The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-05-06

General Burn sides ORc ial Report Of the
Battle at south Mills.
HEADQUARTERS, DErAwTNKsr on NORM cARoILsA,
NKwBf1x, April ~, lSo2 }
10 Hon. +. N. STANTON, Secretary OF War
S-I have the honor enclose General Reno's report
Of the sments made by him. in accordance with my
order for the purpose Of accomplishing certain objects
already indicated in former despatch, the main order
OF which most successfully accomplished. General
Reno's report gives detailed account Of tho movement,
and need only add that feel increased confidence in
the brave officers and soldiers who accomplished so
much in short time. Our loss in the engagements
was fourteen killed and ninety six wounded and two
taken prisoners. The enemys loss must have been
much greater, as the chaplain of the New YORK
in charge Of tho wounded reports having seen on the
field thirty killed, besides several wounded tho main
body OF the wounded having been taken from tho nsd
Our forces drove the enemy from the field In most
gallant style, buried our dead bivouacked on the field
teen severely wounded that they could not be moved
but who were comfortably provided for and lsit IN
General Reno then, in obedience to orders. returned
his fleet and and embarked his He felt less re-
uctance in leaving behind these fourteen wounded with
the surgeon and chaplain, from the fact that had but
few days before released eighty wounded with the
surgeons who left by the enemy in Newborn, and
the commanding officer in that neghborhood would b.
less than human he 70 refuse to release these
wounded Is SON a. they can be transported safely
port Of General Reno also the correspondence between
the General aud the commanding ocsr At south Mills
published in yesterdays HzxADl.
have tho honor to be your obsdent servant,
A. L. BURNSIDE, Maj. Gen. Commanding.
Gen. neno's OGcial Report OF the Battle.
HEADQUARTERS SECOND DIVISION,
NEwBEIS, N. c.. April p, 1862.
Captain LEWIS RICHMOND, Assistant Adutant General
CArrA-I have the honor to report that in obsdsncs
the order Of Major General Burnside proceeded from
Newbsrn with the Twenty FIRST Massachusetts and Fifty
IN md fhar0
joined by part or the Ninth and Eighty ninth New York
and Sixth New Hampshire. We proceeded directly TO
Elizabeth City and commenced dsembarking the 10Th
inst midnight at point about three miles below, on
the side BY three A. NJ Colonel Hawkins brigade'
consisting OF the Ninth and Eighty ninth New York and
Sixth New Hampshire, landed and ready to move.
ordered Colonel Hawkins to proceed al once with his
brigade towards South Mills, for the purpose Of making
demonstration Norfolk remained to bring up the
other two regiments they having been delayed by the
vessels getting aground al thu mouth OF the river They
came up at daylight and landed by seven A. M.
proceeded directly towards south Mis, and aooa.
seems lost his way either by the treachsry incompe
telcy of his guide he having marched some ten miles out
OF his way As his very much jaded by this
long march, ordered them - follow the second brigade,
proceeding about four miles further TO within mile ana
| half OF south Mills. The rebels opened upoa Us with
artillery before my advanced guard discovered them.
Immediately reconnotcrod Their position and found that
they were pcstsd in an aavanta eous position in limo
perpendicular to the road their infantry bitches and
their artillery commanding ell the direct approaches and
| their protected by dense forest ordered tho
Fifty first Psansyv snia Immediately to die the right
anu pass tie edge Of the woods turn their LETT
also ordered the Twent! first Massachusetts to The
same course and, when Col. Hawkins came up with his
brigade sent him, With the Ninth ANA Eighty ninth New
York 10 their support The Sixth New Hampshire
formed line eft Of and ordered support
pieces Of artillery Owing othe excessive fatigue
of the they could not reach their position for
time In the meantime The enemy kepi up brisk artii,
pieces, under charge OF Colonel Howard, OF the Cast
Guard, who, during tho entire engagement dsp ayed
conspicuous gallantry aud rendered very efficient
service both during the action and upon the return-he
bringing up the As the Fifty first Pernsy.
wanna aud lwenynfst Massachusetts had succeeded in
/ turning their lett they opened brisk mGsketry
1 fire and about The same time the Ninth New York,
also coming range, and being too eager to engage,
| fortunately charged upon tho enemy's artillery. II
was q most gallant charge and they were exposed
10 most deadly IRE Of grape aud nusketry, and were
forced retire. but rallied Immediately upon the highly
ninth New loEk. then ordered both form
Junction with the Tweny-nrst Massachusetts In the
meantime the Fifty nrst Penns ylvsnia and twenty first
Massachusetts Kept up incessant fire upon tho rebels
4 who had Withdrawn their artillery and haJ COM
menoed 10 retreat in good order. The Sixth >sew U-mL
shire had steadily advanced in line to the left OF the
road and when within about two hundred yards poured
In most deadly voley, which completely demoralzed
| the enemy and ended the battle Our men
completely tagged out by the intense heat and thor
long march that We could not pursue them. The
rested under arms, in line OF battle, until about ten
O'Clock r. NJ, when ordered 70 hav-
ing accomplished the principal object OF the expedition
conveying tho idea that the entire Burnside expedition
was marching upon Norfolk Owing TO want or trans.
| portaton / compelled 10 leave some sixteen
severely wounded men, Assistant Surgeon Warren
was left with the sent flag OF truce tho next
day ask tbat they might be returned TO Commander
Rowan kindly volunteering TO attend TO il; We took only
few prisoners, some ten or fifteen, most Of them be-
longing 10 the Third Georgia regiment. The Ninth New
1 York suffered NEST severely, owing u their pre-.
Wounded beng aboa, ninety. SON. sixty belongs a,u
ing TO that regiment The officers and men Of the
several regiments all behaved With their usual gasnty
and many worthy Of particular mention and pre-
sumo the brigse and regnonial commanders will DO
justice to Their respective commands. Will forward
| their reports as soon as received
The return march made in perfect order, and few
1 If any strssslsrs let behind Considering that
during the advance the weather intensely hot aad
that the rain rendered tho roads very
i muddy, and that portion Of the command had 10
\ march foYy-Gvs miles and he others thrty-lye and
fght battle the meantime and that all this was &C
compIished in less than twentyiVuf hours think that
the Commanding General has every to be satisfied
| with his command. ! desire TO return my thanks
Commander Rowan and the officers and under him
for their untiEns energy in disembarkng and embark
ing my commando and also 70 Lieutenant Fusser for tie
gallant manner ia which he assisted us By proceeding
the aud drawing the enemy out Of the woods along
the banks. Colonel HAWKING Commanding the First
brigade, and Lieutenant Colonel Bell, commanding
Second, displayed conspicuous courage, did ALSO tho
regimenta commanders. Lieutenant Colonel Clark
inandcd the twenty rs Massachusetts, MAJOR senall
Fifty first Pennsy wanna, Lieutenant Colonel Kabsl tie
Ninth New York aid Lieutenant Colonel Griffin the sixth
/ New Hampshire captain Fearing, the Abide camp
| or Genera Burnside, accompanied me - a
volunteer aid, aud rendered ellie icnt and ga.
\ lat service also Captain Richie Al c. 81 snd
Lieutenant Gordon ard Breed Of the Signal corpk Nv
own aids, lie Rene snd Hcrris behaved with
their usual CALAMITY AZ soon as The bsale and fegi-
mental reports sre furnished, will forward them TO-
gether with complete ss Of the killed and wounded.
The enemy loss considerable but they succeeded
IN carrying Oh most Of their wounded Severs however
lett on the fed cue q whom captain Or tile
Third Georgia regiment. The color bearer d the Third
Georgia regiment was shot Down by the TWENTY first
Massachusetts, white waving denantly his tratofous
l tag The enemy had frOn six TO ten pieces
OF artillery, and from SOC TO 900 men. We approach
cd to within thirty miles of Norfolk and undoubtedly
the defeat Of one Of their best regiments Che Third
Georgia. produced considerable panic at Norfolk.
have the honor 70 be, very respectfully,
J. l.. RENO