The late battles.
The following intelligence is the latest we have been able to see. The first letter is from General lee to President Davis:
Headq'rs Army Northwestern Virginia,
Chantilly, 3d September, 1862.
His Excellency, Jefferson Davis, President Confederate States of America: Mr. President:
My letter of the 30th ult. will have informed your Excellency of the progress of this army to that date.
General Longstreet's division, having arrived the day previous, was formed in order of battle on the right of General Jackson, who had been engaged with the enemy since morning.
resisting an attack commenced on the 28th.
The enemy, on the latter day was vigorously repulsed, leaving his numerous dead and wounded on the field.
His attack on the morning of the 29th was feeble, but became warmer in the afternoon, when he was again repulsed by both wings of the army.
His loss on this day, as stated in his published report, herewith enclosed, amounted to 8,000 in killed and wounded.
Chantilly, 3d September, 1862.
His Excellency, Jefferson Davis, President Confederate States of America: Mr. President:
The enemy being reinforced, renewed the attack on the afternoon of the 30th, when a general advance of both wings of the army was ordered, and after a fierce combat, which raged until after 9 o'clock, he was completely defeated and driven beyond Bull Run. The darkness of the night, his destruction of the Stone Bridge after crossing, and the uncertainty of the fords, stopped the pursuit.
The next morning the enemy was discovered in the strong position at Centreville, and the army was put in motion towards the Little River turnpike, to turn his right. Upon reaching Ox Hill on the 1st of September, he was again discovered in our front on the heights of Germantown, and about 5 P. M. made a spirited attack upon the front and right of our columns, with a view of apparently covering the withdrawal of his trains on the Centreville road, and masking his retreat. Our position was maintained with but slight loss on both sides. Major General Kearney was left by the enemy dead on the field. During the night the enemy fell back to Fairfax C. H., and abandoned his position at Centreville. Yesterday about noon he evacuated Fairfax C. H.; taking the roads as reported to me to Alexandria and Washington.
I have, as yet, been unable to get official reports of our loss or captures in these various engagements. Many gallant officers have been killed or wounded. Of the General officers, Ewell, Trimble, Taliaferro, Fields, Jenkins, and Mahone, have been reported wounded. Cols. Means, Marshall, Baylor, Neff, and Gadberry, killed. About 7,000 prisoners have already been paroled, about the same number of small arms collected from the field, and thirty pieces of cannon captured, besides a number of wagons, ambulances, &c. A large number of arms still remain on the ground. For want of transportation valuable stores had to be destroyed as captured, while the enemy, at their various depots, are reported to have burned many millions of property in their reatreat.
* * * * *
Nothing could surpass the gallantry and endurance of the troops, who have cheerfully borne every danger and hardship, both on the battle-field and march.
I have the honor to be,
R. E. Lee, Gen'l.
[Chantilly is north of Centreville and northwest of Fairfax Court House, about six or eight miles from each. The ‘"letter of the 30th,"’ referred to in the above, was not received. The Little River turnpike leads from Middleburg to Alexandria, and intersects the Centreville turnpike about a mile this side of Fairfax Court-House. Germantown is on the Little River turnpike, about half a mile west of its intersection with the Centreville turnpike.]
The following is the ‘"published report"’ of the enemy, referred to in Gen. Lee's letter:
Headq'rs Field of Battle,
Groveton, near Gainesville, Aug. 30, 5 A. M.
Major-Gen. Halleck, General-in-Chief:
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 yet to push matters, but I shall do so in the course of the morning, as soon as Fitz John Porter's corps comes up from Manassas.
Groveton, near Gainesville, Aug. 30, 5 A. M.
Major-Gen. Halleck, General-in-Chief:
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 lost at least two to one. He stood strictly on the defensive, and every assault was made by ourselves.
Our troops 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 reaches me from the front that the enemy is retreating towards the mountain. 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. * *
The following correspondence will illustrate the thoroughness of the enemy's defeat in the battle of the 30th. It bears date, as will be seen, of the next day:
Centreville, Aug. 31, 1862.
Sir:
Many of the wounded of this army have been left on the field, for whom I desire to send ambulances.
Will you please inform me whether you consent to a truce until they are eared for?
I am, sir, your obedient servant.
Sir:
Sir: Consideration for your wounded induces me to consent to your sending ambulances to convey them within your lines. I cannot consent to a truce nor a suspension of military operations of this army. If you desire to send for your wounded, should your ambulances report to Dr. Guilet, Medical Director of this army, he will give directions for their transportation.
The wounded will be paroled, and it is understood that no delay will take place in their removal.
(Signed) R. E. Lee, General.
The following letter, received at a still later date, shows what a vast number of the enemy's wounded still lay upon the field of battle--four days after the engagements — notwithstanding the efforts made by Pope's officers to remove them under the permission granted by Gen. Lee. The answer of Gen. Lee to this application of Dr. Coolidge has not been communicated:
General: Medical Director Guilet, of the Confederate Army, and Medical Director McFarlin, of the U. S. Army, have just arrived here from the battle field, near Manassas. The accounts they give are far more serious than my previous information had led me to believe. Our wounded soldiers, to the number of near three thousand, many still lying on the field, are suffering for food. I have no commissary stores, and my supplies of medical comforts are wholly inadequate, With every kindly intention and effort on the part of
those under your command, the loss of life must be very great, unless food and means of transporting the wounded within our own lines are promptly supplied.
I know of no source of adequate supply nearer than Washington.
If, General, you can, consistently with duty, permit supplies of food and transport wagons for wounded to pass through your lines to and return from the battle-field, you will save very many lives and much suffering. If you cannot do this, I beg that you will, for humanity sake, point out some other way in which the needful relief may be obtained.
I am within your lines, and, of course, cannot provide the necessary relief without your permission. I have the honor to be,
The following from the Washington Star, printed under surveillance and direction of the Lincoln authorities, is published for its absurdity and mendacity. It is from the Star of the 30th, and appears as a note to Pope's report of the 29th:
We have positive information that Pope came up with and attacked the enemy again a few minutes past 9 this morning. Fitz John Porter by that time had probably arrived on the field, from Manassas, seven miles off only.
Our impression that the heaviest of the fighting of yesterday was by McDowell and Sigel, in the vicinity of Thoroughfare Gap, was, perhaps, erroneous, judging from the above dispatch from General Pope.
The only possible line of even temporary retreat for Jackson, that we can perceive, is over the Warrenton turnpike towards the Rappahannock; as McDowell and Sigel are probably between him and Thoroughfare Gap, through which he would be compelled to go if seeking to proceed east. Fitz John Porter's command, which embraces some of those recently with Burnside, is very strong, we take it.
By to-morrow morning, as slowly as he may be moving, Franklin ought to be within supporting distance of Pope with a large force — sufficient with Fitz John Porter's, to make mince meat of any possible reinforcement the enemy may get.
On the whole, as we stated a day or two since, the prospect now is rendered doubly sure that there will soon be few rebels in arms in Virginia.
P. S.--At 12,30 p. m., the firing stopped, we learn from parties just down from Fairfax county. We trust the fact means a surrender of the rebels, and do not see how it can mean aught else.
The railroad was regularly run this forenoon from the town of Warrenton to Bristow. So it is already clear that the only damage remaining to be repaird (to the railroad) is to rebuild the Bull Run and Rappahannock bridges. The former should be completed to- night — the latter may be in four or five days.
Interesting account of the battle.
[correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.]
Hearing that a fight would probably come off yesterday, Col. S. D. Lee, of S. C., who commands the battalion, pushed on from Salem on Friday last till 2 A. M. Saturday, when we found ourselves upon the battle-field of the day before. At daybreak I was aroused by pretty brisk picket firing on our right and left, and, to my surprise, found we had advanced right in among the pickets, indeed not more than 500 yards from the enemy. About 6 we were ordered to fall back and take position on the left of the turnpike, about a half mile from the road, upon a commanding position. Here we had a grand view of the plains of Manassas, reaching as far as Centreville.
To the front the land breaks beautifully into hill and dale, forming a sort of amphitheater. About a mile immediately in front were a few houses called Groveton, I believe; and this point the Yankees occupied with a strong battery — indeed, two of them. On their right and rear long lines of infantry were seen in line of battle, and far in the distance immense clouds of dust filled the heavens. From early morn a brisk little picket firing was kept up on our right, our boys occupying a barn and an orchard. An attempt was made by a few companies (advancing through a corn-field) to drive out this troublesome picket. In our own battalion there are 16 guns; and four others, two from Norfolk and two from Lynchburg. I believe, making 20, occupied the crest of the hill before mentioned. The rifle guns were ordered to ‘"fire at the men in the corn-field."’ A few shots stopped their advance, and caused the men to scatter and lie down. Then commenced a cannonading between our batteries and two of the enemy's, which was kept up, with intermissions of 15 or 30 minutes, till the great fight took place. About 1 A. M. a regiment advanced rapidly on the enemy's left, determined this time to drive out our pickets. This effort succeeded, and our brave sharpshooters retired through the orchard in good order. So soon as they got well out of the way we opened upon the enemy, and in 10 minutes they skedaddled in fine style, sheltering themselves in the ravines and behind the barn. At 2 o'clock the forces that had been moving almost the whole day towards our left, began to move in the opposite direction, and we concluded that they were retiring towards Manassas, two or three miles distant. Several attempts were now made to advance upon our left like those to drive in our pickets on our right, but a few shells served to scatter the skirmishers and drive them into the woods that skirted this beautiful valley on either hand. When almost every officer was satisfied that the enemy, foiled in his attempt to make us bring on the fight by these little advances on our right and left, was about to retire, and merely kept up the cannonading in order to conceal his retreat, suddenly at 4 P. M., regiment after regiment of infantry were thrown out of the woods upon our left and advanced in very good order for the purpose of driving out our pickets and take our batteries on the left flank. In an instant, Col. Lee, always cool. and self-possessed, ordered every howitzer to the left, and then such a blaze of artillery as I never heard. The guns, from the nature of the ground, were very close together, and it was almost impossible to distinguish the discharge of the guns, in your own from those in other batteries. It was clear that the next thirty minutes would determine the fate of all our batteries. At the same time the enemy made his infantry advance, he commenced a most furious cannonading. No sound was heard for two hours from this time but the roar of cannon and the bursting of shells. The enemy had a 36-pounder which was used some time during the earlier part of the day, but fortunately he did not get our range. So soon as the dark columns got near enough to our infantry, two small regiments, which had been placed upon our left to support us, poured a deadening fire into them.
For some time four or five regiments had gotten out of our sight, having advanced under cover of the hill, and I expected to see the men driven out of the woods and see the enemy mount the hill; but still the battle raged. The shells burst above, around, and beneath us. Every man is at his post; no talking — no ducking of heads now. All intense, silent earnestness. It was an hour big with every man's history. It was a struggle for life. The face of every man was flushed, his eye full, and his arm stronger than was wont. It seemed that the very heavens were in a blaze, or, like two angry clouds surcharged with electricity and wafted by opposing winds, had met terrific in battle. Presently the Yankee columns begin to break and men to fall out to the rear. The retreating numbers gradually increase, and presently the great mass, without line or form, now move back like a great multitude without guide or leader. From a slow, steady walk, the great mass, or many parts of it, move at a run, and our eyes tell us the victory is won. Then did many a man say deep down in his heart, with flushed face and filling eyes, ‘"Thank God"’ One youth ran to me and said. ‘" I thought God would give us the victory."’ Who knows but God honored that child's faith! He hearth the young ravens when they cry. Now the scene changes. Our infantry pour down from left and right, and our guns cease lest we should kill our own men. The guns of the enemy, however, blaze the faster, as it in a fit of desperation. On our right Longstreet, whose name is a terror to the enemy, closes upon them, and the hills on the right roar with musketry. The battle gradually recedes — slowly, but steadily, like a great storm of a summer's day. Our ammunition was exhausted and we could not follow. Until nightfall the battle raged, especially on the right, and it is said that our loss in that quarter was heavy — that nothing withstood the onset of our men. But I must close, as the courier is about to leave. Major Kemper, of our battalion, was severely wounded in the arm, but not dangerously. He is a brave, unassuming officer. It was not his first fight, as the country knows.
Of the 300 men in our battalion, not more than six were wounded, and none fatally--two in Capt. Rhett's, one in Capt. Grimes's, two in Capt. Parker's, (Sergt. James Jones in the arm and hip slightly, and private David Richardson slightly in the leg.) and one other that I do not know personally.
Col. Lee's position was well chosen, and the battle was brought on in the enemy's attempt to capture his batteries. Our men behaved remarkably well, It is impossible to state our loss. It is, however, much less than that of the enemy. This is certainly true in that part of the field where our battalion operated. I know this from personal inspection. This morning we moved up and occupied the enemy's ground, and we are permitted to rest and to see if something may not be had to cat, as our men have been fasting for over twenty-four hours. But for green apples they would have suffered greatly.
In conclusion, permit me to say that, as a nation we have often bowed the knee to beg God's favor in our trials. Should we not, as a nation, raise our hands and our hearts in thanksgiving for his goodness! It is not always noble to beg, but 'tis always magnanimous to be grateful.
P. S.--11 A. M.--Cannonading has been heard for an hour on our right, I suppose eight or ten
miles off. It is said the enemy has fallen back beyond Manassas, on our front.
Important from the Potomac line — a battle on Monday at Germantown.--the enemy completely routed.--Jackson and Longstreet across the Potomac.
Another severe battle occurred between the Confederates under Gen. A. P. Hill and a large body of the enemy, on Monday last, at German town, a small village in Fairfax county, near the main road leading from Centreville to Fairfax Court House, and about two miles this side of the latter place. The enemy, it appears, succeeded in rallying a sufficient number of their routed troops at the point named, to make another show of opposition to the advance of the victorious Confederates on their Capital. On Sunday, the pursuit of Pope's army was commenced and pressed with vigor on the Fairfax Court-House road, and on Monday morning at daylight the enemy were discovered drawn up in line of battle across the road, their right extending to the village of Germantown, General Hill immediately ordered the attack, and after a brief but hotly contested fight, the enemy were broken and fled in utter rout towards Alexandria. They were pursued for several miles, and many prisoners captured. All their artillery was abandoned and fell into our hands.We have no particulars of the casualties on either side, but it is stated that the Yankee dead covered the field of battle, and numbers of the frightened wretches slaughtered in their flight. Among their killed were Gens. Stearns and Kearney. We had no officer of note killed or wounded.
This column of our army continued to advance, and on Tuesday evening occupied Munson's, Mason's, and the adjoining hills, within full view of the Yankee capital, and only about five miles from Alexandria.
We also have information that on Thursday morning two divisions of our army, one under Jackson and the other under Longstreet, left Drainsville at 8 o'clock, and took up the line of march for the Potomac, one crossing the river at Edwards's Ferry to Poolesville, in Maryland, and the other at White's Ferry, a short distance lower down. Nothing had been heard since this important movement had been made, though our informant (an officer of the army directly from Manassas) says the general opinion is, that the Yankee capital is ere this completely invested from the Maryland side, its railroad communication cut off, and but one mode of escape opened to the beseiged, and that down the Potomac.
