The Sun.
London, England, 1863-05-23 00:00:00

a most extraordinary sandwiching of opposing
forces together.
" Skirmishing occurred alon,g;the whole line until
half-past 5 o'clock in the evening, when the rebels
attacked us from two ways. The Union forces
were at the time arrayed in an arc, both wings rest-
ing on the river, the right at Banks's Ford.
" We were arranged in two lines of battle, the
enemy attacking, the second division of the second
and Howe's at first approaching them diagonally
from Fredericksburg and the country directly be-
yond. General Mills's brigade, consisting of the
33d New York, 77th New York, 20th New York,
49th New York, together with the Vermont brigade
and the 7th Maine, bore the brunt of the charge,
repulsing the enemy handsomely. The Vermont
brigade were on the left of General Mills. General
Mills's and other troops made a counter charge,
but reinforcements coming up to the enemy we were
not able to drive them. The 77th acted nobly, but
the 20th New York behaved very disgracefully, as
it did at White Oak Swamp, and falling back,
brought a cross fire on the 33J. Their colonel, how-
ever, behaved himself most bravely. The other lines
of battle were now attacked by overwhelming num-
bers and obliged to fall back to the river. While
the battle was raging terribly our siege guns on this
side of the river opened a fire on the enemy from
behind, but they advanced so far in driving our
forces, that the shell, after a short time, failed to
reach them. Our forces were pursued back steadily,
musketry and artillery fire continuing all night.
Our guns made terrible havoc among the enemy,
as they charged repeatedly on them in solid column.
The artillery reserved their fire until the charging
parties came within a few rods, and then poured
the shot and canister into them at a
fearful rate. Having broken the column
they would fall back to a new position, and
prepare to receive another column. General
Hayes, of Louisiana ; Gen. Berry, of Early's divi-
sion, and Col. INl.Dowell, of the 34th North Carolina,
were killed, among many other rebels.
" Gen. Brooks, on our side, was wounded. Gen.
Mills is killed or wounded, and Col. Taylor has com-
mand of the brigade. Lieut.-Col. Corning ---,
33d New York, wounded. Lieut.-Col. Martindale,
26th New Jersey, killed, and many other valuable
officers killed and wounded. The Vermont Brigade
suffered very severely, as well as many other com-
mands.

Major Platner had both of his horses shot, Captains
Cole and Root and Lieut. Porter, of the same regi-
ment, were wounded. Sanday morning it num-
bered 500 men. It is estimated that not than 200
are left. Too much praise cannot be awarded to
this regiment, the 31st, Col. Jones, and other two
years' regiments, whose time is up within two
weeks, for the gallant manner in which they have
conducted themselves in the various fights. The
brave boys were beginning to count the days which
intervened between the period of their departure
for home.

" Yesterday considerable picket-firing took place
above Falmouth, and heavy fighting on the extreme

right,

" About noon our heavy siege guns commenced
shelling the Height above the city, and kept it up
at intervals during the afternoon. A fearful rain-
storm set in about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, which
must have caused the river to rise rapidly. A little
stream which I stepped over easily at 3 o'clock I
was compelled to wade three hours later on return-
ing, doffing my wearing apparel and carrying it in
my hand. The storm continued all night, and the
weather is very cold and chilly this morning, occa-
sioning some discomfort to the wounded. Very
heavy artillery firing has been going on at the right
for the last hour, and if there is a corresponding
amount of musketry another fierce battle is
going on."

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, MAY 23, 1863.