Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1862-07-05
w A r N E w S.
APPROACHING RnCuMOD.

The enemy did their bcs. yesterday to
conquer our troops. Mcnnevcrfought hard
or than they did. yet they were compelled to
give way to invincible troops fighting for
the salvation and pcrpctuation of the glori-
Gus Union. Several Rebel regiments had
Just joined the Rebel army of the Potomac.
The First Louisiana seemed to have led
the charge against Gen. Sicklcs' Brigade
and suffered the most from their tcnacity.--
The prisoners taken all hail from that re-
gion. 1t was their first battle, and they
were urged on by troops in the rear who
had been longer in the service. All the
coaxing and urging in the world would not
avail in this case. Our men would open
upon them, at short range, with their deadly
rifles, strcwing the ground with their dead
and wounded.
The correspondents, of The Inquirer were
on the ground at the outset, and advanced
with the gallant troops.
Our troops had every disadvantage. The
whole country in front of them was a dense
swamp. 1t was almost an impossility to see
ten steps before you. The Williamsburg
stage road was one secthing mass of mud
and stagnated water, which was imbcddcd
three Secesh transportation wagons, over
hub-dcep. The men fought over kncc-deep
in this swamp and road. 1t was, and is
now, the worst road we ever attempted to
travel on.
During the first attack our troops suffered
very little loss, although the enemy made {,
determined stand and did not give way
without a severe struggle. 1t was in their
efforts to regain their lost position that led
to loss on both sides, although the cnemy's
casualties outnumbcrcd ours greatly.
During the struggle the enemy received a
cross fire from the rcdoubt. supported by
Gen Mcaghcr's Brigade, which did them u
great deal of damage.
While the Rebels were advancing, they
set up tremendous noise, not the ponder
Gus and manly huzza, like unto that made
by our troops, but the petty and childish
noise of a vast asscmblage of school boys
They presumed that, like the Chinese, they
could fright their advcrsaries with fearful
noises. Our men kept steady at their ad
vance, and at every charge sent them reelinl
back out of range.
Just about sundown. last evening, move
ment was observed along the lines of tn,
enemy. 1t soon became evident that they
were relieving their tired and well-whippco
! brigadcs with fresh troops. Our troop
| opened upon them. the uncrring Minnie do
ing its deadly work, as vas apparent from
the number strewing the ground.
During the night the enemy kept up
continual cannonading, throwing shell int
the woods, doing some considerable damage
to the Rhode Island Second, who were hold
ing a position in the woods. / saw severa
of the poor fellows buried this morning, il
front of the entertainments at The side OF tn
two lodge houses, at Fair Oak Grove. TIL
Chaplain of the regiment attended to tn
last sad rites, delivered an appropriate prayc
over each body. 1t was a sad scene. Th
comrades of the departed heroes stoo'
around with uncovered heads, many G
them shedding tears at their unhappy fate
Lieutenant Bullock, who was so scvcrel
wounded yesterday by the discharge fron
one of our own guns, was alive up to moo
to-day. He is mortaly WBunded. His brc
thcr is paying all attention to him. Th
wounding of this officer was 4 very uniortu
nate occurrence. At the head of his men, il
was holding the enemy at bay. Our canno
in the rear opened, and one gun having a
inferior cartridge, the round piece of WOO
that is strapped to the shell or ball, struc
the Lieutenant in the side, makinga lOrribl
wound
During the night Kcarncy's Division wa
furiously attacked very suddenly. The en-,
my were driven of, as usual All their al
tacks are quickly made, with little nois
until discovered, and then come their Ch
nesc yclls.
General Hookor's Division bore the brui
of the battle. Sicklcs' Brigade and the Jc
scy Brigade came out of the swamp in tn
most pitiable state, covered with mud froI
head to foot, and many of them with the
clothes all torn from their persons. The
are sadly in need of clOthinu