The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-10-01

slowly before them, firing scattering
and harmless shots Turning again to
the left, the cavalry went down on the
rebel flank, coming suddenly close to
battery, which met them with unexpect-
ed grape and canister. II being the mo-
tive Of cavalry 10 retire before batteries,
this company loyalty followed the law
Of It's being and came swiftly back
without pursuit
Artillery was sent 10 the front, infantry
was rapidly deployed, and skirmishers
went out in front and on either flank.
The corps moved forward compactly,
Hooker, rs usual, accommodating in per-
son. They came at last TO an open grass
sown Geld inclOsed on two sides with
woods, protected on the right by a hill,
and entered through corn field in the
rear. Skirmishcrs entering these woods
were instantly met by rebel shots, but
held their ground, and as soon as sup
ported, advanced and cleared the timber.
Beyond, on the left and front, vOlleys of
musketry opened heavily, and a battle
seemed TO have begun little sooner than
it was expected.
Gen. Hooker formed his lines with pre-
cisiOn and without hesitation. Ricketts,
Division went into the woods on the left
in force. Meade, with the Pennsylvania
Reserves, formed in the centre. Double
day was sent out on the right planting
his batteries on the HILL and opening at
once Rebel battery that began 70 enfilade
the central line. IL was already dark,
and the Rebel position could only be dis
covered by the flashes of their guns
/ They pushed forward boldly on the right
after losing ground on the other flank,
/ but made no attempt 10 regain their hold
on the woods. The fight flashed and
| glimmered, and faded and finally went
out in the dark.
Hooker had found out what he wanted
TO know. When the firing ceased, the
| hostile lines lay close TO each other
| their pickets so near that six rebels were
captured during the night. Ii was in
evitable that the fight should recommence
at daylight. Neither side had suffered
considerable loss; il was a sllirmish, not a
battle. eve are through for the night
remarked the General, "but to- morrow we
fight the battle that will decide the fate
of the republic"
Not long after the firing ceased, il
sprang up again on the left. General
Hooker, who had taken up his headquar-
ters in a barn which had beed nearly
the focus of the rebel artillery, was out
at once. First came rapid and unusual
ly frequent picket shots, then several
heavy yolleys The General listened
moment and smiled grimly. 1--WE have
no troops there. The rebels are shoot
ing each other. Fair Oaks over again"
So every body laid down again, but all
the night through there were frequent
alarms.
Mcclellan had been informed of the
nights work, and of the certainties
awaiting the dawn. Sumner was order
ed TO move his corps at once, and we ex-
pected to be on the ground at daylight
From the extent of the rebel lines devel-
oped in the evening, it was plain they
had gathered their whole army behind
the heights, and were waiting for the at
tack.
The battle began with the dawn
Morning found both armies Just as they
had slept, almost close enough TO lool,
into each others eyes. The left of Mead 8
reserves, and the rigth of Ricketts, line,
became engaged at nearly the same mo-
Ihent one with artillery the other with
infantry. A battery was almost imme-
diately pushed forward beyond the CEN
trail woods, over a ploughed field, near
the top of the slope where the corniield
bugun. On the open field, in the corr
beyond, and in the woods which stepped
forward into the broad fields, like pro-
montory into the ocean, was the heardest
and deadliest struggle Of the day.
For half an hour after the battle haC
grown TO its full strength, the line o.
battle swaycd neither way. Hooker's
men were fully up to their work. They
saw their General everywhere in front
never away from the fire, and all III,
troops believed in their commander ant
fought with will. Two thirds of then
were the same men who, under Mcdowell
had broken at Manassas. The half.h ou
passed, the rebels began to give way
little, only a little, but at the first indi,
cations of n rcceding fire, Forward,
was the word, and on went the line will
cheer and rush. Back across tn,
81 corn, leaving dead and wounded behint
them, over the fence and across the road
p and then back again into the dark wood
, which closed around them went the re
! treating rebels.
. Meade and his Pennsy lyanians follow
/, ed hard and fast-followed till the
I came within easy range of the woods
|, among which they saw their beaten enc
G my disappearing still, wit
, another cheer, aud flung themselyc
0 against the cover.
But out of this gloomy woods cam,
: and heavily, terrible yolloys-volley
r. which smOte, aud beat, and broke, in
10 moment, that eager front, and hurle
n them swiftly back for half the distanC
% they had won. Not swiftly, nor in
o panic, any further. Closing up the
70 shattered lines they came slowly ava
3 "A regiment where a brigade had bee
k hardly brigade where a whole div
70 sion had been victorious. They had ma
- from the woods the first yolleys of mu,
% kerry from fresh troops-had met thei
70 and returned them till their line ha
d yielded and gone down before the weigl
:, Of fire, and till their ammunition wa
+. exhausted
d In ten minutes the fortunes of the ia
% seemed TO have changed-itwas the Rel
n els now who were advancing, pouring OF
10 of the woods In endless lines, sWeeplr
Y through the comlelds from which the
r. comrades had Just He'd Hooker sent
IT his nearest brigade 10 meet them, but
could not do the work. He called f
It another There was nothing close enoul
'e unless be took IL from his right h
10 right might be in danger il was veal
Is ened, but his centre was already threa
k, eued with humiliation. Not hesitatin
- one moment, he sent 10 Doubleday "Oi
q me your beet brigade instantly