New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-04-10

crowded with spectators, were visible to our men
during the action defended by rife pits in front, the
rolling ground which slopes downwards, the posi-.
ton 10 emphacally strong 0ne--it may yet cost 10
much blood 70 win il. The limo OF sarthworks 10
about thousand yards from the woods displayed On
The map, joining them at either side the land not
muddy but rsng TO tie sandy plain above mentioned
The shortest range obssiasbls by our sharpshoossn
at the enemy behind his intrenchments was about
$50 yards from the Peach Orchard marked on the
map, the scene OF the hottest firing.
The number Of the enemy has been estimated with
the usual vagueness At from 500 TO 5000. Troops
were observed pouring in in q stream, Ut ono period
Of the day; :hree regiments and two squsdrons Of
cavalry being remarked among tbom.
BERDAss sHARP-sHooTERs.
The action commenced at %. M, under General
Porter. who had the command Of the right wing.
First Of al, COL Derdan's Sharp-shoote,, belonging
TO the division advanced - administers, TO clear the
woods and reoonnoiter, the troops supporting them.
These depioyed 10 the right and len pungfnS in the
bushes and awaiting themselves Of any stone, tree,
or log that nigh. afford shelter. Companies A and
g were on the extreme right. before the 9TH Mssse'
chusetts Battery; Companies and E, and part OF
+, distributed along ths fence on the left; Companies
b aId H acted az reserve. Over thrse-quartsrs OF
mile WIS thus entirely covered by the Sharp-shoot'
es. But for their admirable pluck skl, and sdrois-
ness, our troops would have been exposed to MUIR
dorous FIRE FROM every and thicket in front Of the
Rebel intrencbmcnts.
Col. H. Berdsn and DR.. Smelling Surgeon Of the
Regiment, now deserv dy promoted to tho Brigade
Surgsonshp followed by three orderlies, bad ridden
to tho horizontal bel, Of woods exhibited in the map,
when the first Rebel shot came whining over their
heads; another compelled them 20 seek 10 the
bushes. There they remained until the men were
fairly dspoyed the shot and shell playing fast and
furiousy about them; the sbsrp-shooten lying on
their stomachs and progressing rePtile-fashion 70
every favorable point for ssaiing the enemy.
Twenty minutes subsequent the 5th Massachusetts,
under Capt Aleu- came up and turning TO the night
went 70 work vigorously on the battery fronting
them. The ambuances, meantime, under cover Of
the woods awaited their ghasy freight and did not
wait long.
Toe sbeliug Of the Rebel battery on the right con-
,inued for thIee-qusTters Of an hour when another
opened upon rs, and from thenceforth e continuous
Gre was kept up all along the line, the enemy IN the
rife pits snd from behind Bis utrenchments endeav.
oiing to pick OF men, who returned the compii-
uent under cover OF the woods.
At FIRST the Rebels were very daring springing on
the ramps,s and cheering bus the deadly results OF
this braggadocio speedily taught them caution. Our
men could see them fall could perceive their COM
rsdss catching ,hsm or pulling them down from BE-
bind The hgst Rebel killed, conspicuous from his
white shirt, fell while hunshing and waving bis hat
upon the breas,works. He wss picked OF BY Tru-
man, sharp-shooter Of eleven years experience in
,hs Rocky Mountains. So terrible Ere did Der.
dams men keep up that the Rebels found it next 10
impossible to load and man gun. They put up
pspls and endesvored TO effect it under their shell.
ter, and actually dsmounted piece, brought round
tbs 1arspets and sent s contents scattering through
the peach orchard with such savage haste that they
did not wait 20 remove tie ranmer. Still they
could not dislcdgs the human hornets crouching
within II. friendly shelter Ping ping |!
ping spit spit pstter Patter went the
r,He-bul,ots and boom! sounded the artillery, cut
ting and crashing through the trunks and branches.
Col Berdsu estimates that ct least $50 cannon-bslls
tors through the peach orchard during the dsy's
fight One shell exploded in the upper chamber Of
house at the right near Berdans reserve.
These brave fellows, by the way, $50 yards in the
rear were at one period, subject 10 cross fire, in
which one man was killed, and the rect, amid Q
storm Of shot and she'll, obliged TO shift their posi-
ton. / am informed by Lieut.. Winthrop (brotber TO
the Major of that name, killed ct Grea, Bethel that
the dead man, Phelps, was model soldier; also,
that he expressed 3 preseniiment of his impending
fate.
As have previously stated, my record Is necss-
- all 4
day aud this morniug. hear that the 4th Michigan
Regiment behaved nobly; that there were many acts
Of herosm performed by others deserving mention.
There occurred one mistake, TOO, by which . com.
psny of the cd Massachusetts, were led into the
open field on the left involving the loss Of seven
killed and some wounded. Exposed TO q murderous
fire, they had to retreat at doube-guick run. The
I'D Peunsy lyania Col Black, (Moorhead Rihesl, had
better fortune. When the attack commenced they
advanced up the road and for at least an bcur occu-
pied dangerous position near the right Of the Peach
Orchard, presently advancing in that direction and
permanently Occupying it in spite Of persistent shell
ing on the part OF the Rebels, with one man morally
aud two slightly wounded. The 9th Massachusetts,,
COL Cas-, were still further on the right and re-
NAMED there. The Nsw-York 14th on the extreme
rRh,, III hVi'o" ainiu SUING fneei 'N'"'' ." 49,"
degree by the inequality Of the ground, occupied the
nearest position TO the Rebel works, always except
ing Berdans sharp.shooters.
CLOSE OF THE DAY.
As q o'clock, p. M. the STAR ard Bars were sin
living over tho Rebel intrenchments. At dusk,
their band struck W D.r.e and then played the
Maiosillaiss, while their gave three cheers, fol.
lowed by the discharge of three pieces Of artillery.
After that the night was only broken occasionally