The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-04-10
Special Correspondence of the Detroit Free Prest.
The Michigan First Cavalry i'm the Late
Battle.

Special Correspondence of the Detroit Free Prest
The Michigan First Cavalry in the Late
Battle.
HEADquARrERs FIRST MICHIGAN CAVALRY.
SrRAsBURa. Va, March 80.
/ have deferred writing to you an ac-
count of our late battle, because l
wanted to get in all the reports in rela-
ton to this regiment, and from them to
give YOU as correct statement of the
part we took in it as possible. From
the official reports of the Generals, &C.,
you will, of course, learn all about the
battle generally.
On the afternoon Of the 22d Major
Paldi reported at the headquarters Of
Colonel Broadhead, Chief of Cavalry
belonging to the Fifth Corps d. Armee,
that some of the enemy had passed his
quarters about two miles from Win
chester, and that he expected an attack.
Lieutenant Colonel Copeland was at
once ordered to proceed to the spot and
take command, and all the available
cavalry were collected as rapidly as
possible, and ordered to report to him.
He, however, had to hold the enemy in
check for two hours with only three
companies of this regiment.
At four o'clock General Shields
moved out with part Of his division,
and the enemy slowly fell back. Just
before dark the General was severely
wounded, but he continued to direct
the attack from his bed. He ordered
Colonel Broadhead to take two pieces
of artillery and a couple companies of
cavalry and advance as far as was pru-
dent, which duty Colonel B. performed
with great gallantry, constantly in the
advance himself, and with his small
force at times two miles ahead of any
support.
Darkness ended the affair for the
night, but on Sunday it was renewed
in the same order as before-the enemy
slowly but constantly falling back.
Colonel Broadhead aud Lieut.. Colonel
Copeland occupied prominent posi-
ton in the advance all day. Late in
the day the enemy got one of their bat
teries in commanding position i'll front
and little to the right, and Colonel
,
fantry to be supported by Lieutenant
Colonel Copeland, in command of all
the cavalry that could be collected for
the purpose. This duty was nobly
performed, aud the enemy driven from
his position, but it was an awful battle,
and won at fearful sacrifice of life on
both sides. Our loss was about three
hundred and fifty killed and wounded,
and the enemy's about FIVE hundred,
besides an additional five hundred pris-
Oners.
In our regiment we lost three killed
and three wounded, one MORALLY. Only
one officer-Captain Park-was hurt !;
he was severely wounded in the shout
der, and receives high mention by Col
oncl Copeland.
On the oath We followed up the rebels
to Cedar Creek, they being constantly
in sight and taking advantage of every
prominent point to check US. Colonel
Broadhead, with a small party, also re-
connoitered as far as this place, but fell
back behind the creek for the night, by
order of the General.
HE following day we took posses
sion of this place, and are now holding
it, with an advanced guard some four
miles beyond the town toward Wood
stock
In all these operations our regiment
have been conspicuously employed,
and have received high commentator
for their bravery and activity. You
will perceive from the general order,
which / enclose you, that ours is the
only regiment mentioned by name, and
on all 81 les We are highly eulogized.
Michigan may well feel proud of the
First Regiment of Cavalry. A nobler
set OF men never mounted horses. The
officers particularly mentioned as dis
tinguished are Colonel Broadhead,
Lieutenant Colonel Copeland, Captain
Park, and Lieutenants Gray, Freeman,
Gallagher and Heazlit.
Lieut.. Heazlit is resident Of this
village. He left here as Second Lieut.,
of Company M, but was a short time
ago promoted to Regimental Adjutant.
i