The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-07-25
THE FIRST CHARGE OF THE REBELS.

w coouSt nSU tiio fcUeiB uISpOSeO OF the
! OH Michigan than they started Tor the camp
o; the Sd Minnesota. They rushed across
the crack ard into the camp, firing it in several
, places, and entirely destroying it. The camp
was in the woods, and the position of Col.
Lester hidden at the time from them. They
soon found bis position, however, and were
hastily formed and marched to the Nashville
! road, and thence down it. The line was
formed to the right of the road, end between
it and the creek. The Georgia 4th had the
! place OF honor, and came up to the attack
first. They emerged from the woods OF the
! right of the road, to find Col. Lester posted
as | have described. and themselves in
large open tract in his front, and completely
uncovered. They fell back for a moment to
| the cover OF the woods, until the lst Georgia
could come up and form on their right. The
Texans were marching down the turnpike
road, many OF them now being mounted
Thus being reinforced, the Georgians ad.
yanced at the command Of; Charge. j." and
started across the field 10 gallant style,
trampliDg the yellow wheat and rye beneath
their feet. The appearance of the force is
described as having been grand at this time
aud many of the Minnssotans yelled as
much in appreciation as ia hate and excite
mcnt. But Leavitt's smooth bores were
silent, ard Lester kept back the fire of his
men. On came the rebels, leapng the fences
! and the grain with equa! rapidity--on they
came until they were within forty yards--at
the very foot of the hill. when tie battery
opened with canister and grape. The mo.
ment OF painful suspense which always fol-
lows such discharge, passed slowly; the
smoke and fame cleared away from in front,
and the rebels were seen broken and shat
tered flying to the woods for shelter The
Minneso,ians broke into wild yell, which
was repeated as soon as the rebels disap>
peared in the woods.
THE SECOND CHARGE.
Tie rebels soon raj led. They lad az
incentive. Their past success bad inspired
them. Their last repulse had driven them
to desperation. They came forward mere
rapidly; they leaped fences with greater
agility. But the grape came, and they went
down by hundreds, aud then the Minneso.
tians fired on them as they retreated, aud
The second repuse was more terrible than
their first.
FLANK MOVEMENTS.
The rebel commandant had had enough
| OF it. Improvising white flag, he sent
messenger to Col. Lester. The colonel met
him beyond his own lines, and held parley
with him. The rebel heightened it out as
long as possible, but be could not shade his
purpose. The dsmoanted Texans and the
KentuckiaDs were dscernible making a
| flank movement to the left of the rebel line
and beyond the road Col. Lester dis.
missed the flag of truce, and returning to
his position on the hill, prepared his men
by skillful disposition to resist the coming
| attack from two quarters. The Texans
ard Kentuckians moved rapidly to their
position 10 the rear, unmOested, but they
did not find Col. Lester unprepared. That
officer formed his men into hollow square,
and the guns were divided, two now point.
ing 10 each direction, and the whole force
Was ready to receive the attack.
TIE THIRD CHARGE.
Captain Hewitt prepared for il. and was
ready to give them as warm reception as
before. The enthusiasm and desperation
had, however, been taken out of the rebels,
and they came up slowly and more cautious,
ly. Fences were taken advantage of, and
the forces protected by all available weap~
OBS. But when they appeared where Hew-
it want them he again opened upon them
from both batteries, aud the field was COW
cred win their wounded, and the air filed
with their yells. They were even worse
disorganized than before and fell back in
still more indecent haste to the cover of the
woods and beyond the creek. They left
their dead end wounded on the field, and
sought shelter in the town.
sHELLINd THE TOWN.
Bat Captain Hewitt did not intend to
give them any rest. Grape Was changed |
to she'll, and the pieces elevated. Shell fell
thick aod fast upon the little town, and it
Was soon rendered untenable. The rebel |
citizens had brought this judgment upon
themselves ard deserved that the town
should be destroyed, aad Of this there ap-
peared great probability The shells fred |
the houses 10 many places, and at one time |
the destruction OF the place was imminent. |
AS, of course, 10 other communication |
Than by those engaged escaping has been
had With them, it is impossible to tell what |
casualties may have resulted from this shell |
ling. But it is known that it prevented the |
reorganization of the three Georgia regi |
mentS for three or four hours, and that if /
we bad bad sufficient force to have author
lied Colonel Lester to leave bis posi- ion, the
rebels could have been routed and the Mich.
igan regiment recaptured. But Colonel
Lester did rot dare to leave his position, the
only deteDsb'e one in the vicinity.
THE REBELS RALLY AGAIN.
About one o'clock the fighting was re-
sumed by the Kentuckians and Texans 10
the rear. The Georgians afterwards form
ed in the woods ard brisk but not dams
gerous muskctry fight was kept up for two
hours. The MinHeso,iaps at the end of it |