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

hour our lire was so close II seemed the
perpetual echo Of single report--a con-
tinuous blaze of flame and ball, to which
the ConGcderates replied fccbly, but with
some show Of determination. Gen. Sum
ncr rode in the thickcst of this fight, and
the gallant brigade of Meaghcr was like
wall of shamrock. Indeed Richard
sons division We'd with Scdgcwck's,
and lleintzclman's troops were not be.
hindhand in the rapidity of their dis
charges and the steadincss of their be-
havior The whole fight, though it last
cd from eight o'clock a. NJ. to twelve, was
like one incident, and it terminated with
q loss to our side Of not more than one
hundred and fifty men, to the robcls of
not less than one thousand five hundred
The efforts Of the enemy to overreach MS
on the left were made futilcly, for we took
pains to cover our line Of general retreat
along the Williamsburg road, by dcploy-
ing our left along that road to creek
that crosses it more than mile in the
rear of Savage's. They endeavorcd to
charge through the brigalcs Of Burns,
Dana and German but the steady fire
OF such regiments as the Massachusetts,
Tw cnteh batfled them in that regard
Having held the place until in the iqdg.
ment of the generals, our teams, heavy
artillery and anlbulanccs were far across
White Oak Swamp, our troops fell back
lcisuIcly to the neighborhood Of Savage's
Station, and again drew up in order Of
action. The fight Of Peach Orchard
for SO it will be called-was decisive
victory to the Union troops, 1t was
fought with a small force, against i'm
mcnsc odds, and in the rear of the main
army that was every moment receding.-
To conduct an action SO man(ully in view
of these gloomy facts argues bravery akin
to invulnerability. The large figure of
Gen. Sumner, with his long white beard,
handsomely mounted and followed by a
dashng staff, is feature of this fight
that will be forever imprinted on the
minds of his soldiers. When they saw
him galloping down the lines they cried
"Here comes the Old Bull, boys; give
him three cheers !' and fought with re-
newcd enthusiasm. The conduct of Gen.
Dana is universally approved. Cool,
steady and valorous, he exhibited in this
f action the great sclf.posscssion that has
always marked him in daily life.
Colonel Sully, q son of the distinguish
cd artist, was acting as General of Cor
mans brigade during part of the battle
He also won encomiums for his general
ship.
THE BATTLE OF sAvAGE's
} The battle Of Savage's was more san
. culinary. 1t commenced about i've o'clocl
t i'll the afternoon and lasted till clever
O'Clock at night. The rebels, when W.
/ had fallen back from Peach Orchard, filed
with large rcinforcements and additiona
+ batteries, as well as with several squad
rons Of cavalry, towards several road
! leading to the Chckahominy, and covcre,
9 by the thick timber, was enabled to re
main concealed until they had reached
wheat field that stretches from Savage
to dense belt Of woods in the direction
, of the farm of DR.. Trent, and Mcssrs
, Mickey, Dudley and Couch Suddenl
appearing out Of the c'lges of the timber
' they opened with riaed cannon upon on
forces, drawn up in full view to the south o
the railroad. Directly they run out three
batteries to commanding points in the
wheat field and opened a rapid cniladinl
fire Of she'll and grape, This was at frs
so staggering that our men could not form
nor our artillerymen bring their batteries
into service. The 106th Pennsylvani,
regiment was seized with momcntar,
, panic, but soon recovered and did gooC
, service. The first named lost in the be
ginning of the fight hundred killed an,
! wounded men, and regiment of rebe
, cavalry galloped in and drove the Icgi
iment off, so that the wounded had to b
resigned. In the meantime rebel brigad
was observed stealing down to the right
! as if with the design of Aanking on
troops by reaching position on til
Williamsburg road. Captain Petit a
= once planted two guns on the railroa
and sweptcd the column with grape an
? canister, until it went back into the wood
: upon run. Some of the sharpest in
> fantry fighting of the war ensued, in whc
q parts of Sedwick's, Richardson's, Hook
! er's, Herney's and Smyth's divisions en-
gagged with various success. The rebel
+, came determinedly across the field, firin
? as they advanced, until General Sumne
: ordered our troops up at double quick t
= charge. About four thousand of ther
went off at once, with roar that Nigh
p have drowned the muSkctry. The rebel
y. kept their position for moment, an
then fell back to the rear of their batteries
n Neaghcr's brigade, however, succeeded i
+ charging right up to the guns of Vii
n ginia battery, two of which they haule
5 off spiked, and chopped tho carriages t
pieces. The Eighty sixth, Sixty third an
Sixty -nineth participated in the gallan
! act. 1t was here that the brave ColonC
h Pierce, of the Twenty y-nineth Massachus
Il etts regiment, formerly General Pierce {
y Big Bethel fame, lost an ann. 1t wa
/, taken off by solid shot
q Night came on, but put an end to tn
% carnage, The steady roar of cannon
4 and the sharp, quick ring of musketry
a now bursting into valleys, now degenel
o ating to the rasping noise made by fiji
firing, filled the whole air. The darknes
was lit up by iitful flashes, and, to com
le pletc the awful picture, the woods wer
II set on fire by bursting shells, and condG
Is grafton painted fiery terrors on the sky
THE REBELS FIRE INTO OUR HOSPITALS.