Daily national Republican., 1863-06-12


ward toward Culpeper, gu roads converging at
Brandy Station, where a junction OF the forces
was TO be formed, or sooner, II necessary.
DEATH OF COLONEL DAVIS.
Col. Davis, who was calamity leading the
advance, turned TO rally them, and waving his
sword to the Eighth Illinois, shouted, "Come
on boys" when a rebel rode out In front Of
him, and fred three shots from his pistol at
him, the last one taking effect In his forehead,
and inhieting a mortal wound. Quick as
thought Lieutenant Parsons, acting A. A. Cen
eral TO Col. Davis, was at the side Of the rebel,
and rising in his stirrups, with one well-dlreet-
ed blow Of his sabre he laid his head open mid
way between eyes and chin, and the wretch fell
dead In the dust at his horses feet. Parsons Is
but youth; his adversary was a strong, athletic
man, yet the former, though young in years
aud slight in stature, nobly avenged his com
mander's fall.
pHFBAT OF THE REBELs.
The enemy was now being reinforced very
rapidly, and In q short time Gen. PleaBanton
found that Buford's small division was opposed
by three strong brigades OF rebels, with artillery
TO match.
After the repulse Of the Sixth Pennsylvania,
the rebels made two rapid attempts to gain our
rear and the approaches to the ford, both on
our right and on our loft, but particularly on
the right. But they were handsomely foiled by
sharp diminishing, rapid shelling and admirable
undulating fields on our extreme right. A
brigade Of the enemy's cavalry came down the
road which branches of to the right from Bev-
erly's, and made dash for the ford. But they
were too late. A couple of squadrons and a
section Of artillery interposed. They never got
nearer than mile TO the point, and during the
two hours that they remained in position they
suffered severely from our shells and skirmish.
ers.
About O'Clock Buford again began to press
the enemy and this time he showed evident
signs of uneaslness, and soon withdrew HE
force from our right flank as though be had a
FIRE in the rear. About the same time we heard
Gregg guns, aud some prisoners taken from
RObinson's North Carolina brigade Just then
reported General Russel's infantry advancing
through the woods on their right hank and rear.
General Gregg, from the sound Of the firing,
was evidently In the vicinity of Brandy Station.
Pleasanton now pushed forward but the rebels
soon gave way, and fell back rapidly They
were in a bad predlcsment-for Gregg was al
most directly in their rear, Russell was on their
right flank and Buford on their front. They
therefore made a hasty retreat, abandoning
their old camp entirely, part Of which we had
already occupied, and two regiments were very
near being cut off, as Fitzpatrick moved off
toward the right, 70 make connection with Bu-
ford. They had but a narrow strip of land not
covered by our force, through which to escape.
Gen. Pleasanton's headquarters were moved
forward 70 where the rebel commanders had
been, and the lines Of the two columns were
soon connected.
Gen. Gregg reported that his two brigades,
under Fitzpatrick and Wyndham, had been hotly
engaged all the morning, but had driven the
enemy uniformly from the river back 10 Brandy
station. Our troops, especially the First New
Jersey, First Maine, and Tenth New York,
fought most gAllautly, and repulSed the enemy
In repeated charges, though losing heavily them
| ala
suffered considerably, and the Sixth New York
battery was almost totally disabled. II did
excellent service, however In the charges by
! Gen. Gregg's column, stand OF colors and
over $50 prisoners were taken. Col. Wynd-
hams brigade captured the heights command
ing Brandy Station, and there discovered rebel
infantry being brought up by the cars. por-
ton OF 1t drew up aud fred vOlley al our cav
airy. Another correspondent will give you
further particulars about the gallant fighting
of this column. Colonel Wyndham was shot
through the calf of the leg by bushwhacker,
but his wound 10 not serious, and he still keeps
the saddle.
The fact that the enemy were now failing
| back upon strong infantry support, and we
being already numerically inferior TO them, in.
dueed Gen. PleaBanton 70 consult with his sub.
ordinates, and II having been left discretionary
with the former to advance or return, 1t was
finally deemed prudent TO return, and at six
O'Clock our forces began TO fall back. The
| enemy was not inclined to "pick a iRhtn on
the return, and, save some slight skirmishlng
we were not molested.
By dark our forces were all over the river
and the wounded of Buford's division all loaded
| in the cars and on their way to Washington
The loss In his division i6 about one hundred
and eighty, aud in Gregg's about the same
The rebel prisoners report their loss as heAvie
than ever before, aud express admiration of tht
gallantry Of our cavalry. The total number o
prisoners taken ID about two hundred ant
twenty-five, and We lost about fifty.
AN INTERCEPTED LETTER.
Though our force was not large enough L
thoroughly defeat tht rebels yet they received
a sound thrashing and II will result in post
poning their grand raids " into the North 70
some time, If not indefinitely; for, beside chas
tising them, we have gained full information
OF their strength, character, and designs. Wit
ness the following letter captured on the battle
field, which have copied from the orIgna
VsrLutim!
"CAMP NEAR BRANDETH STATION, !
"CCLPEPER c. H., June 3, 1863
"DEAR BROTHER: We have made anothe
/ change of base We lcit Dayton one week az,
to-day, and after hve days of marching we en-
camped at this place. We have hadtwo grant
reviews Of I've bTigades of cavalry, abou
twelve thousand in number, under Genera
Stuart. The first took place on Saturday
} when we were inspected by Stuart and hav
: Just now returned from the second, when W
wero inspected by Lieutenant General Rober
! Z. Lee In person. He was fine looking man
but very gray haired.
We are now In battery numbering abou
sixteen piece6, under the command of MaiO
Beckham. LOngstreet's division passed US ol
Saturday. The Wise artillery was along. Yol
can look out for some small fighting before
week. We are now about two miles from tn
Rappahaunock, at Beverley's Ford. / expect
from the preparations that Is being made, tha
we are going to make grand raid toward tn
Potomac, al soon as the valley is cleared.
"You must excuse the shortness of this let
ter, aB ! have just returned from the reViJw
and feel tired from riding so much. Dlrec
your letter TO Chero's battery, Jones's Cayalr
brigade.
az Please write Immediately, as we may leav
In a couple Of days.
"YouT affectionate brother, j. n. D."
The editor Of the Norwich Comm Auror
has seen a gentleman lately who has ocCuplet
a military position for several months In tn
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