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[605] were buried, and the wounded removed. Gen. Berry, who had been held in reserve, occupied the field, and retained it till relieved this morning.

The conduct of all the regiments engaged under General Birney is highly praised. The One Hundred and First New-York, under Colonel Gesner, was in the hardest of the fight, and lost heavily in killed and wounded. Col. Gesner, Col. Ward, of the Thirty-eighth New-York, and Col. Egan, who led the bayonet-charge, displayed great coolness and gallantry.

General Birney, who is one of the few generals that have been often in battle and never defeated, won this fight with only seven regiments, after the whole division of Gen. Reno had been compelled to retire. General Reno fought cautiously and well, but could do nothing without ammunition after the advance of Stevens had been repulsed and his left had become exposed. He had no means of strengthening it till the arrival of Kearny. Most of the battle was fought in darkness and storm. The thunder was so heavy that at Centreville, three miles distant, the noise of the cannonade was wholly inaudible, and no battle was suspected to be going on.

Some prisoners were taken from the enemy, but, owing to the darkness and the storm, pursuit for any distance was impossible.

Among the prisoners was the Adjutant-General of General Jones, who was in command of one of the rebel divisions, and also his Chief of Ordnance. The rebel Gen. Jones was formerly Adjutant of General Heintzelman's old regiment.

Major Tilden, of the Thirty-eighth New-York, was mortally wounded in the fight, and died soon after. The whole number of killed and wounded in Gen. Birney's brigade was probably not over two hundred. Of General Reno's troops the loss was not much greater. I have seen lists, but not a moment to copy them for this letter, which goes by an unexpected opportunity.

Except this battle, there has been no engagement since Saturday. The enemy showed no disposition to attack Centreville in front, but endeavored to win the position by a movement on Fairfax Court-House, which was discovered and foiled by last night's contest. Centreville is abandoned. A battle is possible here, but not expected by the Generals in whose judgment most confidence is placed.

Our victory is dearly bought by the death of Gen. Stevens and the capture of General Kearny. The military career of both is well known to the country. Gen. Kearny brought away from the Peninsula a very high reputation. His services are too recent to have been forgotten.

Gen. Stevens's connection with the Port Royal expedition gave him less opportunity than he desired and wished for military services; but he was concerned in all of the operations in which the land forces had a share, and always showed himself the gallant soldier and able General. He has an older reputation in Mexico and Oregon, but I refer especially to his Port Royal career, because I knew him only in South-Carolina, and I wish to add to the public expression of regret at his loss, my own tribute to his gallantry and ability.

I have much to say of the events of last week, the condition of this command, of generals and their conduct, and of the immediate prospects before us; but I must defer every thing till another letter, which may be sent I know not when or how. An opening cannonade closes my letter.

P. S.--Gen. Kearney was shot, not captured. His body has just been brought in.


--New-York Tribune:--See Doc. 104 ante.

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C. H. Stevens (3)
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