The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1906-02-22

port the reserves, and after hard fight
| were driven i'm good order 10 the edge
| OF the wood.
1.-The line was then formed with six
companies of the 18th y. Y, under
command Of Col. Young; the 9Th Me,
under Col. Jackson: the list y. Y. I'M
| del Col. G. T.. Pratt, and was afterward
| reinforced by six companies Of the 1st
ard four of the Cd y. J., under COM
mand of Lieut.-Col. McAllister, 1st y.
j. With this force, after Il sharp com
! test, the position Of the morning was
soon recovered. and by 3 o'clock p. m.
| the line was considerably advanced in
| front of it's first position.
"At this time the action had virtually
| ceased. The enemy had placed Il bat
| terry of three pieces on the river on our
extreme left. This fired a few shots at
| cur transports and gunboats, and few
| shots from the latter soon quoted it.
No other attack was made. At o'clock
placed the troops of Col. Taylor's Bril-
gade, consisting of four New Jersey
regiments, in the position held by the
four regiments previously engaged, with
orders to find out during the night the
position Of the enemy, and if possible
| to push farther to the front. He per-
formed his work well, though without
an engagement, and occupied posi-
ton two miles i'm advance early next
morning. BY means of the signals the
Eunboats were requested to shell the
woods on our left, and did very elf
Gent service, making some very effec-
tive shots at a distance of more than
two miles,
Gen. Newton's Report.
After reciting the circumstances at
tending the opening Of the engagement,
Gen. Newton says:
1.-The troops engaged on our side We're
the 31st and 32d y. Y. six compani
of the 18th N Y, three companies Of
the 18th y. T., three companies Of the
9th n. Y, the 95th Pa, six companies
of the 1st II. j.. and the 9Th Me.
"All the troops engaged behaved with
great steadiness. and l will only par
ticularize the 31st y. Y, Col. Calvin f.
| Pratt, and the SD \. Y. Col. Roderick
Matheson, who suffered the severest
| losses. The 31st charged the enemy in
| the woods, and drove them before them
| until they gained an advantageous po-
| sition, which, supported by the 1st n.
j., under the command of Lieut.-Col.
McAllister, they heroically maintained
until the end of the action against
greatly superior numbers of the enemy.
The 32d n. Y. made a brilliant advance,
driving superior forces with the bayo-
net for considerable distance through
the woods, until their progress was ar
rested by the enemy's reserves and a
slowly and in good order to their posi-
ton. 1 may add that the 18th y. Y,
Col. w. H. Young, advanced firmly up
on the enemy. received several yolleys
at close range, and. singular to state,
without losing q man or without firing
a shot in return. The steady advance
of this regiment on my left, supported
by the 5th Me-, Col. Jackson, was of
great service. The 95th Pa, Col. Cos
line commanding. behaved very well,
bringing on the action with the enemy
and keeping him we'll occupied.
Our loss in the action was 200 killed,
wounded and missing; that of the enc
my / have no means Of ascertaining.
I am under great obligations to Col. A.
T. A. Torbert, Of the 1st y. J.. General
Officer of the Day, for reinfOrcements
which he brought up from time to time
during the day, and to Capt. Plat. who
commanded the battalion OF artillery
engaged. for his efficient services
Ito be cOntinued.)