The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1862-05-21

orders OF movement, r copy Of which ia
herewith marked "a" were Issued, and
the movement, after some delay. coin
mencsd, the troops being in admirable
spirits. II was expected We should be
able to reach the euemy's lines in time
to attack them early OH the 9th inst
The men, however, for the most part,
were unused to marching. the roads mar
row, and traversing densely wooded
country, became almost impossible sfter
n severe rain storm on the night Of the
4.b, which drenchsd the troops in oivou.
&C hence our forces did not reach the in
tersectiou Of the roads FROM Pnt,bu,g
and Hamburg, in the immediate vicinity
Of the enemy, until late Saturday after.
noon.
It was then decided that the attack
should be made on the next morning, At
the earliest hour practicable, in accor-
dance with the orders Of movement-that
is, 10 three lines Of battle: the first and
second extending from Owl creek on the
left to Lick creek on the right distance
Of about three miles, supported by the
third and the reserve. The first line un.
der Major General Hardee, wRs cons,itu.
ted Of his corps, augmented on his right
by Gladdeu's brigade, Of Major General
Bragg's corps, deployed in line Of battle.
with their respective artillery, following
Immediately by the main road to Pitts
burg, and the cavalry in rea- Of the wings.
The second line, composed Of the other
troops of Bragg's corps, followed the frs,
at distance of five hundred yards, in the
same order as the first. Tie army corps
under General Polk followed the second
line, at the distance Of about eight hun
dred yards, in lines Of brigades, dep!oyed
with their batteries in rear Of each brig
ade, moving by the Pit,sburg road, the
left wing supported by cavalry; the re
serve, under Brigadier General Breckiu
ridge, followed closely the third line, in
the same order, its right wing supported
by cavalry.
These two corps constituted the reserve
and were to support the front lines OF bat
tie, BY being deployed when required on
the right and left Of the Pit,sburg road,
otherwise nc; according 10 the exigencies
Of the battle.
Thirty minutes after o'clock A. NJ ,
our lines and columns were in motion, all
animated evidently by a promising spirit.
The front line Was engaged At once, but
advanced steadily, followed in due order
with equal resolution and stesdiness by
the other lines, which were brought sue
cessfully into action with rare skill, judg
ment and gsllsntry, by the several corps
commanders, as the enemy made a stand
with his masses rallied for the struggle
for his encampmen;s. Like au Alpine
avalanche our troops moved forward, DE.
spite the determined resistance Of the en-
emy, until after o'clock r. NJ, WHEN we
were in possession Of all his encampt
ments between Owl and Lick creeks but
one. Nearly all Of his field artillery, a.
bout thirty (3o), flags, coIors snd stand.
ards, over 5000 prisoners, including a d.
vision commander (Gen. Pren,iss) and
several brigade commanders, thousands
OF small arms, an immense supply OF sub.
slste"ce, forage, and munitions Of war,
and a large amount Of means Of trans
portation-ali the substantial fruits of a
complete victory--such, indeed, as rarely
have followed the most successful battle.;
for never was an army so well provided
rs that Of our enemy.
The remnant of his army had beer
driven in utter disorder 10 the immedis,,
vicinity Of Pistsburg. under the shelter o
the heavy guns Of his iron clad gnnboats
and We remained undispu,ed masters o
his we'll seIec.sd, admirably provided can
tonments. after over twelve hours Of OBJ
stinate conflict with his forces, who had
been beaten from them and the contipu
Gus covert, but only By a sustained ouse,
Of all the men We could bring into action
Our loss was heavy, as will appeal
from The accompanying return marked
"B." Our Commander in Chief, Gen. A
S. JChbston, fell morlsily wounded ant
died on the Geld at Q 80 p. M., after hav
ing shown the bighes. qualities Of tb,
commander, aod personal intrepidii,
that inspired all around hlm, and gav,
resistless impusion to bis columns At crit
ical moments.
Tie chief command then devolved up
on me, though at the time I was great,
n.a.t..SnI .-I ..T.-:.- -