Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1863-08-13
BATTLE WITH THE INDIANS
From Charleston.
BOmbardment going on the Lven-
ing of the 9TH inst.
1he Brilliant Cavalry Battle at
Failing Waters-Ossiciai Report.
Nashingtnn- Amu- |


Washington, Aug, -.
The following dispatch has been re-
seived at the Headquarters of the army
here
HEAD QUARTERS ARMY or THE }
PoroMAc, Aug. Q.
r. MAJOR General Halleck;
q NV attention has been called to what
supports to be an official dispatch of Gen.
b L. Lee commanding the Confederate
Army, to General Cooper, Adit and ms.
keueral, denying the accuracy of my tel
sgram to YOU of July 'l4th, announcing
ia result of the cavalry affair at Falling
EErers. have DELAYED taking any no
Ia 4 General Lees report, until the re
erf Brig, General Fitzpatrick, absent
I'd ave, who commanded the cavalry on
u occasion referred to, and on whose re-
p- from the field my telegram was based.
Bow enclose the report of Brig Gen Xii
mrjck, made after his attention had been
"a led to General Lees report. You will
sci that he reiterates and confirms all nv
dE patch averred, and proves most conclu-
iSelv that Gen Lee has neen deceived bv
lis .urbordinates, or he would never IN The
bee of facts, now alleged. have made the
&ertlons his report contains. 1t appears
| was in error in stating that the
D ~ II Gen Pettigrew was left in our
hnds, although [ did not communicate
~ fact until an officer from the field re
|rred to me that be had seen the body.
II now ascertaiued from the Richmond
|pa pers that Gen Pettigrew, though NOR
III y wounded in the affair, was taken 10
l Winchester, ~.ere he subsequently died.
ta three battle flags captured on this .oc.
cx on and sent to Washington belonged
% he 10th, filth and 55th Virginia regi-
msnts of infantry. Gen Lee will surely
ack nowledge these were not left N the
hal d, of strsggleFs asleep IN barns.
Respectfullv,yoWs,'
Gro 6. MEADE,
MAJOR General Commanding.
H.Headq'rs Sd Div. cavalry Corps, J
.8 Warrenton Junction, Va. y.
August 7.
TX oil il. J. Alexander, Chief Of Staff of
Aavalry Corps:
AOtoNEL: In compliance with n letter
lust received from the headquarters of the
lasary corps Of the army of the Potomac,
me to give the facts connected
mn my fight at Falling Waters, | have
ne honor to state that at three o'clock on
Of the Nth ult., | learned
that the enemy's pjckets were retiring on
my ront Having been previously or
defe to attack at ! a M, l was ready to
move at once. At daylight | had reached
he crest Of hills occupied by the enemy
IN hour before, and at a few minutes be-
Ore six Gen Custer drove the rear guard
Of The enemy into the river at Williams
port
Earning from citizens that portion Ct
he Enemy had retreated in the direction
n Ealing Waters, at once moved rap
flor that point, and came up with the
Aguard of the enemy at 7:30 a. m. at a
snt Two miles distant from Falling Wa
We pressed on driving them before us,
1muring many prisoners and one gun.
When within one and half miles of Fall
ug Waters the enemy was fonnd in laroe
arce, drawn up in line of battle on the
'rest Of a hill commanding the road on
Ehlch | was advancing. His left was
Proeected by earthworks and his right ex-
|euek d to the woods far on my left. The
reMg when first seen was in two lines
title with arms stacked. Within loss
~ 900 yards of this large forae a seq
Piece of artillery with its support con
of infantry was captured while at
ing to get into position. The gun
ken to the rear A portion of the
llchlgan cavalry seeing only that
\ OF the enemy behind the earth
charged. This charge led By
cher was the most gallant ever
.z AT trot ne passed up the hill,
"a the lire from the whole line. and
moment rode through and over
'aworks, passed to the tight saber-
oels along the entire line. and re-
with loss of thirty killed. wouHd-
n missing, including the gallant Mai
ec'ed ten Custer to send forward
III sil1eht as skirmishers. They were
o',5 before support could be sent 10
VI " Juu driven back by the rebels I'M
bon Aea "a Dy the lst Michigan, and
Va Of the Sth New YORK
euick I,I tb brigade having come up. it
gptof two hoduh fsso position and
n min