Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-09-04
ATTACK ON STEVENS BRIGADE
DEATH OF GENERAL STEVENS.
THIS MORNINGS REPORT.
FROM WASHINGTON.
AsHIE0ToN, Sept.

Tr1bune's correspondence:
Latest trustworthy news from the front
was brought by surgeon, who left Fair
fax c. II. at 9:30 Monday evening and re-
ported to the military authorities here af-
ter midnight.
The enemy was still pursuing, or threat
ening to pursue, the fanking movement to
which Gen. Pope's dispatches OF yesterday
morning referred.
GeE, Lee was believed to have massed
his trenCs on the Little River Turnpike,
whieE runs to the north of Centerville from
Gum Springs through Germantown and
Fairfax C. H. TO Alexandria. Ample prep
arations had been made to meet him, and
the probabilities are that there would be a.
great battle fonght to-day or tomorrow.
The supposition was strengthened by tele-
grams from Fairfax Station, dated later in
the evening, to the effect that there was
heavy firing in the direction of Leesburg,
between which place and Fairfax Station
lies Fairfax C. H.
The report brought by other officers, who
left the front at an earlier hour than this
surgeon, was that the enemy had fallen
back with his whole army for lack of sup
plies, being satisfied with what he had al
ready done, or at least feeling himself un-
able to oaccomplish more.
These gentlemen supposed the move
ment on our right flank to be feint in
tended to cover their retreat.
LATER.
There is little or no doubt that there was
heavy skirmishing between our forces and
the rebels advance and our outposts last
night. This morning reports are not yet
accessible.
The 11th Mass. went into the fight on
Friday with about 24O men. 1Oj were
killed and wounded The 18th New York,
with 354 men and officers, and came out
LOG men and officers. The four other regi-
ments of this brigade, (Butter6elds) the
44th New York, 18th New York, SD Penn
sylvania, and 10th Michigan, came out in
the same proportion.
Butterfelds g brigade had marched for
twenty-one days without change of cloth
ing, and went into the fight in this fatig-
ued condition.
A Tribune correspondent who went over
the field Of battle on Sunday, says our dead
lay untouched as they fell in battle, with
the exception of their caps and shoes. I
did not see a single instance among the
whole $50 dead, where the shoes had not
been rifed. Many of the rebels were bare
footed
The rebel dead and wounded had all been
disposed Of, and not single vestige of
sick, wounded or killed, remained on the
field. Even the struggling soldiers did not
know where they had been taken 10. They
we're rapidly buried secretly in the night,
by negroes; for occasionally, in q deep rh-
vine, l came across mounds ten or fifteen
feet square, where their victims had been
secreted from the gaze of their own men.
On Monday morning, intelligence was
received at headquarters that the divisions
of Hill and Longstreet intended to appear
on our right, in force, and cut off our sup
ply trains. To prevent this consummation
the division of Gen. Reno was dispatched
by Gen. Pope to Fairfax c. Il.
1t was also deemed prudent to commence
the evacuation Of Centreville, to cover our
base of operations, inasmuch as Gems. Hill
and Longstreet were known to be in force
some distance toward Washington from the
battlefield of Saturday, and as a recon
nOissance to the front had revealed an an
ticipated movement in the same direction
by the enemy. The army of Virginia COM
menced retiring toward Fairfax C. H, on
Monday at 9 o'clock, Reno's division lead
ing, and McDOwell's corps following.
As Reno's division was pursuing its line
of march, and when within Il miles of
Fairfax c. H., heavy vOlley from force
of rihemen came pouring in upon them
from the woods to the right of the road.
This occurred at a p. NJ The rebel force
was detachment from Gen. Hills diFi-
sion, and was commanded by Gen. Stuart
The yolley was almost entirely received by
Gen. Stevens brigade, composed of the
28th Mass, 9th Mich, 5Oth Penn, and 46tl
ny.
Reno and Stevens Immediately formed
their commands in line of battle 10 repe
the attack Then Stevens rode, M ant
down his line gallantly rallyinr his men
unintimidated by repeated vOllieB from al
unseen enemy. Unable to cooe with then
in the position they then held, Gen. Stew
ems ordered his men to fix bayonets anC
charge them out of the woods. This orde
was gallantly responded to by his men
who pressed the enemy and drove them be
fore them with great slaughter.
While thsu charging, Gen. Stevens wa
hit with mimic hall, and instantly kill
ed, but not until the enemy had bee
routed.
Capt Stevens, the 50 n of the Genera
was also wounded in le hand.
Kearney's batteries now opened on th
rebel forces, causiV great havoc anon
them. SkiFmishinlg was going on for aboI
three hours when the enemy retired an
the train p0 ssed Or
Iho enPrmv's losss Tras bnavr