, 1862-09-04


rear: These corps-sigel's, Reno's, Heinfze1-
mans, McDowe1rs and Porter's-were ait
that were engaged at any time during tbs
two days, Friday and Saturday. They came
upon the field in the order have named
them. ~
Fortunately had been with sigel duriug
bis tWo days march to find the enemy, aud
was with him now that it fell to him to open
the main struggle. His corps had held the
ADVANCE under heavy artillery fire on the Rap
Pabannock the four previous days, had now
marched t"o days. part of the time in line Of
battle, and taking but four hours rest moved
into battle-not 8 skirmlsh, not an affair, not
an action, not an engagement, bus great bat
Tie, for euch are the names given to fights in
the order of their magnitude.
Long before daylight Sigel had Visited every
position OF lis line, had seen to the placing OF
every battery, and with the daylight his ar
tiilery sounded. Tie "Jessie Scouts'' trans
ferred By Fremont to SigeD reported the enc
my as 1nassed in and beyond stretch Of woods
mile long, west Of and running nearly paral-
lei with the road. Their line, however, ex-
tended on their right to tbs road, where they
had guns on commanding nights on their left
to Bull Run stream, with . battery or two
across upon the north side. Sigels line VAS
opposite, on the south side Of the road.
The first hour it vas all artillery. Sigel
was advancing battery after battery to this aud
that emlnence, supplying each. with a bfi-
gade, hearing the reports OF scouts, sending
cavalry low far to the right, now fur to the
lett, gradually advancing his divisions in COW
e CT Aills, mp N which he had placed guns-
in wcrd, feeling for the enemy, rapidly ad-
e1ny tlsdained to make any sign--bNt not long.
His artillery was compelled to swer ours,
and, pressing oD, we unearthed his Infantry.
There was light rattle, then roar Of muskc-
upon rebels in masses. Our line OF battle
was formed, SchuH having the right, Schenck
the left, Mifroy the advance centre, Stein Kehr
the reserve center.
Just at this opening of the battle SAW,
from the hill from which S2hurz vas going in-
to action, cuiumn bearing down upon our
right, and at hrs: supposed them to be rebels.
unaccountably, they carried high .>ver their
heads sundry white flags, and appeared to
march str.gelingly, and it "as soon seen they
They proved to be s34 prisoners taken by
jackson when he. appeared st Manassas three
days before, now released on parole. The
enemy could not feed them, and would them
Eelyes staTye unless Teintorcements should
push to them with supplies.
A little after Milroy, schurz became en-
gagged. They drove the enemy mile or more,
ard rested from downright fatigue. During
this time Schenck had been engaged on the
ltft, but not heavily. Tough old Hentzelmsu
arrived at this juncture from Centraville With
| his whole corpB. Schurz was withdrawn for
kearney and Hooker to take his place. Reno
arrived Eoon after from the same direction.
Stevens division Of his corps marched to the
| left to support Schenck, aud the attack was
| once more along the Whole line. I should
| have stated that some before the cessation,
| Mi1roy, after two hours of musketry in torna-
| does, WIS driven back, much cut to pieces,
| and replaced BY SEN "ehr, who Was assisted
! By Sehenck at his LIFT.
! It was now o'clock. Sigels corps only
had been engaged, and We had On tile whule
| gaiDed ground--at the right. nearly mile.
It was reasonable to suppose that with the
assistance Of Reno and Heintze1man, and
| most Of the day before nE, we should utterly
dtniolish the enemy. 1t has since appeared
| that simultaneously with our relaforcements
he rect ived larger ones. Longstreet's whole
| command, whose passage, thfo Ugh Thorough
fare Gap, Ricketts, had disputed the day be.
lore, had now Joined Jsckson and ETell
whom we had been fighting hitherto. Long
STREET. would naturally join jackson st hi
right; it was upon our LEFT, and occasionally
cur Centre, that We were most severely pressel
the remainder Of the day.
Up to this time, Sigel had command of the
field: lie had made the dispositions before
tie fight, and conducted it Successfully 81,
hours. Pope arrived from Centreyi1ls abou
noon, and assumed command, but wisely ant
generously deferred to Sige1 the rest Of tht
Gay, as being best acquainted with the posi-
ton
A12 O'Clock the fight was r1gins along th.
whole line terridcal1y, musketry line Glines
Mill, and artillery like Malvern HILLS. Tlers
was not ten miuutss' cessation at any on
time for the next three hours. We advaucet
not step; We retired not step. The engi
Ecry of war, men, guns, and Il yillzinous salt
peter seemed equal, each side to The other
at o'clock Scheuck was ordered back trou
the 1stt, and the artillery Of that wing fel
hack to the next emfnence.
During the three hours, scarcely regim
ot The three corps on the field that had no
heen into the thickest. Promptly and skill
fully, as command would bccome exhausted
it would be replaced By another, hut only fo
q brief rest, tben to up and at it. Tnes
splendid passages Of lines,'' as such move
Inents are Technically called, seem to me
feature that ought not to pass uucommend
I'd. Gainss' Mil would have been victor
had tuch movements been made promptl
ard orderly.
The Withdrawal Of the left was not e1yin
Up Of the battle. Troops we're rushed 10 tt,
right, and redoubled onset made thers
Was swept upon his center-we took hit
, "erdwa3s," in fink While the infantr
fought those, cur artillery, eleven batteries
line, played stunningly, each gun pointe
) we'll to the LETT, that no unlneky shell migt
| l2rm q friend.
We could move the rebels no further tha
) their center Masketry in rolls, in crashe
{ sounded out Of the spot Of woods where OF
t advance IVES stayed; now tenaciously the en-
, 1ny held their ground cannot hope to ad
8 quately express. How Schurz fousht-a:
/ any eyewitness OF the conduct Of his me-
Q led by the orator fighter.
1t was Fix o'clock. The enemy not on
held his centre, but advanced upon our lei
| It was critical.
Opporiuuely, McDowcll's corps appeart
coming to our relief. Two brigade's Hitch
: ard Doub1eday's) Immediately met the en-
my's advance upon our left, and although ST
fering terribly, stayed him until dark.
Tne days work YVES ended. We held mo
, ground than in the morning, but not so mu
l nj