Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1862-12-26

adVance OF our lines Tor nall mile,
when, discovering the enemy's pickets,
they fred upon them Connonading soon
commenced in earnest. The hazy at
mosphere of the early part of the day
having cleared away, so as to give to
each of the contending parties a view of
the position taken by the other, Halls
battery, the I'd Maine, discovered bat
terry of the enemy in close proximity and
opened a rapid and vigorous fire upon it,
In a few moments the artillery'fre ex-
tended ulong the entire line. The ID
United States artillery, Captain Ransom,
Cooper's battery of Pennsylvania Re-
serves, and others, made and received a
severe attack. The skirmishing was
kept up as our lines advanced, and the
position of the enemy in the woods was
almost reached. A scattering musketry
fire continued from the first advance,
about 9 o'clock, till noon, and with oc-
casional lulls. The cannonading was
heavy and severe.
During the advance of the left grand
division upon the enemy's position, Ma
jor General Stoneman's corps of the Sc
cond grand division, Hooker's, which had
moved to the vicinity of the river the
evening previous, moved over the bridg-
esd Gen. Birney's division, on the ad-
vance, moved toward the left to the sup
port of that portion of the line. Great
enthusiasm was excited among the troops
as the battle flag of Gen. Birney, OF
Stoneman's corps, was seen moving a
cross the plain, in advance of the flag,
III deep column, winding onward from
the river.
Gen. Birney had received orders tc
place himself in position to support the
right of Gen. Reynolds corps in an at.
tack which was momentarily expected tC
be made. Orders to advance having
been received, Gen. Gibbons and Gen
Moade's divisions were directed to adj
vance upon the enemy in the woods ant
upon the hill, holding the position i
support should come to them, abandon
ing it in case they should be too severely
pressed.
Now came the most successful and dc.
termined effort on this part Of our line
The attack was made from The point Of
intersection oil tie a1cla formed BY oul
lines already referred TO- This point was
nearest to the woods, and the enemy 4
shells were falling thiekly about it.
Gibbons division and the Pennsy Wa
MIA Reserves advanced boldly toward The
works of the enemy. They pushed de-
terminedly through the brushwood and
bushes on to grove of cedars, and then
up the hills toward the breastworks Of
the enemy. The works were carried,
many prisoners captured, and the crest
of the hill gained, not, however, with
out heavy loss.
Gen Gibbons has fallen, wounded in
the arm, while leading his command to
the attack. The works of the enemy at
this point were gained, but not held 49,
The enemy, unfortunately, possessed the
strength to concentrate overwhelming
numbers of fresh troops upon the threat
ened point, and for all the valor of those
who survived, and all the sacrifices of
those who fell, the position had to be
abandoned, and our troops we're COMPEL
ed to fall back to the plain
They had penetrated beyond the rail
road and the Bowing-Green turnpike,
through the woods and across the outer
work of the enemy to the top of the hill,
and we're then forced back to this side of
the railroad, where they maintained their
stand in advance of what they had ORR
ginally occupied.
In the meantime Gen. Doubleday had
been constantly pushing the enemy up
on the left. A most determined resist
ance was made by the enemy as Skin
mishcrs and with reserves and artillery.
The fire which during the forenoon wns
kept up on the left, told Of TIE most Sc
we're fighting. For full mile the emo
my was pressed back, contes,ing the
ground inch by inch, receiving and in
ficting heavy loss The enemy fell back
upon bis defences and the advantage
gained was indecisive.
During these successive advances and
checks along tho centre and left grand
divisions, an uninterrupted Smelling was
kept up by the Rebel batteries upon tho
bodies Of troops at different points Of the
plain. At large stone mansion near
the centre Of our line, used as field
hospital during the day, an incessant fire
was directed
Near this building Gen Bayard found
an untimely death. A she'll struck him,
while fitting under a tree, within few
yards Of Gen. Franklin, in the leg, with
out exploding. His leg was nearly torn
of, aud he died in the course Of the even
ing.
Toward the middle Of the afternoon the
firing along the lines of the left grand
division grew weaker, and gradually set
tIcd into comparative lull.
Shortly before sunset, however, the
firing oa'thn extreme left was again re-
newod with extreme yigor, and kept up
until after dark. At o'clock it gradu-
illy died away, and at 6 o'clock it had
entirely ceased. St
On the left as well as on the right the
battle ca me short Of our expectation.
We e, .ncd some ground, bat failed to