Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-12-18


leit resting on the Rtppah,nock about diree
mile- below SxirmishiDr commenced lev
MINUTES after Daylight on the exTere left.
elel battery opened on our troop. and the hre
became 80 annoying that the 9Th Regiment Ne~
York State militia we're ordered 10 charge and
take the cannon At the point of the bayonet. The
srier vas obeyed with aiscrity. but after a fierce
struggle the charging party were compelled to
fall back
A. this critical moment Gen. Tyler, perceising
the disorder into which the Oh New York were
thrown. came 20 their aid with brigade The
9Th we're quickly rallied. and. assisted by Tyler's
brigade another attempt wss made to storm the
rebel batteries. but without success. The fight
now became general on the extreme LETT. and
another desperate effort made to capture tie
rebe. battery BY Gen. Tyler's brigade; but the
fire of rebels was 80 whitening in it, effect that
our brave fellows were unable to gain any advsn-
tage. Each charge thinned the ranks nj fear
ful rate. ard the chance of capturing that much
coveted battery appeared no better than At first.
Nv noon the whole OF Franklin's corps was en-.
gagged with the enemy. and desperate effott was
made to turn tho enemys position on the Massa-
p0nax, aud drive him beyond the creek. Gen.
Franklin commanded the movement in person.
AMI hapdsei hrs troops with srksbe jadg-
ment The rebels maintained possession " some
small hills with their usual stubbornness. but
gradual fell back the Uuion troops evinced a
determination to go forward. During the after
noon the rebels came To a stand, and for a time
assumed the offensive; but "a they advanced To
meet they we're brsvely metand repulsed with
heavy loss IL was nc this time that some three
hundred Of Hills command fell into our hands
and were conducted to the rear prisoners. Still
the enemy contested every foot OF the ground.
and il was only by dint of the hardest kind OF
fighting that he could be compelled to change his
pos ton.
IL was during the heat of this engagement that
the gallant Bavard was mortslly wounded. He
was conversng with Gen. Franklin. when can
non ball struck him in the hip and threw him
clean out OF the saddle. Poor Dayard. he never
dreamt Of danger in the thckest OF the battle,
and never lost his courage even when his leg
amputtted. The Surgeons say that he cannot
survive many days, and that the operation they
have performed can only proong his agony a
short while. But am depressing from main
facts
The obStnacy with which the rebels held DOS
session of their ground rendered Gen Franklin's
task very difficult one indeed. He had 20 cope
with Stonewall Jackson and the veterans of &c
dar Mountain, Bull Run and Antetam-troops
Who understood their business thoroughly, and
were not TO be scared by trifles. Hence the task
OF turning the rebels position on the Massaponax
was 10 ordinary one Still the Union commander
back several rods and was determined to drive
them further Old StOnewall had met his match
this time, aud notwithst ending his troops fought
with their usual bravery. they were gradually
pushed southwark. AT shutdown franklin hid
succeeded i'll driving the enemy nearly mile.
and his troops occupied the field during the re
mainder OF the night The movement on the
left was a complete success. although to morrow
is required for finishing up the iob The casual
hot, los
those who were wounded were Capt Hendrck son.
commanding the 9th New York State militia and
Capt Hart, Assistant Surgeon General To Gen
Tyler.
Reynolds corps advanced ere the dense fog
had lifted itself from the river banks, and about
. o'clock the enemy's infantry were engaged
The opposing column had fairly got to work when
the rebel artillery commenced playing upon us
through the fog. The shots were all aimed ut
random. however. and produced but little effect
Notwithstanding the view was so obscured, the
rebel artllerists kept up The cannOnading for sew
eral hours and as peal after PEI rang through the
air, the effect was terribly sublime The fire was
returned bv batteries in gallant style. and tor
hours nothing but the detttening roar of artillery
could he heard on all sides. Up to noon. Shen
the fog cleared off and the balloonists were EN-
abed TO get glance at the enemys works. the
fight WAS artillery one, and productive of no
very important results on either side. As soon
the sunshine showed itself, however, the in
fantry were brought into play and the work com
menced in real earnest Generals Mead and Glib
bon's divisions encountered the right of Gen.
era A. p Hills command and Longstreels vet
erans.
The fight rage1 furiously during the entire day,
and our troops suffered terribly from the enemy's
artillery The enemy were posted behind hills
in great strength, and at one time il seemed im
possible TO disodge them. About noon Gen
Gbbon was relieved by Gen. Doubledays com
mand. Gen. Neigs. who was fighting against
superior odds, was also reinforced by Gen Stone
mans command. which had the efiec, of checl,
ing the rebels and driving them back short dis
lance. Ii was in the midst of this struggle that
Gen Gibbon was wounded and partially iii abled
He kept the field. however. during the remainder
of the day. and won many laurels by hi- brilliant
condSct. Gen. McCleIlan's Endorsement of Glib
bons dash and ability has been fully borne out
by the result OF the DAYS fighting. During the
afternoon Gen NewtOn's division was moved up
to the left OF the center. when the firing. which
had ceased in that part of the field, broke out
again with redoubled fury. Our troops were here
exposed TO plunging fire from the enemy's ar
tiliery, which was posted on the neighbOring
hills. and Tor a short time the Union soldiers we're
exposed to destructive fire Our artillery re-
turned the fire with deadly effect and immortal
ize'i themselves by their accuracy OF aim and un-
wayerlng courage.
THE RIGHT
Consisting OF the Seventh and Ninth corps. under
Gen Sumner earned imperiShable honors and.
the list ut killed and wounded will testify the
laurels were won at a fearful cost The action
on the right commenced about 10 O'Clock and
ragged furIou-ly ali day long. The enemy occu
pied the woods and hills in the rear of the civ.
and in point OF advantage the odds decidedly
in their favor The courage of the Union troops
was unbounded. however. and every inch of the
ground WAS holly contested Ii soon became
evident that the first ridge of hills. on which the
enemy were posted behind earthworks could not
be carried except at the point OF the bayonet. and
accordingly Gen. Sumner ordered French's div-
Sion TO charge upon the batteries. Gen Towards
division acted n support. and the men sprang
forward 10 obey the order with much enthusiasm.
By this time the atmosphere was clear EXCEPT
from the smoke of the ARTILLERY and great view
could he had of the rebel position aud the coun
try adjoining IL was a great sight 10 see that
devoted column
Seeking the bubble reputation cen at the lannon's
mouth"
Steadily they marched across the plain. and
never faltered until they we're within a dozen
yards of the ridge. when suddenly they were mes
by CALLING fire from the iebel infantry. who
posted behind stone wall For a iew mo
ment- the head OF the column exhibited some