Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-15

tage and az strong 9zsskisafis h lire as was
prudent establisheds% puSng the morning
sever;si additional regfsnels of tie veteran
di sas5us ds ssysIFy % for dntg rhsy y
were posted in the Ee AS on either side
of tIfe-main road 1eadfh $40 Silver Spring.
Captain Berry of thh illinois Cavalry,
being Stationed witssshis:Nompany on the
road leading, from Suxer Inspiring Ito Lees
borough, dispatched,.s. cdarier at 10 I'M.
the nth. informing me tlfat, the enemy was
advancing s., IN force r. ROAD with IN
The Enemy in Sight.
cat u m a strong line of the enemy's
skfrmishers came in view, advancing upon
our position The picket line at this mo-
ment was composed of To-day men of the
150th Ohio. and a portion of the 25th New
York Cavalry {dismounted) Being satis--
fed that they could not contend favorabIy
against the enemys line, were ordered to
fall back slowly, fighting. until they reach
ed the rife pits. Fire was then opened at
proper points upon our line, and the enemy
was held in check until the dismounted of
the I'd Division of the Cavalry Corps, Army
of the Potomac 600 strong, commanded by
Major George c. Briggs, Ith Michigan Cav
airy were made ready to go out, drive the
enemy back and re-establish our picket
line This was handsomely done about 80
D. M the enemy's skirmishers being forced
back and our line well established at 100
yards in front of the works. The enemy
not developing any force other than their
skirmish line, affairs remained in this con-
dition until evening.
achievements at Hand.
"About 8 pm. Maj. Gen. H. G. Wright,
U. S. ", commanding the 9Th Army Corps,
reported to me at Fort Stevens, informing
me that the advance of his corps would be
UP in short time. Idirected him to fur,
nish a force 900 strong of this veteran
| corps for picket duty during the night. con-
slant skirmishing being kept up between
! the lines until after, dark on the 18th in
slant At pm. Brig, Gen. M. G. Meigs,
uuartermaster general, United States army,
reported at Fort Stevens with about 1,5O0
| qua rtermaster employees, armed and equip
| ped They were at once ordered into posi-
| ton near Fort Slocum, placed on right and
left in rifle pits. At 10 pm. Col Price re-
ported with about $500 convalescents and
men from hospitals. organized into a pro-
visional brigade composed of men from
nearly every regiment of the Army of the
Potomac. They were ordered into position
| in rear of Fort Slocum. as information re-
ceived led me to believe that the enemy
would demonstrate farther to our right.
cat 1890 a. m on the 18th the following
telegraDhic. order was received:
:. Major General Gilmore U. S. w. with
a portion of the 10Th Corps. is assigned to
| command the line from Fort Lincoln to
Fort Totten. Brig. Gen. NJ. c. Meigs. quar-
from Fort Totten to Fort DeRussy. Brig.
| Gen NJ D. Hardin U. S. Volunteers. to
command from Fort DeRussy to Fort Sum
ner inclusive. The 9Th Corps, Major Gen.
H. C. Wright. U. S. Volunteers. command
ing. to be held in reserve. and the entire
line and troops to be commanded by Major
| Gen. A. Med. McCook,gU. S. Volunteers
This order was complied with, with the
exception to hold the 9th Corps entire in
serve. I deemed it absolutely necessary
that the immediate front should be picketed
by experienced men,
A Successful Assault.
cat dawn on the morning of the 10Th the
sharpshooters of this enazny opened fire
upon our skirmish line. which had been in
trenched during the night. This fire was
kept I'D from both slnesi during the day.
The enemy, retiring their line the
evening of the 11th!9s and retained
possession of house on the right of the
Silver Spring road situated on an elevated
piece of ground SURROUNDED by an orchard
and large shade trees. GRfVes), which afford
ed excellent cover for sharpshooters, and
commanded our advance line. They also
posted sharpshooterS; in Mrs. Lays house
to the left of the read From these two
points our skirmish line was very much
annoyed by the enemy. they killing and
wounding about thirty Of our skirmishers
during the day. L determined these two
points must be carried Gsn. Wright was
ordered to furnish a brigade to make the
assault (aS l had failed Ito carry these
points with Capt. Beatties sharpshooters.
of Gen. Getty's division, 9Th corps) Brig.
Gen. Frank Wheaton. United States volun-
teers was ordered to direct the movements
of the assaulting troops. These troops hay
ing gained their position previous to assault
at about pm. the two positions held by
the enemy were vigorously shelled from
Fort Stevens. Then at signal -Wheaton's 8.
troop dashed forward. and after spirited
contest, gained the. ground This attack
developed new forces of the enemy that had
been concealed in a ravine beyond Mrs
Lays house, and in the depression beyond
the copse on the right of the road. The
enemys line was reinforced by at least
brigade. the contest was kept up until after
dark. we having gained all the ground de-
sired. and rude intrenchments were thrown
up on, 1t! .s -r,
The Enemy, Vanishes.
THAT night the enemy withdrew their
forces from our front. At dawn on the 18th
none of them could be seen. Two COM
panies Of infantry We're at once deployed
as skirmishers, their TANKS covered by a
few mounted men, and pushed forward to
gain all the information possible. Going
forward in person, found nothing but the
deserted camp of the enemy. and a few
stragglers; also a hospital at Sligo post
Office, containing about seventy rebels,
wounded too severely to be removed, eleven
Of them commissioned officers, including
surgeons and attendants-about ninety
in all.
1.-THE prisoners taken between Fort Ste
vens and Leesborough numbered not less
than 200, including the hospital. The num-
Der killed and wounded Of the enemy
am unable to state as all those who could
be transported were taken away. Their
loss must have been equal to If not greater
than ours. our loss being about go killed
and wounded. The 9th Corps marching
next day, am unable to give the loss &C
curately.
The Enemy's Forces.
II am satisfied the rebel force which
confronted Washington was not less than
10000. Ewell's old corps (entire). consist
ing of three divisions, commanded, re-
spectively, by Gems. Rode, Gordon and
Ransom. was encamped upon F. P. Blair.
Sis, farm. Breckinridge's command,
consisting of about 10000 infantry, was
farther back and in the vicinity of Lees
borough. My estimate of their forces was
made from the most reliable sources posi-
BILE. and all evidences show their force
to have been divided as follows:
Ewelps old corps Infantry. ........... 1000
Breckinridge's corps 1infantry(- ...... lO'OOo
Artillery .............y.S .-ts. A'Ooo
Ia