The war.
facts and Incidents of the late Battled &c., &c.
A correspondent, who was attached to Latham's Battery in the battle of July 21st, desires to correct a statement which has been published, to the effect that the battle was commenced at Stone Bridge by Gen. Evans, with certain regiments, supported by two pieces of the Washington Artillery.
The writer says: ‘
"In the first place there was no battle at the Stone Bridge, and in the second place none of the guns of the Washington Artillery were within miles of the bridge, nor in any manner connected with Gen. Evans' command.
With two six-pounders of Latham's Battery, I was within one hundred yards of the bridge, with a full-complement of men for both guns, under command of Gen. Evans, awaiting the approach of the enemy.
In this position we had been for a week, scarcely leaving our guns, night or day, for a single moment.
We were exposed to a raking fire from the enemy for most of the eleven hours battle, and it is no more than injustice to Gen. Evans to say that for coolness, courage, and ability in battle, he has few equals.
"The two guns at the Stone Bridge were the left half of Captain Latham's Battery, commanded by Lieuts. Davidson and Leftwich.
The Captain of the Washington Artillery is too gallant a man to claim honors belonging to others, when an eleven hours contest in the open field leaves no room for doubt, in the minds of any who were engaged, as in the respective positions of each." ’
The writer goes on to give a detailed and minute account of the fight, closely written on both sides of the paper, which is a sufficient reason for its omission.
His compliments to Gen. Evans, and to Captain Latham and his, men, are fully justified by their action on that memorable day. One other paragraph we copy.
‘"Having ascertained that Lieut. Dempsey, of Company G, New York Second Regiment, reported in the Baltimore Sun as killed, was in one of the hundred hospitals convenient to Manassas, Stone Bridge and Centreville, I went to see him, and found he had a dangerous wound in the head, caused by a bursting bomb.
He told me he had a wife living in New York city, and I insert this for her benefit, trusting it may meet her eye; and will venture a piece of advice.
In time to come it would be well for Mrs. Dempsey to keep the Lieutenant at home, and leave us to manage our biggers as suits us best."’
A correspondent at the University of Virginia sends us the following account of an exponent of private John Armstrong, of the Berkeley Border Guard, (Capt. Nadenbush,) Col.Allen's (2d Virginia) Regiment, at the battle of Manassas on the 21st July:
Mr. Armstrong after aiding in the re-capture of a part of Sherman's Battery, (consisting of a guns then in the possession of some N. Y. Zouaves,) became separated from his regiment and secreted himself behind a fence from whence he discharged five or six effective shots.
His position being discovered, a volley was fired upon him, which destroyed his gun not left him untouched.
At this time five Yankees crossed the fence about thirty yards from where Armstrong lay, running to join their regiment not far off. One of them dropped his gun. Armstrong picked it up and shot him dead, and continued the pursuit, when all four wheeled and fired on him, one ball taking effect in the left arm. Nothing daunted, he still pursued until he overtook the hindmost, whom he succeeded after a struggle in killing with the bayonet, the remaining three making their escape.
The above statement is corroborated by several of his company, who believe it entirely reliable.
Mr. Armstrong has three bullet holes through his shirt; besides the one which wounded him, but at what period of the battle he received them, he does not know.
His wound though serious is not dangerous, and he is now receiving, with many others, kind and skillful treatment at the University Hospital, and will soon be ready to meet his country's ice wherever he may show his face. R. C.
The battle of Bull Run,
An ‘"Eye-Witness"’ of this fight desires us to publish the following, as an act of justice to the troops who bore the brunt of the action.
Though rather late in the day for a description of scenes with which the reader is familiar, we comply with the request:
Too much credit cannot be given to the 1st and 17th Regiments of Virginia, Volunteers for their good conduct in the battle of Bull Run on Thursday, the 18th day of July. It was an experimental or test action in which the enemy first learned to run, and first discovered the necessity of so doing to save themselves from our steady fire and determined assault.
It had a most important effect upon the battle of Sunday, the 21st.
In both cases the flight of the enemy was most precipitate and disastrous.
Gen. Longstreet's Brigade, consisting of 1st Regiment Virginia Volunteers, commanded by Col. Moore; 17th Regiment, Col. Corse, and 11th Regiment, Col. Garland, were ordered under arms and marched in ten minutes out of camp at Manassas on the morning of the 17th, and in quick time reached Bull Run, some four miles distant. We were posted in a bend or horse-shoe of the run on the inner circle and along the bank.
As the movement was designed as an ambuscade, silence and secrecy were observed by the troops.
We slept on our arms that night, and early in the morning were ready for action.
About eight o'clock our force was posted by regiment and divisions at the most available points for defence around the circle and flanking above and below Blackburn's ford.
It felt to the lot of the 17th to be posted mainly around this ford-one division was advanced across the ford to the opposite bank as skirmishers; the other divisions of the 17th were posted on the bank within the circle protected by trees and undergrowth, ready to meet the enemy as they advanced over the opposite bank, which was much higher than the ground occupied by us.
The Washington Artillery was some distance in the rear, and several regiments were posted near by in case of necessity.
There we remained in profound silence.
About 11½ A. M., the report of a rifle was heard from the other side the run, then another and another.
It was evident that the enemy were feeling for us in different directions.
Then came the fire of a cannon, followed by many others in succession.
This continued for half an hour without being noticed by us. We supposed by this that our position was discovered and all hope of the ambuscade was at and end, for very soon the enemy were seen advancing over the hill.
Our artillery then opened fire, which was followed by the infantry around the ford.
The rattling of musketry and the booming of cannon continued, with two slight pauses, until about five o'clock in the afternoon, when the fire of the enemy ceased altogether; and is was afterwards discovered he had suddenly retreated, leaving many of his dead and wounded, several hundred muskets and two pieces of cannon on the field.
The enemy fired their rifle cannon at the hospital, though protected by its flag, and struck it. They also fired at the ambulances with wounded men in them.
Their sudden retreat was no doubt owing, not only to the bloody resistance they had met with and the sad havoc made in their ranks, but to the appearance on the field of two Southern regiments coming shouting at double-quick.
The shout was taken up by our brigade, and the horse shoe rung with the sound of human voices, that for a moment almost equalled the artillery.
Certain it is, they fired but a few scattering shots after that, and had we known they were retreating we would have made a rout of it. We were expecting the attack to be renewed every minute.
As it was, their was, in killed, wounded and missing, was over one thousand.
Our loss did not exceed is killed and about 60 wounded.
The Washington Artillery on that day immortalized itself.
For coolness and courage, sake of management of the guns, and rapidity and certainly of fire, it could not be excelled.
Every man in the 1st and 17th did his whole duty.
From position they, with the artillery, bore the brunt of the whole fight.
Where every one fought to well, it were invidious to particularize.
Col. Moore, of the 1st, was wounded in the arm, and the command devolved on Lt. Col. Fry, who was assisted by Major Skinner.--Col. Corse, Lt. Col. Munford, and Adjutant Humphreys of the 17th, and Major Brent, were off the field in command in different parts of it. All these officers were in the thickest of the fight and displayed the almost coolness and courage.
But nothing could exceed the cool determination and fearless daring of the officers and men of the line in the 17th Regiment.
The writer could not obtain a list of the killed and wounded.
The Captains seemed to be marked by the enemy.
Captain Delaney, of the Fairfax Rifles was shot in the shoulder by a musket ball.
Captain Prestman was shot in the arm and side by buck-shot.
These officers were taken from the field.
Captain B. H. Shacklefords of the Warrenton Rifles, was shot in the side by a cannister ball.
He bandaged the wound and remained upon the field till the close of the fight.
No doubt is entertained that all of them will recover.
General Longstreet seemed to be everywhere, regardings of danger, and unconscious of what a conspicuous mark be presented to the enemy.
All praise say us, to the regiment of long street brigade, and of the first and seventeenth regiment.
Ar Eve-Witfeis,
A correspondent, who desires that justice should be done to a gallant company, sends the following:
Manassas Junction, July 31st, 1861.
Having noticed the different correspondence of the Dispatch for the last week in regard to the late battle of Sunday, July 21st, allow me, an eye-witness, to correct and error in regard to the statement that the Howitzers rendered efficient service, &c., in the battle of that memorable day. The mistake was made from the fact of the uniforms of the Howitzers and the Thomas Artillery are very nearly alike; the credit, therefore, is justly due to that gallant little band, the Thomas Artillery, who, for seven hours, under the range of the enemy's battery, stood bravely by their guns, pouring shot thick and fact, and with good effect, into the enemy's ranks, firing, as I understand, seven hundred and odd shot.
Their ammunition being exhausted, they were ordered to retire, which they did in good order, having sustained a loss of two killed--Lieut. Macon and private John B. Dixon; and five wounded--Serg't Massenburg, Corp'ls.
Thos. McCurdy and Topp, privates Waller and Davidson; the battery a loss of an ammunition chest, of one caisson, (which was struck by one of the enemy's shells and blown up,) twenty-five horses, killed, wounded and missing.
They arrived, after a forced march from Winchester under Gen. Johnston, on the battle-field about eight o'clock Sunday morning, without food for men or horses, and remained near the field of battle the whole day, and at sun down took up their march for this place, which they reached about midnight.
There is no news worth attention.
Troops continue to arrive daily.
A number of wounded Yankee prisoners arrived last evening. "Crew."
The Fifth Virginia Regiment.
Camp near Manassas, July 31.
I take the liberty of asking a small space in your valuable paper to do honor to a regiment which has been entirely neglected in the accounts of the battle of July 21st.
No notice has been taken of the Fifth Virginia Regiment or its gallant and brave commanders, Colonels Harper and Harman, and Major Baylor, or its heroic captains and men, who participated in that memorable conflict.
The regiment was in the hottest of the fight for many hours.
Captain A. W. Harman; of the Staunton Rifles, (Company G,) was the first man who took possession of Sherman's celebrated Battery, (six pieces,) and kept it. I should have noticed this before, but have been unable in consequence of sickness since the fight.
Knowing that it is your principle to accord merit where merit is due, I hope you will oblige the Fifth by publishing the foregoing.
The Smith Blues. Capt. A G. Pendleton publishes the following in the Marion (Va) Visitor, in regard to his company in the Manassas battle: Thos. A. Oury was struck in the mouth and split his lips and knocked out his front teeth. Robert C. Green was wounded by a shell bursting on his back whilst he was laying on the ground. He is not mortally wounded. John M. Williams, Jr., was struck by a shell on his left arm and broken below his elbow, and received a ball shot in same arm above elbow. B. F. Leonard, wounded by a shell; two middle fingers and end of forefinger of left hand shot off. Thos. J. Wolf, struck by shell on left arm; bruised only. We were then ordered to charge bayonets, and we drove the enemy back. J. H. Romans was shot by a ball through the right grom. I fear he is mortally wounded. [Died at Orange C. H.] S. H. Wolf was shot through left thigh and was badly wounded. Samuel Neff, struck by a spent ball on calf of right leg; bruised only. Edward McCredy, poor fellow, was shot through left the heart, leading on the charge. Several of my boys' guns were struck by cannon balls and bent double in their hands. Our regiment captured Sherman's Battery, and Stephen E. James, of thy company, tore from the battery its flag and now has it to bring home. The boys all done bravely. We learn from the same paper that about 40 recruits left Marion last Tuesday and Wednesday nights to join the Smyth Blues, which will raise the number of that company to about 100 strong, exclusive of those killed and wounded in the late battle. They were all choice recruits, just suited to join with that worthy little band of gallant heroes. The Grayson Dare-Devils. The following is a list of the killed and wounded of this company, in the battle of Manassas: Killed--Capt. P. N. Hale, Creed B. Hale and Josiah Winn. Wounded — Wm. Waugh, Sidney Panter, Stephen K. Fielder, W. J. Cornutt, John K. Cornutt. Tray Stamper. Hugh Clark, George Sage — Waugh and Fielder supposed to be dangerously wounded. In a letter written two days after the battle, by Mr. Jno. Hale, he says that Capt. Hale, Creed B, Hale, and Josiah Winn, fell close by his side, and that Churchill Boyer, William Stone, Kenly Warwick, Kenly Cornutt and others, fought very bravely. He says that their regiment (the 4th Virginia, under Col. Preston,) succeeded in taking the enemy's battery. It was in that charge that those men fell. They saw they were about to be flanked by the enemy and to charge the enemy was the best chance; which they did with great success. He says that Col. Preston rushed up and mounted the battery and said, ‘"well done my brave boys; the victory is ours"’ Col. Preston then turned two of the pieces and fired them on the enemy as they ran. Kindly feeling in battle. A letter describing the Manassas Battle, says: ‘ At the crisis of the fight, when it was doubtful if we would not be whipped, and when men, sinking from their wounds, were coming from a fight in which their friends and relations had been cut to pieces, some three or four prisoners brought in were rather in the way of being roughly treated. The proposition was made, and was responded to, to shoot them. I passed them on the way when the fight was going on, and greatly feared that something might be done to shame us, but a few words brought the sufferers to their senses, and the prisoners were spared. In every other instance, however, after the act of battle was over, the feeling was kinder than it could have been before the fight began. I saw the soldiers share their water with them, which they could hardly spare themselves.--Many of them were taken and cared for by the very men who shot them, and a friend, passing through the field after the fight was over, passed two wounded men, the one from Georgia, the other from New York. The New York man asked for water, and the wounded Georgian begged my friend for God's sake to give it to him; for that he himself had called upon a soldier from New York for water when his column was in retreat, and though it was at the risk of his life, he ran to the trench and brought it. ’ How Col. Corcoran was captured. The war correspondent of the Charleston Mercury relates the following: ‘ Of individual experience there were scarcely room to speak. One lad, Oakley, from Alabama, taken prisoner, was tied; but when the enemy was fighting he cut the cords, found a musket, plunged it in a Zouave endeavoring to detain him, and started to his friends on the way. On an officer's prospecting, he went up towards him, and, when near enough, he ordered him to surrender; the officer did so, and young Oakley bore him in triumph in to headquarters. He proved to be Col. Corcoran. ’ Capt. Kemper, the Artilleryman. A letter from the battle-field, published in the Charleston Mercury, mentions the fact that Capt. Kemper was taken prisoner during the fight. It happened in this way: Early in the day, when the fight was fiercest, and matters were so mixed that it was difficult to distinguish enemies from friends, Capt. Kemper was surrounded by about 20 Zouaves, and his sword was demanded. He asked for an officer, declaring that he would only surrender to an officer. They told him to follow and they would take him to one; he saw a column moving near them, whom he recognized as friends; pointing to these he said there is one of your regiments, take me to it. They started, and, approaching a few steps nearer, he told them they were mistaken, and it was for them to surrender; which, seeing themselves under the guns of an enemy, they promptly did The ‘"sixty-Ninth"’ on their way home. A Philadelphia letter, dated July 27, says: The 69th Regiment of New York, which acted so bravely at the great battle in Virginia, arrived in this city yesterday afternoon, on route for New York. A large crowd assembled at Broad and Pine streets, who exhibited an immense amount of enthusiasm on the arrival of the train. Col. Meagher was surrounded, and a number of men insisted upon carrying him to the wharf at the foot of Washington street, but after proceeding about a square the Colonel escaped by getting into a carriage. At Washington street wharf another large crowd had assembled, and the soldiers were overwhelmed with manifestations of kindness. As the train containing this regiment approached Grey's Ferry bridge, several of the soldiers got upon the top of one of the cars, and a young man belonging to company I was struck on the back of the head as the car passed through the bridge. He was instantly killed. Insubordination among Ten Federal soldiers. The Baltimore papers state that quite an excitement has been created there by the insubordination of the Federal troops stationed at the Naval Hospital. It appears that their term of enlightenment expired on Friday, the 19th July, but they were not permitted to return home, an order having been received here that they be continued in service until the 10th August. This created a great deal of murmuring, which, on Saturday, broke out in open revolt. One of them having requested permission to return home, was refused, when he commenced using the most insulting language to his commanding officer, who immediately ordered a guard to arrest him, where-upon the company of which the offender was a member stepped forward en masse, and drawing their swords, refused to permit his arrest. The authorities failed to carry their point. personal Adventures. A captain of a Winchester company, in a letter to his parents, relates some of his adventures in the battle of Manassas: Once I was getting over a fence, and a cannon ball struck it and knocked me over the fence and down the hill. Another time my horse was frightened by the bursting of a bomb and threw me off. I first took part in the ranks for several hours. At one charge a man fell on each side of me. I am unhurt, but Providence alone preserved my life. My boys acted manly and fought like tigers. I was struck with a spent ball, but it did not penetrate the skin. O, that I could forever forget the horrid sight of the battle-field, as the sun was setting on that never-to-be-forgotten Sabbath evening. Many were killed on both sides — but the enemy's loss is very heavy. I shot a Yankee as he was retreating. I also secured one of their horses, with saddle and bridle. Benjamin Kaufman was killed. He had killed two Yankees and was again loading his gun, when a ball entered his breast and he fell by my side, without uttering a word. Miscellaneous. The Louisville Journal, referring to the battle of Manassas, says: ‘ "The result appears to have been the triumph of the Confederate forces and the overwhelming defeat of the United States Army." ’ Well it does. Captain Adam McWille, of the Camden Rifles, reported killed in the late battle, was a son of Hon. Wm. McWille, ex-Governor of Mississippi, and long a resident of South Carolina. The Charleston Courier mentions a report that Lieut. Col. R. S. Ripley, of South Carolina, has resigned his commission, Cause not stated. A correspondent of the Richmond Enquirer expresses deep regret at the resignation of Gen. Tochman, of the Polish brigade, and hopes it will not be accepted by the President. A letter from Dechera, Tennessee; under date of 26th ult., states that the people in that section of the country are very much excited, and that hundreds are leaving for the war. One family is represented by six sons and three nephews, who are in the Confederate army. Two North Carolina soldiers--one named J. J. Stevens and the other named Woods — died in Petersburg a day or two since. Alexander Parkins, editor of the Clarke Journal, was wounded by a ball in the arm at the battle of Manassas. Gen. Jackson, whose bravery and activity was the admiration of all, received a shot in his hand.
