The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1862-08-21

He was directed not to advance beyond
that point. aud il attacked by the enemy,
10 defend his position and send bark
timely notice. Il was nv desire to have
time TO give the corps Of sigsl all the rect
possible after their forced march, and
TO bring forward all the forces at my dis.
posal. s'- '" ''" .'
The artillery Of The enemy opened ear
Iy in the afternoon, but he made no ad. .
vance until 8 o'clock, al which time
few skirmishers were thrown forward on
each side, under rover Of the heavy wood
in which his iorcs was concealed. The
enemy pushed forward a strong force In
the rear Of his skirmi,hers, and General
Banks advanced 10 the attack. The en-
gagement did not f,irly open until after
6 O'clock, but for an hour and half was
furious and uncessine throughout. The
eannonading was at first desultory, and
directed mainly against the cav.lry.
had continued to receive reports from Gen
Banks that no attack was apprehended,
and that no considerable infantry forco Of
the enemy had come forward. Yet, to.
ward evUning, the increase in the sr,iIle.
ry firing having satisfied me an engage.
ment might be a. hand, though the late.
ness Of the hour rendered il unlikely,
ordered Gen. Mcdowell 10 advance. Rick.
etrs division 10 support Gen. Banks. and
directed Gen. Sigel 10 bring his men on
the ground as soon as possible. | arri.
we'd personally on the field at PM. and
found the action raging fereely. The in-
iantvy 1re was incessaut and severe.
found Gen. Banks holding the position lia
took up early in the morElng. His losses
were heavy. Ricketts, division was liz
medistely pushed forward and occupied
the advance OF Gen. Banks. The brig.
ade Of Gen. - and Gordon being di.
rected to change their position from the
right an! mass themselves in the center.
Before this change could be effected, il
was quite dark, though the artillery con
tinued at short range without iutermis
sion. The artillery Ere at night by the
I'd ard 9th Maine batteries 10 Rickeu't
division OF Gen. McDowell's corps. was
the mos. destrucilfe, as was readily Oh
seryabs the nex, morning in tie dead
men and horses. and broken qua carria-
ges Of the ,enemy's batteries, which bad
been advanced against Il. Our troops
rested on their arms during The night, in
line Of battle. heavy she!Iing being kept
up ou both sides until midnight. At day.
light the next morning the enemy fell
back three miles from our front, and still
higher up the mountain. Our picke,s at
once advanced and occupied tie ground
The fatigue Of the troops from long
marches and excessive heat, made it i'm
possible for either side to resume the &C
ton on Sunday. The men were there
fore allowed 10 rest and recruit the who'll
day, our only active operation being tia
Of cavalry on the enemy's flank and rear
Monday vas spent in burying the dea,
and in getting of the wounded Th
Slaughter was severe on both Sides
Most Of the fighting being hand to hand
The dead todies Of both armies wer,
found mingled together in masses owe
the whole ground Of conflict. The bury
ing Of the dead was not completed unit
dark on Monday the heat being so terri
BILE that severe work was not possible
On Monday night the enemy fed frou
: I; the field, ltayicg many of bis dead un
buried. and his wounded on the grount
aud along the road to Orange CHI. as vii
! be seen from Gen. Buford's dispatch. 4
cavalry and artillery force under Gen
Buford was Immediately thrown for ware
; in pursuit, and followed the enemy TO tn
Rapidan, over which he passed with hi
rear guard by 10 O'Clock in the mort hins
The behavior Of Gen. Banks corps du
ring the action WAS very fine. No create
gallAntry and daring could be exhibits
: by any troops. l cannot speak too high
: " of the intrepidity Of Gen. Banks him
= self during the whole Of the engagement
!. He was in the front, and exposed as muc
= as any man in the command. His exam
! pie was Of the creates, benefit. aud h
merits aud should receive the commendI
q tious Of his Government. Gen. Williams
3 Augur, German. Crawford, Prince, Gree
q and Geary behaved with oonspicuou
70 gallantry. Augu, and Geary were 81
yerely wounded, and Prince, by lUsiu
his way 10 the dark while passing fr6
Sc Que flank to the other, fell into the hanc
of the enemy. l desire publicly to e.
press my appreciation Of the prompt ar
skillful manner in which Gems. McDov
ell and Sigel brought forward their r
spective commands and established the
: on The field, and of their cheerful al
y > hearty CO operation with me from begi
7 7 ming 10 end. Brig. General Robert
10 Chief of Cavalry of this army, was vi
, the advance Of our forces on Friday al
I. Saturday. and was conspicuous for h
T. ! gallantry, and for the valuable aid he re
. derel 10 Gems, Banks and CrawfDr
! Our loss was about /, $50 killed, wound'
~ ~ and missing, Of whom 20 were TAX
:, prisoners. AS might be expected fro
~ ~ The character Of the, engagement, We
n n large proportion Of those we're killed
:. The enemy's loss in killed, wounded q
:, prisoners. we are new satisfied, Is mu
80 10 excess Of our owp. A full list Of c
n II ualties will be transmitted as soon as p
10 10 sible. together with a detailed report,
u which l shall endeavor to do justice
~ all. TSignedl John PoPE,
r 'oor Major Gen. Commanding.
- - ben ------ --.>s-.-- ---------
y Names or the Battles.
- The following are tile names OF the b