The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-09-08
Grant Unable to Break
Bells Strong Lines.
BELL HOLDS THE GAP
So Realistic is the Manoeuverlng That
ItNeeds But the '.WiId Grim Dice"
OF War to Convert 1t into
the .'lr0n
Came
(By the Associated Press

(By the Associated Press.)
Corps Headquarters, Gainesville,
Va, Sept. 6.-The Blue and the
Brown armies were in fierce combat
when halted by the chief umpire at
O'Clock this afternoon. Previous to
this the commanders of the two forces
had spent the time manoeuvering for
position. The net result of the day is
that General Grant, who is charged
with forcing back General Bells
Brown army through Thoroughfare
Gap. has not been able to break the
line of defense established by General
Bell during the early hours of the
morning. This line extends north and
south, bisecting the vancouver zone
and is composed of infantry and artil-
lery.
General Grant opposed this force in
the extreme north early in the day,
but with no success. After five COM
panies of the Blue army had been
ruled off the field for attacking in the
open strong concealed defense, hos
tilities ceased for three hours. Dur
ing this time General Grant swung
the bulk of his infantry and artil
lery to the south in an effort to flank
General Bells line of infantry on the
right General Bell, however, learned |
of the movement of his adversary and
rushed up his reserves to the threaten |
ed point.
The Combat Begins.
The two forces came to combat |
shortly after two O'clock artillery was
brought into play by the Brown army
and the rapid fire guns on both sides, |
while volley after volley of musket fire
added to the sound of the battle which |
could be heard through the Virginia
hills for miles.
The battle had proceeded only a i
short time when an order from the
umpires was given to cease firing. At
this time the forces were practically
equal, and the situation was such that
Il decision from the umpires seemed
to be demanded. Instead fifteen min
utes was granted each side to reform
Its lines. Then at a signal from the
chief umpire, the action was resumed.
The first Vermont, a portion of the
Twelfth New York, the Eighth Mass
achusetts, and the Second Maine made
Il charge on the Blue position, moving
over open ground and under a very
heavy fire from the Seventh Virginia, |
the First Maine and the First Texas. |
The Brown charging force was order |
ed back after sustaining heavy loss.
The success of the Blue army at this |
time was but temporary as an enfilad |
ing fire of infantry and artillery from
the Brown troops on the right and left
made it impossible for the Blue army
to hold it's position and an order to fall
back was given.
General Bell had ordered up rein
forcements consisting of the greater |
part of Barry's Brigade, which had |
been holding the line still farther to |
the south.
The Third North Carolina.
The immediate line of the Browns |
defense then consisted of the Second !
Maine First Vermont, Eighth Massa-
chusetts, Fourth New Jersey. Ninth |
Massachusetts Twelfth New York, |
Ninth Regulars Third North Caro-
lima and Second Georgia. amounting |
in all to sixty companies of infantry, |
besides a battery of artillery.
Opposed to this force was the |
Seventeenth Virginia, First Maine and
First Alabama, the situation was crit
ical for either side. The fighting
forces were approaching closer and
closer and the firing was growing
hotter. A decision from the umpire
would have been Imperative had not
a halt been called.
The record of the Blue army for
the day is summed up by Colonel
Wagner, chief umpire, as follows:
General Wint's brigade which took
up a position early in the day on the
has not been heavily engaged, and his
troops are in bivouac tonight. Prices
brigade has been seriously engaged
and has suffered great loss. Frost,
on the left has not been heavily en-
gagged while the brigade of Bliss still
further on the left has not been in
action. The fighting for the Blue
army was done almost exclusively by
Prices brigade and by the advance
guard of Whit.
The Brown Fighters.
On the part of the Brown army,
the brigades of Smith. Lee and Barry
have all been IN the fighting. Four
troops of the Seventh Cavalry, a part
of the Brown army, made trouble for
the Blue advance before daylight this
morning. This force reached Sudley
road before daylight. 1t fired on
General Whit at daylight, and there
were rumors that he had been put out
of action, but these were not con-
firmed by the official reports of the
umpireS. A colonel of the Blue cav
airy was captured as were the colors
of the Fifth Massachusetts Regiment.
These colorS We're returned to corps
headquarters tonight by General Bell
with a letter stating that he should
have returned them to the regiment,
but did not want to take any action
that might be regarded as spying on
his adversary. The colors were re-
turned through corps headquarters.
Governor Haywood, o. South Caro-
lima, and Representative Price. of
Illinois, 2 member of the House Mill
tary Committee, were arrivals at
camp today and each responded to
toasts at dinner.
First Lieutenant Cornelius X
Vanderbilt of the Twelfth New York,
was compelled to submit to medical
treatment today on account of the
heat His condition is not regarded
as serious.
u,I,Hr tIuI6AIlS. ND NIAIp(uI