The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-12-25

gallant action was most heartily cheer
ed by our troops.
On the left, Gen. Sturces' division
went into action at o'clock, fought
until their ammunition was exhausted.
and then held their line, without wa.
verIng and without cartridges, until
nearly P. NJ, when they were relieved
by the regulars under Gen. Sykes. If
ever division deserved praise for
good behavior, it is Sturges' division.
They never faltered one single instant.
and new troops We'd with old in stand
ing mp to their work. Col. Harriman's
llth New Hampshire, this their first
fight, behaved with the coolness of vet
Grams.
Griffin's division, of Bntterfeld's
corps, have again attested their deyo-
ton to their country. They were
thrown into the front Of the fight al 81
O'Clock. These three brigades of dis.
cIplined veterans have fought their
seventh battle, and though greatly re.
duced in numbers, still live to fight
again. The loss is probably 1000 in
the division:
Your correspondent was an eye-wit-
ness TO the mortal wounding of Gen.
Bayard. 1t occurred about p. NJ. at
Gen. Franklin's headquarters, in tho
rear of the line of battle of Gen.
Smiths corps, and within a few feet
stood both Gen. Franklin and Gen.
Smith, and a dozen other officers.
Gen. Bayard was sitting at the foot of
a large tree, when the enemy suddenly
opened brisk artillery fire upon ono
of our batteries, aud their shells fell in
that vicinity very RAPIDLY, tearing up
the ground, cutting the trees, and kill
in ina r.es rA.es1rsssrnS 1rsssrnS wrgre Uen. Bayard was
sitting, nearly severing his leg at the
thigh. He was at once removed to the
Barnard House hospital, his wound ex-
amined and pronounced mortal. He
lived perfectly conscious until about
P. NJ, when he died. He dictated three
letters during the afternoon, one to
Col. Colburn, of Gen. McClellan's staff,
and one to his affianced bride, to whom
he was to be married Oh the 18th of
this month. He received q number of
friends during the afternoon and even
ing, and his mind was as cool and as
placid as in the moments of brilliant
health. Gen. Bayard was % years
old.
COUGHS division, 2nd corps d'armee,
which suffered most, opened the fight,
and lost probably not less than 5000
men. Erench,s- diviSiaa, = a.i-.---,-----
the attack, supported by Hancock, who
fought his men with great skill and
GOODNESS. 1t is one of Hancock's char.
acieristics to keep his men out of ex-
posed positions, and fight them with
all advantage to be obtained from the
nature of the ground, etc. But here
there was no chance for seeking such
advantages. Our men were exposed
to withering fire, and were badly cut
up without accomplishing anything.
One brigade of French's division, COM
posed of new troops, broke under the
fire, and came streaming back towards
the city, Notwithstanding the efforts of
officers 10 prevent it. The rest of the
division, especially Kimball's brigade,
did honor 10 themselves. Meagher's
Irish brigade, of Hancock's division,
rallied time and again under terrible
fire. He was slightly wounded, while
Col. Cross, of the gallant 5th New
Hampshire, was again badly wounded,
this time in the mouth,) with piece
of shell. He went over the river Sun
day morning, as full of fight as ever,
and sends word TO all his friends greet
ing: That, though hit for the tenth
time, he isn't dead yet, and expects to
live to give the foe another fight. His
regiment, which has fought its tenth
battle, could muster but 54 muskets
Sunday. Company B went into acton
with % men and came ont with fonr,
one private reporting for duty Sunday
morning.
! l visited the various division hospi-
tails and many Of the, divisions them
selves, Sunday, and although the re-
turns are very Incomplete, | cannot
see how our total loss will be less than
1900. The number of officers lost
does not seem 10 be SO large as usual,
and the proportion of slightly woun.led
is very large. Total, S,urces' division,
925 killed and woun.led, which will
probably be slightly increased by the
official report. Gen. Getty's division
reports Is killed and 2l6 wounded.
The proportions of the battle of Sat.
urtiay continue to increase, ana tho
supposed advantages obtained continue
to diminish. We fought with magnifi-
cent valor OH the right. against heavy
numbers and a position which gives
the enemy an advantage of five TO one,
and grows more and more impregnable
1.-The more we examine it. Sunday was
the first day out of ten without fog, the
! air being remarkably clear. and tho
whole line of the enemy could be dis
tnctly. seen. The crest for. which we
fought Saturday is the key to the Left
Of the position. Once carried and vic.
tory is half won, for the enemy must
, fall back fully a mile to keep from be-
ing outaanked. But the crest was not
carried on Saturday, nor was tie enc.
my finally dislodged from their posis
ton nnder the crest and behind that
: admirable barrier, the stone wall. This
l defense is SO strong that nothing but
' an enfilading fire, which it is almost
!. impossible 10 poar upon it, or a deter
q mined charge from the front, which il
:. is almost certain death TO make. can
> W. tr,o1 tho <barrra ftroo