The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-03-01

Coan, and .hs One HusarsA and yxtsenth Now YORK.
Colonel Summons, thrown forward on The double
eass 70 Me rsn. q mo road xn me One Hundred and
centre and the Foryseyenth 90 the left, resting on
Langdon's battery.
tho enemy advanced from their position. which was
psoseotsd ON either flank BY cypress swamp and
strengthened BY esrthworks and three batteries Of ar
esy, and pushed down towards our line They were 10
great force, Numbering not less than Ten thou
sand men, with regiment Of oavairytOn either
aank and apparently flushed with the hope Of victory
Bss.on's brigade and the artillery, with the Eighth
United etates coored troops received them with ser
Tible nre and checked time their progress Their
would drop, but again appear, and the t6inned lines
would close up calmly and quickly, and pour into our
lines shsr terrific nrs The artillery vas N constant ant
necessities q the battle required, Our losses we're quite
daring this terrible confct-Coonel Frblsy Of
aser he had got his men in ire and Colonies Summons
Ths death o. Colonel Friosy and the loss .. several
other ofcors produced disorder In tho Eighth United
States (co,ored). and they After broke and fell
back b confusion. Ths left left flank exposed,
lsry. II yes % intensely hot that tbs were shot
down by the sdo Of their eUne md Tho vacancies
Cured and men stepped or~.rd 70 III them they TOO,
terry suffered badly. They were compelled 70 suspend
rng toward the close Of the engagement, consequence
Of the loss Of men, On attempting 20 draw on the guns
reluctantly obliged TO leave two guns on the ed for lack
o. horses 70 bring them on For the same reason CAPTAIN
Captain Hamilton before this, had been twice wounded,
and was obliged TO 60 to the leaving the command
after wounded in the foot and Lieutenant Eddy Lieu
tenant Dodge also wounded quite severely But
of1cer remained with the battery when it came outLeu
tenant Irwin.
The battle ragged until the great disparity OF forces
70 those engaged against us became so evident that our
line was gradually drawn back, leaving the dead and
some or the seriously wounded the field.
While retiring Montgomere's brigade, the Fiftyfourth
Massachusetts, Colonel Halowel. and the First North
Carolina, Lieutenant Colonel Reid, put in on the
left, and behaved with saantry. They lost heavily The
ammunition Of Bartons brigade began TO low AMI
he'd The First North Carolina was sent into line in
their front, and held the enemy In check. Hero Lieu
tenant Colonel Reid received mortal wound and Major
Boyle was killed. The men behaved most calamity and
never wavered, but stood their ground manfuly, and
even drove the enemy back while they attempting
70 snveop the left Of line. They followed up the
enemy they were recalled for fear that they would
be cus Of and captured
On our line retiring, the enemy attempted to flank
rs on both sides with regiment Of cavalry, but
Colonel Henry placed squadron OF the First Massachu
sets and some mounted infantry facing them and the
rebels backed out and did not attempt carry their
designs The two hostile cavalry commands faced
other for some tme neither caring 70 begin the fight
While this 1ansing movement vas being attempted,
the centre-Co Barton's-was held 10 ~ position by
great exertoDs under terrific IRE from the front and
the flank which enladed our line and cut down
sad manner They held their position though until
third line was formed and the enemy's plan 70 flank US
thwarted.
TIE THIRD ronnox
was about one hundred yards the OF the second
position, and the troops placed follows-Bar
toms brigade the right with IRE First North Carolina
road 70 the right and then the Fyourth Massachusetts,
90 its lcft with cavalry 70 the extreme iest Tho
manning guns n ~ batteries q Hamilton and Iangdon
used Ss enemy 5000 s,.sr he charge d line sd
vanoed quickly IN douhle column closed IN masse wilh
sSs ss, s., .s:ss = Y asS ne S "
short range. cuetas the columns dagonally and open
ing throSeh thsn Vide lanes which were sHswn Win
three times vaised aCft but they fdl back ne Elder
delivered his third charge Of canister INTO .tber
fell bach 70 their iDtreDchmsnts IN cooiusion Afss tn
repuse the enemy did not advance In force but merely
enesssd our ise With cioudpf skrmshsrs and sharp
shoosers
Al about sundowp the battle suddenly closed. TIE
susmy ceased their ,s % quickly that We wore under
forward movement IN full strength. and endsavor 70
break our lines. and eobbe up our ttle army without
after the enemy had ceased rng and shsn prepared 70
withdraw.
was conducted In the most orderly and perfect manner
There VI: 20 eoniuso. ou. Little straggling and no
In me Il q =: s s TO-
trary. were q neFce for 6Ght - ever.
she retreat for short distance was conducted In
disposed 70 follow, the line was changed-he force rer
ing In column BaroDb brigade bringing up the rear and
pcs ~ the csvsrx w st,sp,.S 10 onsh
our line but checked and driven back BY cavai
ry The pursuit. not made IN force and retired TO
Barbers again making march OF thirty -four miles during
the dag and fighting severe battle three hours and
half duration The feat is well worthy Of notice. one
DER The only seesrs were the men who were foot
sore from long marching and those slightly wounded
Tue retreat could not have bean conducted In better style
THE KEEMYs STRENGTH
vnYiOusly estimated rom eight twelve thousand
men. portion u is reported, from Johnson's army,
consisng Of infantry regiments OF cavalry and two
or three batteries Of artillery. AZ nearly can as
certain the following portion OF the regiments oppos
ed 10 us-Frst Second Fifth and Sixth Florida infantry
cavalry (Which is possibly identical with one Of the
above1 Fret battalion Florida artillery, sxtyfourth,
Fourth battalion Georgia osSsiry frs. regiment
Georgia regular infantry, First regiment Confederate in
fantry eguiars) and battalion o. regular artllerv-in
Gardner Of Port Hudson fame, vas said 6 be in com.
mand, with Generals Cliquitt and Finegan Our force
tsane march Of seventeen miles met The enemy 10 Their
chosen position behind defenccs, and In q long and
severe light % severely handled them that they could
TIE BEHAVIOR or ouR TROOPS
was, with one or two exceptions which have already
stubbornly against superior numbers cool col
eced, generally speaking, and have established . firm
sass the reputation for good lighting qualities which they
Great praiss awarded BY al 70 ,bs Seventh conpec.
tcut, Colonel Hawey their superb conduct in the
advance, throughout The nebt skirmsbers They did
not falter WAIVER. but employed their Spencer rifles
accurately effectively that the enemy win long have
occasion 70 remember their presence The Ded They
lost quite heavily
or Bartons bfissde-tbs Forty .sevensh. rortyeshth
and One Hundred and Fifteenth Now York rcgmenis-it
enough 10 say they never an better and that
their rmnese and endurance lheir pluck and seadness,
We ove the safety Of our entire force. Had they proved
unreliable nothing could have prevented the capture or
slaughter OF most OF our forces
The brigade suffered heavily, the list Of casualties
viii show The cavalry performed excellent service dur
ing the contest and covering the retreat have be-
fore spoken Of Colonel Hcnrys regiment the Forteth
Massachusetts, and Major Stevens First battalion OF
Massachusetts Independent cavalry Of common
daton, and only need 20 cay that they Of i'm