Capt. JOHN WITHERSPOON, of Col. MEANS’ regiment, received a severe wound in the thigh, breaking it. He is at Warrenton.
Mr. RUDOLPH SEIGLING, of the German Artillery (Charleston), was killed.
THE BATTLE OF GROVETON (FORBES). LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.
Lieut. P.A. AVEILHE, of Capt. MURDEN’S company, 23d S.C.V., and private L. SIDNEY AVEILHE, of the W. L. I. Volunteers, were slightly wounded. Also, private THADDEUS L. CAT, of the W. L. I. Volunteers.
A private letter from the Quartermaster Sergeant of the 17th S. C. V., dated Rappahannock river, August 25, contains the following in regard to the battle of the 23d ult.: ‘Our regiment lost one man killed, and three wounded. The Holcombe Legion lost sixteen wounded and their color bearer killed. He fell just as they were mounting a Yankee redoubt, with the colors (Mrs. PICKENS’ gift) in his hand. He was brought in and buried close to our camp. I saw our friend Lieut. MUNRO brought in badly wounded.’
Lieut. WM. ALLEN, of the Chicora Rifles, was killed. The Columbia Guardian of yesterday publishes the following private despatches:
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA., September 5. – The following is a list of the casualties in the Johnston Riflemen, Company K, Captain Meetz, 13th Regiment S.C.V.: Killed – J.F.M. Lucas, James W. Esenger, J.B. Clamp. Wounded – severely – Sergeant W.H. Counts, J.F. Harman, Colorbearer J.C. Drafts, Calvin Pearce, J.E. Rowe, J.J. Hooper, J.J. Lawn, J.R. Miller, Wilson Taylor, William Holman; slightly, J.P. LaPorte, H.N. Gorley, J.P. Hornell, H.J. Boatwright, Capt. Meetz, hurt by a fall after the battle.
The Charleston Mercury
September 13, 1862
The South Carolina Zouaves at Manassas
We have been favored with the following extract from a private letter of a member of the South Carolina Zouaves, dated Manassas Plains, August 30:
Thank God! my life is spared after a terrific engagement. On the 29th July our company joined the Legion, near Richmond, where we remained one week. We have since marched two hundred miles, and, on the 29th of August, one month after our arrival, we were marched through the woods on to a hill, perfectly clear of timber, where we formed in line and prepared for a charge. All were cool and self-possessed. In our front was a regiment, which all thought friends (it being after 7, p.m., we could not distinguish), when they fired on us. Three men, Lockwood, Hutto and Felder, dropped wounded, each in the leg; nothing serious though. Being still under the impression that the men in front were the 18th Georgia Regiment, we held back our fire and advanced. On arriving at the foot of the hill we asked who was there, and the scoundrels answered ‘Friends, and 5th Texas!’ Just then a United States flag was observed, and then they said: ‘New York and 76th Pennsylvania!’ In a flash we opened and charged, completely routing the regiment. We followed, and fired again; but our main chance was lost. We killed about twenty and wounded a great many. We occupied the field. Volunteers being called for to go in advance and see if the enemy were near, Gelling and I jumped out. We discovered several wounded and took some prisoners, and captured their flag. During the night we retired to our former position in the woods. But that was childplay. All the following day we remained in concealment till about 5 p.m., yesterday, when we were marched out again. Crossing a piece of woods, a tremendous volley was poured into us. I had not fired, but felt sharp pain in my left ankle, and knew I was shot. Deliberately raising my rifle, I fired into a clump of bushes, where some of the foe were concealed, with what success I could not learn. My wound prevented my going on, so I turned to help some worse hurt than myself. Our fellows routed them and they retired. Soon after commenced an awful shelling; bullets fell thick and fast, but steadily forward moved our men. Back they drove the foe! Such volleys, such firing, I never heard; it was frightful. But I cannot go on, not having time. In the fight the Captain was wounded in the head, ankle and thigh; Lieut. Palmer in the left breast, and Clarke in the thigh; Oliver Gregory was hurt in four places – only one painful wound in the leg – nothing serious; George Gelling, by a spent ball, in the thigh; Cook, Brown and Dewane, killed; and, all told, 13 wounded that we know of. My ankle feels stiff, but I can easily walk. Geo. Gelling is with us, and Oliver Gregory in the hospital. I think 20 will cover our whole loss.
I have seen a battle field, and never desire to see another. Lieut. Allen is killed; I saw him this morning. We now occupy the battle field of Manassas Plains.
The Charleston Mercury
September 16, 1862
A Cavalry Charge
During the last battle of Manassas, about four o, p.m., as the columns of the enemy began to give way, Gen. Beverly Robinson was ordered by Gen. Longstreet to charge the flying masses with his brigade of cavalry. The brigade, numbering a thousand men, composed of Munford, Myer, Harman and Flournoyregiments, was immediately put in motion, but before reaching the infantry General Robinson discovered a brigade of the enemy fifteen hundred strong drawn up on the crest of a hill directly in his front. Leaving one of his companies in reserve, he charged with the other three full at the enemyranks. As our men drew near, the whole of the Yankee line fired at them a volley from their carbines, most of the bullets, however, whistling harmlessly over their heads. In another instant the enemy received the terrific shock of our squadrons. There was a pause, a hand-to-hand fight for a moment, and the enemy broke and fled in total rout. All organization was destroyed, and every man trusted for his safety only in the heels of his horses. Our cavalry followed them close, cutting them down and taking prisoners at every step. Before reaching Centreville we had slain at least three hundred, and captured five hundred prisoners. The rest made good their escape by flight. It is said they did not draw a rein nor slacken their pace until they reached Alexandria. Two of their captains and several other commissioned officers were left dead on the field. The Yankee papers report the death of their commander, Gen. Buford, but if killed his body was carried off by his men.
We have received this account from a participant in the engagement. Our informant, from his position as a cavalry officer, had fine opportunities of judging of the condition of the Yankee troops during the retreat. He describes them as utterly demoralized and disorganized. They hurried along in great droves like frightened cattle, officers and men being mingled indiscriminately and inextricably. Our men followed them up and slaughtered them at leisure. Had the rout taken place two hours earlier, the entire army would have been destroyed or taken prisoners. Richmond Examiner.
From The New York Times
Defeat of the Rebels on the Old Bull Run Battle-Ground. DISPATCH FROM GEN. POPE. A Terrific Battle on Friday, Lasting All Day. The Combined Forces of the Enemy Engaged. The Rebels Driven from the Field. Our Losses Not Less than Eight Thousand Killed and Wounded. The Rebel Losses Probably Double. Important Capture Made by our Forces. Retreat of the Rebels Toward the Mountains on Friday Morning. PROMPT PURSUIT BY GEN. POPE. ANOTHER GREAT BATTLE YESTERDAY. OFFICIAL DISPATCH FROM GEN. POPE.
HEADQUARTERS FIELD OF BATTLE. GROVETON NEAR GAINESVILLE, AUG. 30, 1862.
To Major-Gen. Halleck, General-in-Chief, Washington, D. C: We fought a terrific battle here yesterday, with the combined forces of the enemy, which lasted with continuous fury from daylight until after dark, by which time the enemy was driven from the field, which we now occupy.
Our troops are too much exhausted to push matters, but I shall do so in the course of the morning, as soon as FITZJOHN PORTER’S corps come up from Manassas. The enemy is still in our front, but badly used up.
We have lost not less than eight thousand men killed and wounded, and from the appearance of the field, the enemy have lost at least two to our one. He stood strictly on the defensive, and every assault was made by ourselves.
Our troops have behaved splendidly.
The Battle was fought on the identical battle-field of Bull Run which greatly increased the enthusiasm of our men.
The news just reached me from the front that the enemy is retreating toward the mountains. I go forward at once to see.
We have made
great captures, but I am not able yet to form an idea of their extent.
JOHN POPE, MAJOR-GENERAL COMMANDING
The Second Bull Run Battle
Washington, Saturday, Aug. 30
To-day’s Evening Star, speaking of the battle of yesterday says:
“The battle was continued by the army corps of Generals HEINTZELMAN, MCDOWELL and SIGEL against a [rebel force] believed to number near fifty to sixty thousand strong that is against the army corps of JAMES LONGSTREET. We defeated a portion of the rest of LEE’S army that has succeeded in making its way down from White Plains through Thorough-fare Gap.
The location of the battle of the day was in the vicinity of Haymarket, and from Haymarket off in the direction of Sudley Church, or, in other words but a few miles northwest of the scene of the never-to-be-forgotten battle of Bull Run.
HEINTZELMAN’S Corps, if we are correctly informed, came up with the enemy’s rear about 10 A.M., seven miles from Centreville, which point he left at daybreak. He found STONEWALL JACKSON fighting with MCDOWELL or SIGEL, or both, on the right, in the direction of Haymarket, the position they took by going north from Gainsville, to command the entrance to and exit from Thorough-fare Gap.
Our own informant, who left Centreville at 4 o’clock in the afternoon, a cool and clear-headed man, says that up to that hour, the impression prevailed there that nothing had definitely resulted from the day’s fighting, which, though continuous, had not been a very bloody battle.
Persons subsequently arriving, who were on the field of action themselves until 4 P.M., however, represent that the tide of success was decidedly with the Union army, which pushed the rebels successfully on both sides.
OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS ON THE BATTLEFIELD OF SECOND BULL RUN, RECOGNIZING THE REMAINS OF THEIR COMRADES (EDWIN FORBES). LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.
An impression prevails that the reserve of LEE’S army, supposed to be from twenty to forty thousand strong, might suddenly appear near the field, and we know that the heavy corps under FITZ-JOHN PORTER was so posted that it could instantly move upon LEE with equal ease, whether attacking McDOWELL, SIGEL or HEINTZELMAN.
The railroad, we are happy to say, has already been repaired quite up to Bull Run, and supplies, etc., are now being transported over it to that point.
By midnight we have every reason to believe that the Bull Run bridge will again be passable, when the trains can run again to Manassas.
Ere evacuating Manassas, the rebels paroled the 700 Union prisoners they had taken since the commencement of the movement for which they are paying so dearly.
The rebels realized that prisoners in their present strait were an elephant in their hands, and wisely thus got rid of them.
These 700 prisoners covered all the stragglers they had taken, as well as the 500 of TAYLOR’S Brigade.
Washington, Saturday, Aug. 30
The following is gathered from private sources:
On Wednesday morning, or rather on Tuesday night, a report reached Warrenton Junction that JACKSON was again in our rear, and that, instead of making an attack and retiring, as his cavalry did on Friday night last, at Catlett’s Station, he had taken up a position on the railroad near Bristor, four miles south of Manassas; had burned two railroad trains, torn up the railroad tracks, cut the telegraph, and took prisoners all the guards along the road.
These reports prove to have been true, and the events of Wednesday showed his determination not to be easily driven from the neighborhood.
It seems from what can be learned from the rebel wounded in our hands, that JACKSON and EWELL started from the vicinity of Warrenton Springs on Sunday, with three divisions, crossed the Rappahancock some six miles south of Blue Ridge, and proceeded by way of Orleans and Salem to Bristor, making the distance in about two and a half days.
On reaching this point their first object of attack was the house of MR. LIPSCOMBE, where ten officers were stopping, and who were on the back porch at the time, smoking. The house was attacked both front and rear, and the bullet holes in the wood and plaster, with the fact that none of the party were wounded, showed what poor marksmen these rebel cavalry were. The entire party, however, with the exception of Capt. 0. A. TILDENMORE, were taken prisoners.
The next attack of the rebels was upon a company of the One Hundred and Fifth Pennsylvania Infantry and some dozen of Pennsylvania Cavalry, left to guard the road, two or three of whom were killed, and the remainder are supposed to be captured.
A train of empty cars then came along from Warrenton, and was fired into by a regiment of infantry and one of cavalry, but escaped without serious injury.
Orders were then issued by JACKSON to tear up the railroad tracks, which was done, and a second train coming along, ran off the track, and was fired into.
A third train following ran into the second and was also fired into, and some persons on board were taken prisoners.
A fourth train made its appearance, but the Engineer suspected something wrong, stopped at a distance and blew a whistle, and being answered by one of the others, backed and returned toward Warrenton.
Two trains were then fired, under the direction of JACKSON, and entirely consumed, excepting the iron-work.
The rebels then proceeded a mile down the tracks, burned the bridge of Cattle Run, tore up some thirty feet of the track, and cut the telegraph.
They also burned the bridge across Broad Run, at Bristor.
On Wednesday morning, EWELL’s Rebel Division were placed in position on each side of the railroad, having three batteries, one on the right, one on the left, and the other near the railroad, with infantry and cavalry between, the entire force being concealed behind bush-woods and the artillery with an open field in front.
The result of this action was that the enemy was beaten and driven from the field, sustaining a loss about equal to our own.
Our loss was about fifty killed and over two hundred wounded, a complete list of which was collected, but stolen.
The Second New-York regiment lost about ten officers and some ninety or one hundred killed and wounded.
The Excelsior Brigade suffered severely.
The physicians on the ground (Dr. MORROW of the Second New Hampshire being the only named I can now recollect) exerted themselves to relieve the wounded; and although the accommodations to operate were very poor, they succeeded during the afternoon and night in attending to all.
Gen. POPE arrived on the ground in the evening and proceeded towards the scene of action, but the fighting was then over and the enemy in full retreat.
JACKSON had left for Manassas during the day with his division, where he pillaged the place, capturing a large number of prisoners, and burning every building, except the telegraph building and a few shanties, after taking off their own old rags, and putting on our good clothing, and helping themselves to food of all kinds, arms, equipments, and whatever else they could carry away out of the cars, about a hundred of which were at that place, for the greater part loaded with supplies for our army.
The rebels then set fire to all the cars, and they now present a mass of bleached ruins.
On their arrival, they found a portion of two New-Jersey Regiments of Infantry, which had arrived there during the forenoon. They immediately attacked them, our troops defending themselves for some time, but finding the number of the enemy so great, and that they were being flanked, they retreated towards Centreville, and got away with the loss of some forty wounded and about twelve killed. The rebels captured six hundred and twenty-five of them, but they were paroled yesterday morning just before the battle commenced.
The pursuit was continued towards Centreville on Thursday afternoon, and a squadron of the Second Pennsylvania Cavalry, with Gen. BIRNEY, was in the advance, and stopped at Centreville to inquire the route taken by the enemy. While there a woman waved a flag from the back window, at which signal a force of rebel cavalry, about 2,000 strong, under Gen. LEE, emerged from the woods. Our men had scarcely time to mount their horses and escape, com
ing down the road at full speed, the enemy in swift pursuit. They were followed until they came to where our infantry were drawn in line of battle on each side of the road, at which point, the rebels received a volley which caused them to retreat at more than a double-quick.
Our troops took up the line of march, and followed the rebels during the night on the Gainesville or Warrenton road, and soon came in sight of the old Bull Run battleground in strong position.
The action commenced about 9 o’clock, our batteries having been placed in position, and MILROY’S Brigade having the advance, was ordered to charge the rebels through the woods, and to cross toward the railroad switch, when the enemy poured into our troops a perfect storm of grape and canister.
This caused them to fall back, but they soon rallied, and paid the enemy with interest.
The rebels here rose en masse behind the railroad track, and again caused our men to fall back, which they did behind HAMPTON’S Pittsburgh Battery, which opened upon the rebels terrifically. The enemy were at the time only about thirty yards distant, and the effect of the fire destroyed at least 600 of them. In this action, however, HAMPTON lost one of his guns. He had to change his position to the left, as he was unable to maintain himself under the fire which the rebels poured into him.
The battle in other quarters raged furiously, the general result of which has already been stated from other sources.
The position of the forces on Thursday night remained about the same as it was at the commencement of the action.
The loss on both sides is heavy.
Gen. DURYEE, when engaged in making a reconnaissance to-day, was wounded in the hand.
The fighting up to 12 o’clock to-day was of a desultory character.
We occupy the ground where the rebels had buried their dead.
Fighting Stopped at Noon Yesterday
Philadelphia, Saturday, Aug. 30
The Washington Star says:
“At 121/2 o’clock this afternoon, the fighting that has been heard all day stopped, as we learn from parties just down from Fairfax County. We trust this fact means the surrender of the rebels, and we don’t see how it can mean aught else.“
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