Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-07-17

Wauc some desperate eiiOrtS TO cross the
creek, but General Smith brought his
men up TO close quarters with them when.
ever they dared TO contest, although in
each case our best and most beloved sol.
dicrs bit the dust, there were no signs Of
holding Off The cannon firing was in
ccssant here, some Of the deepest and clo-
scst of the war, and the infantry fire ex.
tended along the whole columns.
THE ENEMY AT CHARLES CITY cnoss ROADS.
The cannonaling had continued scvc-
raj hours with fearful effect among our
baggage and artillery tents. We had,
however, prevented the enemy from cros-
sing the swamp to our front, and fondly
hoped that he would be unable to pierce
its fastncss at any other point OF our right
or left. That this hope was i'll founded
was soon justified by the appearance of
the enemy in great force at Charles City
Cross Roads, which lies about four miles
from White Oak Swamp, the South, and
about mile and half or two miles from
the James river at Turkey, Island Bend.
ii had advanced direct from Richmond,
eight brigales, the first under command
Of the ledoubtablc Gen. II. A. Wise. and
when discovered at the Cross Roads was
cndevoring to work quietly down the
river bank between our trains, our wound
cd and the army. Two hours previous
such an attempt might have been success
full, when utter ruin and confusion would
have cnsued. Porter and Keyes were or
dcred up to rcpel these new comers, the
troops Of the former still suffering from
the battle of Friday in SO great degree
that many regiments had no organization
at all, and many brigadcs scarcely re-
gimcntal orgnzntion. At five o'clock
they engaged the enemy, hidden by
woods aud the swelling of hills, and the
firing from musketry end field batteries
was soon intense. The rebels did fatal
execution among us, and some of our
most valuable officers fell here, wounded
and dying.
The report OF ordinances had now been
heard s. many days that such chaos seem
ed the normal condition OF nature, and
painfully the battle went on. 1t was
scarccl y an enthusiastic fight, for all the
romance of battle had worn off by reason
OF its monotony. The men fought well,
however, though half dead with heat
thirst and WEAKNESS. Some broke for
the river and plunged in the cool water
| for an instant, then, emerging, rushed
back to the fray and fought like lions
Fresh troops and superior numbers
seemed bearing the tide Of battle against
us at five clock, and the fate Of the ar.
my hung trembling in the sunset, whc- =
new advocatc--half of God, half o.
man--camc to our relief.
TIE GuNDoATs OPEN FIRE.
| About o'clock this afternoon the
gunboats Galcna, Aroostook and Jacob
Bell opened from Turkey Island Bend. in
James river, with shot and she'll from
their immense rifle guns. The previou.
roar Of field artillery seemed as faint a;
the rattle Of muskctry in comparison witt
. these monsters of ordnance, that literally
t shook the water and strained the air.
: The shells seemed to be supplied wit
) eight second fuses, and considerable in
r terval elapsed between the shock Of tn
report and the subsequent explosion 0
the shells. They fired about three times
minute, frequently a broadsidc at time
and the immense hull OF the Galena car.
ecned as she delivered her complement ol
iron and flame. The first few shots went
wide, but the man in the Galena's top
mast lookout sigOalled the proper eleva-
ton to the guns, and soon they threw
among the serried rebels on the hill theii
pondcrous obligations, that cut down
whole ranks, spreading confusion, desola
ton and dismay. The fire went on with
the same fatal effects, making music tC
the cars of our tired men, and consterna'
ton among the exultant and bloc THIRSTY
traitors. They-already confident OF con.
Guiding their work and driving us into
the James-bcgan to reel and so uneasy
Their fire pcrceptibly slackencd; theil
ranks seemed slow to close up when the
naval thunder had torn them apart; dis.
affection and disappointment had already
seized upon them, and every deep tocsir
from the Galena added its impetus to tho
prevailing dread, when
HEINTzLEMAN CHARGED.
The whole corps ofthis famous warrior
confident that recovery Of the fortune o
the time could be made, prepared to Civ
another great effort to retrieve the fortune
, of the day and the cause Of the country
Waterloo did not know such a charge o
horse and foot, while our batteries upol
, the hill tops far and near played inccssant
ly upon the foe.
0 Signals were given to the Galena to ceaS
firing when this advance was determines
upon the Galena having already hauled of
, This was done by consecutively place
t signal officers all the way from the poin
@ of battle to the banks of the James river
Q When the thunder lulled and the great shi
rested after her labors, Heintzleman mad
< a little appeal to his generals, telling
O them that in the dash about to be mad
their confidence and courage might nc
/ only save the army, but to do something
c towards avenging the great number ofloy
al men who had fallen in the several ia
1 tai encounters.
n The soldiers, poor, heroic, jadel fellows
Y responding with spirit that must hay
!, come from hungry hearts and soon tn
/. grand corps of Hcintzloman was in line
: with the gaunt, gray figure ofits comman
c der galloping down its columns. The en-
c emy anticipated some such dash, for the
I1irartal thpir fra unon this mart of tb