Year: 1863

AAO TaShI al DttSLOW. StatlOns
We are permitted by friend to make the follow
ing extracts from letter yritten by an officer
whose statements may be implicitly relied on in
lation to the hght at Bristow Station The blame
for this disaster it seems attaches to Gen Heth of
Virginia.


The army Of Gen. Lee left the south side of
the Rapidan week before last and passed in the
direction of Madison Court House, the right flank
of the .enemy-I suppose, if found practicable, to
get IN their Eear or at least to cut off portion OF
their force They, (the enemy however, retreated
rapidly as soon as they heard of our movements,
burning camp and garrison equipage, destroying
provisions, &c, in considerable quantities. Their
flight was so rapid didn't overtake them in force
until near Bristow Station, on the evening of the
14th inst Bristow is three or four miles this side
of Manassas junction. l will here mention our
cavalry have been capturing them in small squads
all the way from Robinson river. Hills and ET
ellis corps marched by different roads, almost par
alle to each other, from three to five miles apart
to be within supporting distance Of each other
The different divisions of our corps march in front
every third day, so as to equaze the hardships as
much as possible The day spoken of was Ander-
sons but from some cause, l know not why, he
was halted during the day and Heth thrown for
ward


The battle ground is mostly a. cleared field, the
railroad passing through it from to 10 feet high,





. tance from this, on the enemy's side, the ground
rises gradually until considerable elevation is
gained. Upon this were placed the enemy's bat
teres, and near its base they have rife pits also
Their batteries were so arranged as to have rakng
fire in front, and also enfilading one both right
and left Of any force advancing. l learn both Hill
and Heth were present when our advance came up.
1t was thought the enemy were in camp, and if
dash were made they would be scattered like chaff.
Ours (Kirkland's) and Cooks brigades were or
dered to advance and charge The skirmshers
were not allowed time to feel the enemy and in
what force they really were. The consequence was
both brigadeS were badly cut up in short time.
Exposed to CALLING fire from all the batteries, the
railroads and pits, how could it be otherwise p
COL Jones, of the 26th, Informs me the most of his
men killed fell on the side of the railroad the
my were on, and that where he charged it was fully
ten feet high Our. men had to fall back, and as
any body will conclude, in confusion, considering
two brigades were fighting two corps We had
five or six pieces of artillery taken, the enemy
advanced rapidly upon retreating forces, and
all nearly all the horses had been killed at the
batteries Had the exact position Of the enemy
been found out, and our corps concentrated, and
division thrown on their left the other on their
right, how different would have been the result
Idstead of the capture of artillery and the loss
in killed, wounded and missing Of nearly fifteen
hundred men, we would have bagged their whole
force engaged, their artillery, and gained brilliant
victory or if the attack had been delayed hour,
am informed Ewell would have been in their rear.
As it was, the enemy retreated Centreville .du-
ring the night so the attack % far position
concerned was in vain. l am fully convinced that
some body, high in command is greatly to be
blamed and if justice were done, would be cashier
ed. wish North Carolina brigades could be placed
in North-Carolina Divisions-then give US our own
Generals, and when we gain victory, give us the
credit Off and if we act badly, let US bear the
blame l learn Gen. Lee highly disapproyes the
whole proceeding. AS subsequent events have
proved, his object was not to have general fight,
but to push the enemy vigorously as far as poss
BILE, and then to completely destroy the Orange &
Alexandria Railroad


| had forgotten to mention that Gen. Kirkland,
after advancing near, sent an aid back to Hill and
Heth, informing them the enemy were about to
open en6ladIRg fire upon him. The answer
given was it would be long time before they did,
and no directions were given at ALL Walkers and
Davis brigades Of our divisions, the first Virgnans
and Tennesseeans, and the other Mississ ppans
were not called into action at all. 1t was these
who taunted North Carolinians with losing batter
les, though it the first mentioned who failed to
support ours at Gettysburg the first day, which
caused such slaughter and both broke and rum
When see our State treated with such marked in
justice, it makes my blood boil in my veins, and
cannot help giving vent to my feelings. consider
every man killed and wounded on the 14th instant
unnecessary sacrifice and that too, when South
ern men so precious. In other respects, sup
pose the expedition has been a complete success.