Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1864-06-07
In connection witt. the recent battles, we
give place to the following communication:
10 he Editors IF the Enquirer:
Casi. pEAx McCHtnIcsyIiL..

luys never lut myself to tnu tronfii; 10
correct even the false statements OF anony--
nous letter writer's in regard to the conduct
of troops in the field, but inasmuclI ~ great
denl has been said, and great deal of Ut
mcriteG censure cast upon Johnson'a division
for its curduet in tie baltic Of the 18th of
Nav. near Spotsylrani; Court House. deem
il INV duiv TO correct statement made by
YOUR SPECIAL corr cspundsat, - in his letter
OF l.l,h Of Stay, and especially sn siDcc the
| "sptcinl correspondent of the l.prd"n M0rm.
ing Herald" has fallen ihto the sauc errur.-~
la s,,cakiug Of the advance made by the cuG~
nv that morning, ~" saYs, after b9,rg RAJ
Iied. thc7 "c;lme Oh agairu 20 the rBarGn iii
ynri overwhelming numbers rs I" cause &
nartiou Il J,hueon'., diyisinn--th6 Stnnewalt
and General J. NJ. Jones' brigfdc9-tn ialtcr
and give way to save themselves from Icing
Hanked on both sides" Your correspondent;
thus places the Stoncwall brigade Oh tho left
of jones' brigade, md ruakes it srpear tbs.
the attack was made in front OF ,Ee hsrneHall
brigade, as we'll as Jones'. 1hiH ii moi cor,
rct. Stufford's il uiNiana hy;:aic Tns lr--
tWe On t!.e Stoncwal and Jones' LrlEHdH5. and
tho ,,0iaL where tho eun,hy hrnEe through our
,ino WAS at Least three iuhd deed yarts u 'hn
rich. Of ;he Stunewall brigade. On tho l2h
of Nav | commanded the Fourth FirSniG
infantry, ami WAS pcstrd rn t! t light p; tho
| S.uncwal brigade. a:ii next il Stafford s.
! From that roint could soc the enemy n!
va,.cin = upon S'laltm,! ask; jnrcs, an &, ir'nr
appeared i'll ny from ordered my I""n t'
| 6rs t6'thr : Hhs h.1ma uron Tbs n''YnhciI (
col,:ma. The first irnmation had that the
enemy lnvi bevken through the hre $40, re
| inr rome Of St.Hord's men go:ns I" my rear.
having given way after scerg tie Iino carried
oa ,hr.r wight As my luH w;.s cS!naes 10 Al,
rntlule fire from snlns sGarpahc0tcrd, !. bad
constructed come tsaverses. Finding thf :ne
| INV were hurrying down upon my right flank
! ordered tho men iGtD these tTaverses, hoping
| 10 stsy the current until the supports, whlnh
knew were in the rear, could he brought up
az had been done just two days before, when
the enemy broke through ono Of the ttigados
| in Rodes' division. But the supports did not
come in time, and my regiment was sacrificed
having three fourths killed, wounded and cap
tured in the trenches. The Overwhelming
numbers of the enemy, (your own correspond
ent stating them at forty thousand, made
successful resistance impossible. l did sue
ceed in checking them for time Immediately
in frcnt of the traversea, but meeting no re-
sistance in my rear, they advanced rapidly
and were soon opposite and passing the cen
I tre of my regiment, and firing directly int
the traverses. In the meantime line com
menced advancing upon my original front
(my left flank, as we then stood, in the ira
verses but a few we'll directed shots, viii
the assistance Of the regiments to my lef,
soon dro7o these back. But fresh lines havini
come to my right and resr, numbers pre-
vailed. Let the numbers, who now fill blood
graves on that memorable spot, bear witnes
to the desperate struggle; and may add ther
is no place on any battle field of this val
where the marks CT infantry fire were 80 ter
rifo, cutting down trees ten and twelve 1nche
in diameter. The Fourth Virginia intantr