Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-09-04


dEADeUARrERs ARMT OF VIRGINIA,
August - 1862.
After many vexatious delays, caused by Ia
use which the army is making OF the railroad
arrived here on last Wednesday. The coGntr
Is hne, open one, with gentle undulations, an,
an occasional eminence rising up here and there
affording fine view of the surrounding country
The general direction Of the yer at this point i:
from northwest 10 southeast. We occupy th'
northwestern slope The enemy the south
western. Our position was happily chosen, anC
carries victory on tie very lace OF it; SO that
am not al sll sstonished at the impaHsnca ex
hibited by our boys, who are really - itching toE
! fight"
saw one individual on the field absolutely
I yawniDg with impotence, 10 which he gave
vent last in tie following strain II wish the
/ id rebels would come on now. I'm ateeTed
Jackson got cold last night, or may be the
/ sun Is too strong for bis eyes" and much more
/ in the same strain. There has been some sharp
j skiEmishing and cannonsdiug daring the last
! two days, but nothing OF a very decisive char
scter The enemy is afraid TO sttsck us in force,
and We occupy position which it would lie inn
prudent to abandon for a few days All Un-
necessary baggage having been sent to the rear,
we arc now unencumbered and IN excellent
j fighting trim. On last Wednesday an incident
! occurred which was somewhat singular. and
/ gsye a slight advantage 70 the rebels a party
OF fifteen OF our cavalry he'd been securing the
country, and not having found rebel during
the mornins 3 ride, resolved to take breakfast
/ They accordingly ahehted, and, having had E
hard ride, they unsaddled their horses so that
the animals might be refreshed when next they
mounted them.
Their faneied security and repose were Of
short duration, however, for scarcely had they
fairly sci about preparing their breakfast when
I - a. u.
suddenly that they were captured before they
could offer any effectual resistance. While the
rebels were securing their prisoners, the horses,
which had been quietly grazing, On lifting their
heads, seeing that all was not right, very sega
ciously and properly set Of st full speed, with
ont saddles OF riders, and having arrived safely
IN camp, created quite sensation, which gave
rise to many surmises as to what had become OF
the riders.
After nearly an hour had elapsed, in which
possible aud impossible speculat0ns were in
dulged, q squadron OF General BufoTd's cavalry
went cut to search the surrounding country
they did not proceed far when they encountered
body Of rebel cavalry under General Stuart.
On these they charged with such impetuosity
that the rebels ran IN all directions Many were
captured, among whom wts an exquisitely
dressed major, who, from the style OF his dress,
was supposed by cur men % be the principal
person in command, and who, accordingly, was
pursued with the utmost Yigor and determine
ton Our men were much disappointed on
finding that he was only major, while that In
diyidual like the stag in the fable wss left to
bewail his fate The fOp in this case saved the
general and he may have the benef. Of the con
ISOLATION.
Later in the daT another att mptwas male by
the enemy 10 occupy the left bank cf the river
al this point They came forward cautiously
through a belt Of woods, the open field in front
of which was held by paTt of Ricketts, diyi-
sion. Both parties commenced firing, and as
the rebel position was rather more favorable Shan
ours feigned retreat was ordered. This had
the desired eject; the rebels dashed forward with
a shout OF triumph It was soon succeeded by
dismay, for no sooner were they completely out
Of the woods than our men faced about and
poured deadly voliey into them which emptied
nsuy saddles. We followed up our success with
a splendid charge.
The rebels low turned and hsd pursued by
our cavalry, who comp .etely routed GHem, across
the Rappahannoek We csptared about thirty
head OF caiile which the enemy was forced to /
leave behind him Our troops are now encamp-
ed on the other side-a part Of BufOrd's eaveiry
and Ricketts, division. AT this point we have
possession Of the railroad bridge across the Rap
pahsnnock.
The rebels next attacked cur csnter, a few
miles higher up they commenced shelimg at
an early hour on the DIST, and contioued until
about one o'clock. At one time they attempted
to cross the river, but were driven back with
considerable loss. We took MAE prisoners at
this point, who were the most oddly and wretch
edly dressed soldiers We ever cast our eyes on.
Two Of these attracted cur attention especially.
One was dressed partially 10 clothes t-ken from
our dead or wounded on ths field, and sesmed
to feel very uncomfortable IS his boots and
pants were spoken Of as having been taken from
the dead. Another was az Intelligent looking
and determined negro, who fought, We were
told, with the utmost desperation as he was
about to be captured.
The rebels next attacked our forces at Kelly
vile. or Kellys Ford. While the cannonading
was going on above, and al was quiet at TINS
point, and our boys were regaling themselves
with broiled beet, etc, rebel major came over
among them, who had become faint with hunger
and begged few crackers. These, und some
coffee aud beef being given 10 him, be resia Sed
himself to our charge, where, in future, his crea
tuTe wants viii be mere generously and plenti-
fully supplied than among the needy rebels
The attack ct Kelly's Ford was repulsed and
the cannonsding ceased about i've o'clock in the
afternoon. Our line of battle was maintained
Rnd the men slept on their arms al night. The
enemy having felt our lines at various points,
ii principally at those named We expected
night attack, aud waited with much anxiety,
each moment expecting 10 hear from him, but
ali was quiet dudng the night
Finding that the progress Of the rebels was
still nOrthward, and that they would be Likely
to make a desperate attempt % Cross the North
Fork where the road leads to WaTenton, l took
passage ia the train for Alexandra, 10 90 up
the read aud be nearer the expected scsne Of
action. Night had just set in when we arrived
al Catstts station, aud the train was switched
off to permit the down train TO pass scarcely
was this accomplished, when picket firing was
heard in the rear Of the encsmpnent, which, ct
this point, protected q supply train and some
cattle. A terrific upr0aK now commenced,
which, owing to the darkness, We could not
fairly comprehend. In an instant q terrific
fight az close quarters commenced, the COM
batsnts being IS close as a mob in a street Tow.
Some one in command gave the word " Fire
the train" or g Fire ct the fraia at which the
engineer and one Of the conductors, together
with some OF the passengers, fed in terror
lay down on the seat on which I bad been sit
ting, so as to be projected from the halls, which
were flying in ali directions, and, at the came
time, to observe the sight through window of
tbs car Fortunately one Of the brakesmen of
the car had the presence of mind 10 turn the
switch and start the engine, or We should have
been killed, as portion of the attscking party
now directed their attention exclusively % US.
We had not proceeded fer when we were at
tackled again, in a much more terrific and mur-
dercus manner than before, by large uoop Of
cavalry.
This tineNwe AL lay down, and though per
feet shower Of leaden hail greeted US, completely
riddling the car, we all fortunately escaped IN
injured. shall not rapidly forget the terror
stricken appearance Of woman and little
girl about twelve years Of age, as a fash Of
lightning revealed their faces where they lay in
terror, nor the tenscity with which a young man
lying beside me clesped me for protection. Ny
position was on the side Of the train which was
attacked
After we had proceeded a little further on our
way, and escaped one danger, new one awaited
US. We were in danger Of being run into by
the down train. Most Of the hands had run of,
! and the brakeman, who was running the en-
gine, csrle back where a Major HalfmaB, Of
{ Philadelphia. and myself were standing. The
} brakeman told US that be was afraid TO go