Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-08-15
BATTLE AT CULPEPPBR, VA,


]
n.,,s;,, About o'clock, the rebel infantry I
;..,,,,,.l ir strong force on our right ana a
~, f.,, .,orot.nr rebel batteries When worn Z
.. ...-i b,rk stating the fact, Gen. Augur ~ ,
o,n. with thc remainder OF Gen. Nllla,ns vi ,
.,.i,n. wcfc Immediately thrown forward, anu
,..d on the right OF Gen. Crawford, ana 'front.'
~. D.. l,ns, timber where the rebel infantry were
,,,.t,A General Banks directed the operations
t.o, Gcary's brigade had the advance The reb-
4. openrd a muskctry fire on them from the SIDES
end in front. aided by batteries. The batteries
pn the mountain also kept up most terrihc IRE
lt the federal TROOPS ncvoriatered or even WINGED
At ~ O'Clock the battle became general Ar
t,llerv rupi,iug 20 artillery, and Infantry to IN
.t,ptrv and desperation was the order OF the day
1hc fuht continued until dark. have witnessed
many battles during this war, but have seen none
whore the tenacious obsnacy OF the American
character was SO fully displayed Our troops
fought with the yalor of veterans NO sooner
did a voilcy Of musketry or discharge ol arul-
lcry NOW down the ranks OF a regiment than tue
gaps wore closed up and new front presented |
Regiment Wed with Regiment, and brigade with p
brigade. in deeds of valor, and few instances in
deed were there where even individuals ialtcred'
With darkness the firing Of muskctry ceased, but
the artillery upon the mountankept up random
frinfr until nearly midnight. At dark our troops
withdrew 10 a small copsc of wood, about han
milo 20 the rear Of the first position, where they
wore Joined by the corps Of Mcdowell ana nigei'
and weary, the TROOPS Of Cen Banks were rehev-
cd hv portions of Cen. McDowolrs command,
and fell back half a mile aud rested on their arms
in pleasant clover field The night was unusual
" lustrous. and all prominent Objects were ms
MAINLY distiuruishablo as in bright daylight --
Con Crawiord's brigade, which had borne the
bruut of the fight threw themselves almost cA-
haustod upon the moist grass. Some OF them IN
cautiously made fires and this revealing our po-
siaion 10 The enemy, they commenced sheling us.
Their firing was generally excellent, the shells
bursting among the trains, ambulances and horses
soon compelling our soldiers to move back to-
wards Culpeppcr panic was very nearly occa-
stoned as the rcgimcnt toek 10 their heels TO get
Out of fanuo, and seeinr 80 many rctrcating, 9th
crs that had not reached the held also started TO
rum Soon the roads were crowded with irightcn-
ed people who added to the existing misiortunes
by telling wild stories OF a repulse loss and dis
comiorturc. The Provost Guard were thrown
across the road and field, stopping straggers, and
suffering only the wounded to pass. The wound
ed came in on foot in great numbers and ambu-
lanccs were promptly on the spot TO carry on those
unable TO walk Most Of the wounded are sound
ed in the lower limbs About I o'clock General
Pope ant.stait went on the field and were greeted
with yocicrous cheers. The General rode C tlr
c>tremc front In the thickcst of the hight, and
come near getting into rebel ambuscade, but
be- discovered his danger in time 10 avoid it,
We took several rebel prisoners. IL Is certain
was wounded slightly "a the hand. General Sax
TON is MORALLY wounded The rebel force engag-
ed ia the battle was from 10000 to 10000. Gen.
Auwu's wound is not dangerous; It Is a flesh
wound ia the hip. Gen. Geary was severely
wounded In the arm Gen. Banks had his horse
killed under him, did also the chief OF General
popcs staff. Col. Rugglcs Large numbers of
hospital tents and stores were sent from Washing
ton to-day 20 the scene Of action. The wounded
were sent to Washington
The Times correspondent sa s in the late
battle more than one-half Of the men Of the
2Sth n. Y. regiment were killed or wounded
Col Connolly commanding was mortaly
wounded Lieut. Col. Brown and the Major
are both wounded, and there is not Captain
OF a company left to the regiment. The 10th
Maine regiment lost so killed and wounded.
The 9TH Connecticut suffered similarly
besides losing Col. Chapman, who was taken
prisoner. The 10th Penn has hardly enough
men lett to form foil company. Col. Knipe
was wounded in the head and arm. but not
fatally. Lieut.. Col. Selirdge was slightly
injured, and the Major was shot through the
aim.
1t is stated that at day-break on Sunday
morning the rebel sharpshooters were found
precisely where their front was at the close Of
Saturdays battle, and diminishing with our
forces Immediately commenced. Their forces
had, however, disappeared from sight. AT
sunrise rebel brigade, supported by artillery
emerged from the woods in front. just as
they got into line Of battle Gen. Milroy open
ed on them with his battery of Wizard guns,
which seemed to sweep of an entire company
or two, the rest instantly taking TO their
heels for cover in the woods Shortly after
wards Gen. Bayurd who continued in the ex-
tto t,bt lof
with cavalry, reported them filling in in both
these directions, as though aiming to
flank us on both sides General Pope
Immediately dispatched Towers division
TO follow. watch and confront them on the
right, and Sigcls division to do the same
Gen. Bayard with two regiments of the cav
airy brigade was thrown in advance Of Tow
ers. and gallant Col. Dudee, of Bayard's
command, with his own right and LIST Maine
cavalry, vas thrown in advance Of our divis.
ions of observation on the left. AT l O'Clock
A. NJ, it was definitely ascertained that tn,
purpose of the enemy could hardly be a flank
movement. Ere . p. NJ, the impression be
came general 1t Gen. Pope's headquarters IL
the field that, instead Of seeking to renew the
attack, the retels were seeking a new posi-.
ton in the rear or skedaddling
WASHINGTON, Aug -.
Accounts from Culpepper, dated yesterday
speaking of Saturday fight, say that so heavy
was the FIRE to which our comparatively small
force was exposed, the only wondor is that
the entire command was not completely ami
hilated at the end OF half an hour instead oil
bringing off so large proportion at the ex-
piration Of an hour and a half. The prison
ers report that their own troops were moved
down by our fire like grass. Three times
we're they reinforced.
When our troops retired they were too
crippled to pursue The prisonets report that
the heavy guns used by the rebels were of re-
cent English manufacture, with English fixed
ammunition. We lost but one gun which was
loft behind in ditch spiked, several horses
having been killed,
Col. Chapman of the 9Th Connecticut reg
ment was shot in the breast, and is probably
dead. Lieut. Col. Stone fell with many
wounds. Major Blake fell, and if alive is a
prisoner. Adjutant Smith is wounded or
dead. Major Savage, I'd Massachusetts, is
believed to be killed, as are also many captains
and lieutenants OF the same regiment DR..
~ AVA hot int ho