The New York Herald
May 14, 1862,
Our Army Correspondence.
WEST POINT, Va., May 8, 1862.
I have gathered the following details of a most desperate engagement at this point yesterday:-
After the landing of General Franklin’s division, which camped in a large field, surrounded on the south, west and north by a dense wood, and on the east by the York river, the Thirty-second New York, Colonel Matteson, of Newton’s brigade, was ordered to clear the wood of rebels, who had made their presence known to our pickets. The Sixteenth New York were ordered to the same work in other portions of the wood. The Thirty-second proceeded to execute their orders. Entering the wood they came upon a ravine, at the bottom of which they were fired upon by the rebel skirmishers. Up they charged, delivering a falling force upon the enemy’s position. The enemy retired, our troops following until a second ravine appeared in view. In attempting to cross this the rebels from the other side again poured a volley into them with considerable effect, which had not, however, the power to drive our men back, who gallantly pursued the rebels, delivering their fire upon them, or rather upon their position, for they kept themselves concealed by the woods. At a third and last ravine, the rebels had erected breastworks on the opposite side, from which they opened on our men with small arms and grape and canister from mountain howitzers. The Thirty-second charged gallantly up to within a few feet of the work, but were forced to retire on account of the superior force of the enemy. They retired in admirable order. There were only seven companies of the Thirty-second regiment engaged against Alabama, Texas, South Carolina and Tennessee troops. The celebrated Hampton Legion formed a portion of the rebel force.
At two o’clock P.M. our gunboats, three in number, opened fire upon the enemy from their larger guns, the shells taking, to all appearances, effect in the right quarter, for the enemy soon afterwards retired, their battery being silenced on the first shot from the boats. We could trace the enemy’s retreat by the line of smoke in their rear. They were seemingly destroying everything as they retreated. The Sixteenth and Thirty-first regiments New York Volunteers were also engaged in skirmishing with the enemy in the woods. The details of the part these regiments played in the skirmish has not reached me. I learn that the Thirty-second regiment New York Volunteer’s loss will be nearly 100 in killed and wounded. Three officers, – Captain Young, of Company D; Captain Brown, of Company C; and Lieutenant Wallace, of Company G – were killed, and Lieutenant Stone, of Company B, and Lieutenant Twaddle, of Company F, wounded severely. Thirteen privates killed. Lieutenant Wallace was wounded and afterwards bayoneted, and his pockets rifled by Texan soldiers. Our total loss in the different regiments of Newton’s brigade will reach 200 in killed, wounded and missing. The loss of the rebels is known to be heavy, as they were seen from our transport carrying their dead and wounded off in great numbers.
Captain Montgomery, of General Newton’s staff, and Captain Baker, United States dragoons, Franklin’s staff, made a most miraculous escape from the Hampton Legion, into whose picket lines they became entrapped. Captain Montgomery coolly inquired the name of the regiment. Receiving the answer, “The Hampton Legion,” he inquired for General Hampton, and was told that he was a short distance off. He and Captain Baker immediately put spurs to their horses. The rebel pickets fired a volley after them, seven balls entering the body of Captain M.’s horse, killing him instantly. He fell, bruising the rider’s limbs severely. The rebs immediately approached, and commenced rifling the captain’s valuables, he feigning death. The affair was so ludicrous that the captain laughed, which exposed his condition to the pickets. They had carried him some distance, when a battery of our guns opened on them. They immediately dropped their prisoner and ran for their own dear lives. Captain Montgomery arrived safely within our lines after this wonderful and romantic episode.
The conduct of the Texans in this engagement has been dastardly in the extreme. In some cases they took the water from our wounded soldiers’ canteens. The Alabama troops exhibited a feeling of humanity in striking contrast to this. They were seen supplying our wounded with their own canteens filled with water.
The Sixteenth New York, Thirty-first New York and Ninety-fifth Pennsylvania were briskly engaged with the enemy’s skirmishers during the day. Some of the companies of the Sixteenth were at times surrounded by the rebels, and actually had to force their way out. The Thirty-first were in the thickest part of the fray, and bore themselves gallantly. The Ninety-fifth Pennsylvania, Goslin Zouaves, at the first charge of the enemy appeared to recoil for an instant and looked ready to break. This was their first taste of war. But after the first shock they made a magnificent charge with closed lines, which soon put the rebels engaged against them to retreat. They claim that the rebels granted no quarter to our wounded. The Twenty-seventh and Eighteenth New York, though exposed at times to the fire of the rebels, escaped without loss. The New Jersey brigade have gone nearly four miles, but find no force of the rebels. They have picked up many stragglers from the enemy’s ranks. They represent the enemy as fleeing along both the James and York rivers, in two columns. The loss of the enemy in the skirmish is undoubtedly great, though they were in most cases concealed in thick undergrowth, which prevented their discovery by our men until in their presence. The well directed fire of our men, aided by the beautiful gunboat firing must have terribly decimated their numbers. An officer who rode the circuit of the scene of skirmishing yesterday, discovered abundant evidence of the enemy’s heavy loss. The rebels fought with a desperation and valor worthy of a better cause. Though in superior force to our own, they gave away at last before the superior discipline and courage of our troops. Our noble gunboats and their admirably drilled officers and men deserve much of their assistance in causing the rebels to make tracks. At the time the rebels attacked us our force here was quite small. Now we have force sufficient at this point to defend us against any force they can bring against us, which is being added to hourly.
We are waiting anxiously for news of McClellan’s appearance with a force on the James river side, as we hear that he is driving the rebels in that direction. Richmond will be ours before many days elapse. If the reports from Williamsburg which reach us are true, in gaining that and this position, our loss has been small compared with the results accomplished.