The late battles.
The following letter, which does justice to two gallant officers who fought in the battle of the 18th, supplies an omission which was by no means intentional. It is gratifying to publish any record of personal bravery, and we will continue to furnish our readers with all facts as soon as they come into our possession:--In the numerous accounts of the recent glorious achievements of our army at Manassas published in your paper, your correspondents are often so partial in their statements as to do injustice to brave officers and men by omitting any mention of their names. This will no doubt be remedied in the official reports. But, in the fight on Thursday at Bull Run, in which the enemy in large numbers was repulsed with a heavy loss to them, by the three Virginia Regiments under Longstreet, there are two glaring instances of omission that should be corrected at once. Captain W. H. Delaney, of the Fairfax Rifles, and Captain B. H. Shacklefords, of the Warrenton Rifles, (the same that achieved a fame at Fairfax Court-House when the lamented Marr fell,) are still lying disabled from wounds received in that engagement. Yet we have seen no mention made of them and the brave men they led into the conflict. In the commencement of the fight Captain Delaney was seriously wounded, so as to be compelled to leave the field. Captain Shacklefords received a wound in the leg in the early part of the fight while in front cheering on his gallant men to the charge; but without retiring from the field, he bound up his wounded limb with his handkerchief, and for two or three hours stood by the side of his staunch boys till the battle had been won. He then discovered that he was more disabled than he had supposed, and had to be assisted off the field. This account has been furnished by one of his men, who says that his gallant bearing on the field inspired his company, one and all, with a determination to stand till the last man had fallen or victory won. We are happy to state, that both of these officers will probably be again at their posts in a short time, ready as before to meet the invaders of our soil and drive them back.
An incident of the battle.
I have heard many instances of the Manassas battle, but one of the most amusing was related to me by an eye-witness. He had ridden out on the Monday after the fight to view the scene of horror, when he came to the body of a New York Zouave having on a pair of shoes apparently new. While standing there, an Irishman of the Confederate Army approached, whose feet were incased in a pair of the aforementioned articles, pretty much the worse for wear. After viewing the corpse for some little while, he knelt down, and taking off his own shoes, replaced them by those of the dead Zouave, and stamping his feet in them, he stuck his hands in his pockets, viewing his "booty" with evident satisfaction.--Then putting his own on the dead man's feet, he exclaimed, "And be Gad I'll bury ye dacently." He then carefully straightened his limbs, and turned his face up to the burning sun, after which he stuck his hands in his pockets and walked off, much pleased with his exploit. The scene was very ludicrous, and the wit and humor with which our informant related it was enough to draw a laugh from any listener. ‘ One man alive, the other dead,One of the New York "Zous"--
Well might the live one have said,
"I've 'rifled' him out of his shoes."
’
H. L.
Eighth Georgia Regiment.
This regiment went into the battle of Manassas 559 strong, and the following record shows the part these gallant men bore in the action: Col. Bartow and Lt. Branch (Adjutant) were killed, and Lt. Col. Gardner was severely wounded. The Rome Light Guards entered battle 64 strong; had 5 killed, 10 wounded and 4 missing. Oglethorpe Light Infantry, 81 strong--5 killed, 27 wounded and 3 missing. Macon Guards, 75 strong--4 killed, 15 wounded and 1 missing. Echols' Guard, 44 strong--2 killed, 8 wounded and 1 missing. Miller Rifles, 35 strong--2 killed, 15 wounded. Atlanta Grays, 76 strong--3 killed, 18 wounded and 10 missing. Pulaski Volunteers, 56 strong--4 killed, 12 wounded. Floyd Infantry, 43 strong--5 killed, 11 wounded. Stephens Light Guards, 71 strong--6 killed, 13 wounded and 2 missing. Oglethorpe Rifles, 41 strong — none killed, 16 wounded.The Fourth Alabama Regiment.
The following is a list of the killed and wounded in the Conecuh Guards (Captain Bowles) of the Fourth Alabama Regiment: Killed--Orderly-Sergeant L. C. Gatch, Dr. S. H. Wimberly, J. D. Robins, and J. M. Strickland. Wounded.--Lieut. J. S. Guice, Sergeant J. B. Bonnet, Corporal W. F. Thomas, Privates T. W. Tusk, Erander McIver, A. D. McInnis, Charles Floyd, J. C. Peacock, O. W. Perry, J. H. Mason, J. T. Andrews, Joseph A. Thomas, A. J. Mosely and J. B. Beard. Besides the above, some eight or ten were hit by spent balls and fragments of shell. Captain Bowles took forty-five men into the fight, and at least thirty of this number were in some manner struck. A shot perforated the canteen of Capt. B., but he was unhurt; another of the company had his shoulder strap shot off; and another the toe of his shoe ! The Fourth was exposed to a murderous fire, and no regiment behaved with more gallantry on the field.The Rockbridge (Va.) companies.
The following is a list of the killed and wounded of the companies from Rockbridge county, in the battle of Manassas:Liberty Hall Volunteers, Company J. Fourth Regiment Va. Volunteers.
Killed--B. A. Bradley and C. W. Bell, by the same ball; W. L. Paxton, by a shell; and W. B. Ott and H. L. Wilson, in the charge on the batteries. Wounded Severely--C. D. Strickler, shot in the shoulder, the ball striking the spine; Calvin Utz, struck in the head with a piece of shell. Wounded Slightly.--Geo. Strickler, bruised in the side; W. A. Anderson, shot in the left knee; S. M. Lightner, slightly bruised; H. A. Paxton, fore-finger of left hand shot off; C. F. Neel, severely bruised in the side. C. W. Bell died just as he was put on the cars — the other four were buried together, and their graves marked with head-boards.Rockbridge Greys, 4th Regt. Va. Volunteers.
Killed.--Lieut. J. L. Moffett, Privates J. T. McCorkie, S. P. Wilson, John Goolsby, and J. McManamy. Wounded.--Lieut. C. C. Burks, Privates J. D. Cox, L. A. Marstella, T. Anderson, W. Berry, David Edmonson, John Fitzgerald, B. Hite, J. Miller, W. Selby, Alexander Wallace, J. B. Wilson, J. Withers, and B. Maxley.Rockbridge Rifles, 4th Va. Infantry.
Killed.--Frederick Davidson and Ashbury C. McCluer. Wounded Severely.--D. G. Bowyer, P. A. Davidson, Adam Miller, John E. Moody, E. Y. Northern and Joel Neff. Slightly.--Chas. A. Rollins, J. W. Ruff, W. H. Kahle, Wm. Spears, J. Parks, Daniel Riley, and J. J. Hileman. Wounded in Rockbridge Artillery.--Lieut. Brockenbrough and Private Jordan. None killed.The first Virginia Regiment.
Camp near Centreville, Fairfax Co., July 25.
Having had some opportunity of learning particulars of the battle of the 18th at Bull Run.
I take the earliest opportunity of briefly communicating them to you. I believe they approximate more nearly to the truth than any that have yet been published.
The statement in the Enquirer does injustice to Gen. Longstreet and the 1st Regiment--unwittingly, no doubt; but such misrepresentations ought to be corrected.
Gen. Longstreet commanded in person, and displayed a courage and military skill that astonished every one.
No man exposed himself more.
His smile and commanding voice cheered the soldiers, and imparted life and vigor to our men.
The first battle at Bull Run was fought on Thursday, as you are already aware.
On Wednesday, the 4th Brigade, commanded by General Longstreet, made a hasty march to Blackburn's Ford, on Bull Run Creek.
The 1st Regiment, under Col. Moore, crossed the stream at this place, and bivouacked, having thrown out a strong picket, composed of companies B and K.
The next morning the regiment was ordered to re-cross the Run, which we did, taking our position in a field — low table land — immediately to the right of the Ford, and separated from the stream by a narrow growth of trees.
The enemy advanced and took the position which the 1st Regiment occupied the previous evening.
From an eminence a short distance to the right and in the rear of this field, they opened a heavy fire of shot and shell upon us from Sherman's celebrated battery.
We could not observe their movements, but it was evident that they could see us, judging from their excellent range, and the rapidity of their firing, directed chiefly at the Washington Artillery, whose battery was about a quarter of a mile in our rear.
After about half an hour's cannonading, their infantry opened fire upon us from a hill, sloping gradually down to the edge of the creek on the opposite side.
They were concealed from our sight by a thick undergrowth, and we could only fire into the bushes in the direction from which their hall of bullets came, our skirmishers deploying along the line and picking off all who chanced to show themselves
on the side of the enemy.
This duty was assigned to companies B, C, D, E, I and K.--Company G was held in reserve, and exposed to a galling fire.
Company H was placed at Blackburn's Ford, supporting the Warren Rifles.
This was the point at which it was supposed the enemy would make the most vigorous efforts to cross; it was the most exposed position along the line, and for three hours and thirty minutes the companies named endured the hot and continuous fire of the enemy from the opposite hill.
Company H made the first charge across the run, followed by a number of the Warren Rifles.--Capt. Boggs and his officers led us on, and each and every man exhibited the utmost coolness and daring.
A number of the enemy fell before them, and several prisoners were brought in. When the fight was nearly over the reserve force of our brigade took the place of the First Regiment, who fell back.
A few volleys of musketry were exchanged; the artillery on both sides, which had ceased firing, again opened upon each other; an almost incessant shower of grape from our side soon silenced the enemy's battery, and — the battle was won!
Our whole regiment, officers and men, fought with astonishing bravery, and stood their ground firmly.
There was but little opportunity to individualize others of our brigade who were engaged, but the lamented Maj. Carter Harrison, of the Eleventh Regiment, and Major Munford, with others, were in the thickest of the fire.
When Col. Moore was wounded, the command devolved on Lieut. Col. Fry, who from sickness and fatiguing duties in the most exposed points, towards the close of the battle sank down and had to be carried from the field, and continued sick for several days.--The command then devolved on Major Skinner, who exhibited the greatest coolness and activity.
Adjutant Mitchell displayed in battle, as everywhere else, his usual activity and fitness for his post.
There were about 40 killed and wounded.--Most of the wounded have gone to Richmond, and whose conditions are better known to you than us. Capt. Lee, I have just learned, is much better, and happily gives indications of speedy improvement.
I cannot forbear a word respecting our fellow-soldier.
Milton Barnes, of your city, the only one killed in Co. "H." He fought bravely.
When the charge was made he succeeded in killing one of the enemy, took his gun and accoutrements, and fought till he fell.
He was very popular with his comrades, and his loss is deplored by all who know him.
Our camp is a delightful one; but we cannot tell how soon we shall move.
Prisoners are streaming in, and not a few deserters from our enemies.
Every prisoner conversed with — and we have seen many — complain of the deception by which they were brought to Virginia, and do not hesitate to expose the trickery, villainy and cowardice of their officers.
Every gun of the enemy was captured — about 70 in all, and of the most approved and efficient kind.
Quite an acquisition to our ordnance department. Via.
