The New York herald., 1862-12-18
THE BATTLE OF 1UNI.

our city They will be taken South ~ General Andrews
! THE BATTLE OF IuNI.
Additional Particulars OF the Affair.
OUR SUFFOLK CORRESPONDENCE.
SUFFOLK, Va, Dec. IA. 1882
The Rebels Sgnali.in0 the Advance Of Our TroosT Ad
pance Fired Upon-A Ski,mish-The Cavalry Aaempt 10
Gross Tie Risr-The Attempt Unsaccesstui-Gauanry Of
Colonel DodpeDeaM Of Lieut.. Barr, of Massacanse Is
How the Prisoners cere 7aken-The Ho,newaM March
Sharp artillery Fractice-Seccsh Female Sympathy, de-
Since despaiching my letter of yesterdays have
learned many interesting particulars Of the reconnois
sance to the Blackwater which had not time to col
lect then
When the column arrived at Windsor, which is about
ten miles from here, a rocket was sent up by some
In the village-a signal most probably. Of ap
proach. This about ton O'Clock Thursday night
Il has since been ascertaned that loft Windsor and
arrived the Backwater between and O'Clock yes
erday morning. and gave information Of the direction from
which the column advancing well as its numbers
The rebel captain admitted that they Of
approach at that hour and set to work to give
a reception. Their extensive preparations to re
prove this fact, have before remarked
that the crossing Of the Backwater was entirely unob
structed two days previous.
The enemy's pickcts sixty in number, thirty
being posted opposite the ford behind rifle pits log
works while the remainder short distance above
When skrmshers approached the bank Of the river
yesterday morning they were received by volley o.
musketry from the rebels behind their works. The fire
was promptly returned, and between the firing quite
passed between fhe part Of which was as
follows
UxloS-Have you had your breakfast YETI
Ux,ox-Then why don't you come down 10 the river
and get some water for your coiieeY
RxBEr--Wc will, IL you won't fire.
UMoN-Wcl, you come won't fire.
Here one OF the rebels out with two canteens,
when one skirmishers who had heard the
versation his re aud secesh dropped back into his
hole. This mistake then explained, and the party
invited again 10 out; but the promise Of
share Of Yankee breakfast and some clothing failed to
One Of our men shouted .sHow about that Pittsburg
Battery?' rebel answered, 1--WE did not want 1t or
you would never have taken it,
After this conversation firing resumed with re.
newed vigar, but with little effect on either side.
A number Of tho Mounted Rifles, Colonel Dodge, who
had volunteered attempted to the river at th0
ford but red upon by the cnemys sharpshooters,
Charles Rossey, Of Company L. the killed. the ball
passing completely through his head, causing instant
death. The names Of the wounded Icould not learn
Rossey and two OF the wounded cavary men sup.
posed have been shot by sharpshooer stationed be
hind pile logs, who leveng his rite through small
opening would take deliberate aim, FIRE, and then drop
into ditch behind his breastwork where he would re-
main until the shower OF bullets which invariably fol
lowou the crack q bis rife passed harmessy over him
ford was mpassabe account Of the feed trees and
logs @ aa ~ Gsss y somnssu psSss The ,s vs;s' .s,@
%as 50 desp nnder h1a ne e s o the se
When Colonel Dodge heard this, he excisn.sd, Try
myself" and, turning his soldiers shouted sEorYaIa
men" and putting spurs TO his horse gaoped down the
bank river Finding, however the depth Of the
to be reported and the ford obsrncted he
obliged 10 return with his command.
About this time Lieut. Robert Il. Barr, Of Company
Sixth Massachusetts, shot through the heart by the
behind the log breastwork. causing almost instant
ulnpt md fa uo
stany raised but life extinct lie had only been post
cd position few moments before, by orders Of Col.
Foster which that Barr and his men should conceal
themselves s iAGp as possible and keep up brisk fire
upon the enemy, eraev 70 the movement OF two
companies who wei3 IN the act Of crossing below. He
unfortunately In his anxiety for his men, exposed his
own person 70 the fire OF a sharpsh0oter.
After the cavalry had returned from their unsuccessful
attempt to the river 1t decided to engage the
attention OF the enemy with artillery aud infantry.
While the artillery firing and the infantry skirmish
ing two companies Of She Thirteenth Indiana and un
der the command 0 Capt. Lcpt and Lieut. Hendricks,
went dowr21e river about quarter of milo Crossed
OF the pontoon boats uDobserved by the enemy
retreating In every direction They ordered to
render but continuing TO rum three four shots
the and seventeen ea taken prisoners Their
pieces principally the old Harper Ferry sword bayo
net muskets and Mississippi rifles Our men, with the
cepon Of six or eight, now recrossed the river with
their prisoners, the rebel captain having been shot
through the shoulder. Those Of our who remained
the opposite side confined arng upon the remainder OF
the retreatsg enemy the object for which the expe.
diton accomplished, the order given for the
homeyard march, aud the column returned to Suffolk
with their prisoners
I mentioned in my previous letter that Captain ives
sent up the river about milo, with regiment and
section OF artillery for the purpose Of dispensing the
enemy, who had assembled In large numbers The artil
lery under command Of Lieut. Beecher Of Henry
ward Beecher lie distinguished himself this occasion
by and bravery materially assisted Capt
Ives dispensing the rebe b. Thecnemy consider
able force stone abutmsut OF the bridge,
in their rife pits aad as shot and shell passed harmIessy
over their heads, entered the breastwork with
nocent thug and scattering OF dirt would be
tended waving the works. and dcrsive 'Iia hal
try again better luck next time" would be shouted
loudly the gunner sighting his piece for another
shot Lieutenant Beecher said "Am at that abut
ment and let's what that will do towards sencing
them.v So true the aim that the abutmeut was
struck scattering the shvercd pieces OF stone every
direction and the shell bursting nj that instant sent
what remained OF the enemy swarmng like bees out Of
hive and travelling At double quick, with their backs
towards followed In turn by jcsrs and "HA has"
with few shots at their backs
Two rebel ladies' day went int Me Office OF Dr. GAN
surgeon Of the Thirteenth indiana and asked 70 be al
lowed 10 sec those two noble Confedcrates who were
just brought In The Doctor answered that was against
his orders and wish 10 allow any person 10 talk TO prison
that for some months past he had had sick and
wounded soldiers IN his hospital but that not one OF the
ladies' OF the city had been In TO them. One of the
ladies then said, Ell you will allow 20 will not
say word to the prisoners hcn what's the OF
going to them " you don't speak 10 themf" "Uh,"
answered the lady "just for pure respect "1hen,r
lady was about saying something more when Dr GaIi
said t arguing, madam you cannot 20 up' Az
hey out Of the building the lady said Indignant
y III don't wish 70 argue with you sir, nor any other
Northernef"
The Opera I'm Phiiadelphia.
PHILADELPHIA, Doc. II, 1859.
The opening OF the opera at the Academy Of