Colonel Carroll, commanding the fourth brigade, consisting of the
eighty-fourth Pennsylvania, the eleventh Pennsylvania, the seventh
Indiana, and the first Virginia regiments, altogether about sixteen
hundred strong, reached Port Republic on Sunday, and reconnoitered
and found the enemy in the town. They had a skirmish, and concluded
to hold the bridge. They ordered it not to be burned, and put guns in
position commanding it.
At six o’clock on Monday this battery was opened upon by some twenty
heavy guns, which were placed in position during the night. Our forces
tried to reach the bridge repeatedly to destroy it, but were met by
storms of bullets, and had to retire. A large cavalry force crossed
and attacked our troops, while their infantry followed our men,
opposing them at every step, after driving them back with heavy loss;
but our numbers, after General Tyler’s third brigade arrived, were so
much inferior to the enemy—theirs being at least five to one—that our
position became so untenable, that it was impossible to hold it. We
were therefore compelled to fall back, our boys fighting every foot
of the way. After falling back some three or four miles, a body of
cavalry were sent to attack us, but were received in such a manner as
to compel them to retire, after which the engagement ended, having
lasted about five hours.
Our loss in killed and wounded is not known, but it is large, as is
also that of the enemy. We lost a large number of prisoners.
Colonel Carroll’s horse fell, injuring the Colonel badly, and Captain
Kelly, of General Shields’s staff, was also much injured in the head.
He received praise from all who witnessed his conduct in the action.
Colonel Buckley, of the 29th Ohio, was badly wounded. His men charged
three times to obtain possession of his body, but it was carried off
by the enemy.
General Ashby, of cavalry notoriety, was positively killed during the
fight at the bridge over Middle river. Captain Keogh charged with a
body of cavalry, and held the bridge some time during a terrible storm
of grape.
This was one of the most hotly contested engagements of the whole war,
as is indicated by the loss compared with the numbers engaged, who
fought like demons.
Two regiments from the first brigade arrived in time to assist in
covering the retreat. The pioneer corps also assisted. Colonel Buckley
has arrived here wounded.