L ralals which he fnnk as q cnmnlimhnt