The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-05-24


evacuated, he was found By General Jameson. Out OF
thirty three commissioned officers this regiment who
into the action twenty-five killed and wound
cd. Both the Seventeen and the Seventy second regi
displayed the most vaorous conduct this
Sion.
OPERATIONS GENERAL PATTHRsoNs BRIGADE.
The engagement had assumed extensive proper
tions the infantry and artillery keeping up continuous
and destructive IRE. Ali OF General Patterson's New
Jersey brigade, except tho Eighth regiment had pre-
viously arrived the ground. Two rsgimsnts-the
Sixth, Lieut.. Col Van Lear, and the Seventh Col Car
nduced by Gen. Patterson through the To-
rest to assist in rspsng another attempt Of the enemy
to turn left flank They occupied the heavy timber
which intercepted view Of the enemys works.
Whom they advanced they also met by fresh regi-
ments OF the enemy time the advantage alter
mated between the centendng forces and the tide Of
battle to ebb and flow either side seeming
uncertain 70 the well as the forces Of the
enemy, our regiments which, while firing were lying
down. still suffered severely, until opportune mo-
ment, Colonel johnson came up with the Eighth New
Jersey, in time to check the nankng IRE Of the eneys
which was rapidly running round 70 tho LETT. Heavy
firing broke the right or this command and
also handsomely repussd Again the orders Of rebel
officers in the woods to the front and demonstrated
that the attempt which had previously been unsuccess
fully made to turn left resumed and this time,
again folsd In his attempt.
GENERALS HEIa1zrLMAx's SUMMERS COMMANDS UMrD
From the first it seemed subject Of solcitude TO have
General Hentzelmans command join that Of General
Sumner In line OF battle the Yorktown road TO the
right This having boen Effected General Hooker abous
hafpast eleven o'clock despatched to General Hentzel-
mans Assistant Adjutant General note In which no
said have had hard contest all the morning, but do
not despair Of Ny all at work, but .
lapla ctad thatr
muncaton with you the Yorktown road is clear ofthe
enemy Batteries, cavalry and infantry can take part
by the side Of mine and whip the enemy" This sons
to point on the Yorktown road under tho impression
that General Heintzelman sti there whereas that
gallant and intrepid soldier tho Hampton road
where the fighting severest cheering the long
pectsd and welcomed reinforcements.
GENERAL SUMNER LEARNED THAT REyroRcrNESIs WE'RE
RE2uIRED.
This note, therefore, not received by General
zeman but returned to General Hooker open,
and the envelope endorsed opened and read by the
senior officer that field !" who General Sumner.
1t would seem that this timely note Of General Hooker had
the effect Of nfusing energy into command
the right; for about General Peck received
orders to proceed TO the front in support Of General
Hooker.
GENERAL PEcK's BRIGADE ADVANCES.
He urged his command. which went through the
deep mud and drenchng with commsndable aacrity
He met BY General Reyes. commander Of the Fourth
corps, who gave him some instructions, and &C
companied on tho field by General Couch, who
advised the disposition OF his troops. Notwith.
standing the fearful condition Of the roads. two
batteries-Captan Floods and Captain Nccarty's
Pennsylvania artlerycame to assist General Pecks
brgsd and later in the day the troops placed
within supporting distance At earlier hour Gonoral
Hancocks brigade had boon ordered still further to tho
right, about mile and half from the Yorktown road for
the purpose Of taking possession Of work which command
cd dam across tributary to Queens creek, and which
had been deserted by the enemy carly in the morning.
with further instructions TO attempt turn tho snemys
left.
GENERAL nAxcocK's BRIGADE cAPrrRm TWO RzszL worries
General Hancock with the principal portions Of tho
Fifth Wisconsin regiment Colonel Cobb tho Sixth Maine
Colonel Burnham tho Forty Pennsylvania Colonel
Irwin the Maine Colonel Mason and the Thirty
third New York, Colonel R. f. Taylorn all about two
thousand Ave hundred men-and supported by Lieu
tenant Cowans and Capt. wheeers batteries OF artillery
crossed the creek and Of the work. aud
also Of another about twelve hundred yards In advance,
toward Fort Magrudcr, both Of which, for tho time
being, were deserted by the enemy.
THE CONTINUATION HEAT RATTLE
About this time whole line from right to left
engaged with the enemy who still bringing up REIN
forcemens-among which Longstrcets division, con-
sdered Of the finest divisions In the rebel service
which still being recalled by the commanding gene
raj Of the rebel forces from beyond Williamsburg.
Among these the commands Of the rebel Generals
iryor Gohison Early and Pickett which the prisoners
have taken say had the reputation Of being among
the best troops In the rebel army At this tme
have said between two and three O'Clock In tho after
noon, whole line determncdly resisting the OBJ
sinate efforts OF the enemy drive back and win the
| day.
THE EXCELSIOR BRIGADE AGAIN.
To the left the Now York regiments command
ed by Colonel Nelson Taylor were cracking
away with unremitting energy. The Seventy
third, Colonel Brewster, and Seventy fourth
Colonel Burs had just proceeded to strengthen that
part Of the line which throughout the day the enemy
continued press with vigor which indicated that tho
turning Of lef flank the important part Of
General Johnston's plan The SEVENTEEN and Seventy
second the left Of the road and the Seventy
and Seventy fourth the right advanced and poured
most effective fire into tho rebel regiments which
still pressing our position with wonderful tsnacty
ErEcr WORKS.
Al the time the rebel artillery In Fort Magrudsr
and tho redoubt Its right four le reopsned with shoe
and shell, which made terrible havoc among the forest
| trees, much than among mon. The woods in
every direction bear tho marks only Of shot ana
she'll from the artillery, but from the muskesry Ore
either sde Tree tops dropped or though they had
been heads from human bodies BY the kssnsse
sword The blood Of the noble fellows who fell 10 the
contest covered the ground In Places and mingled
with the rain. Tho dead lying every dlrcction
and the wounded formed long, mournful procession
they conveyed 70 the Many, however,
found when night closed upon the scene and they
necessarily left the field I'LL the morning dawned.
The fsled trees, forming effective abats presented
es. obstacles Y 10 sdyanoe q our men, and many wsra
shot In climbing over them. - ~
fIrt1xxAvr coroxxr uyrrpfr
was at this period that Lieutenant colonel Benedict,
OF the Seventy third New York. who always b the
advance must have been taken prisoner These troops
fought In the most gallant manner, and. whom their
mun,ton was almost expended, fell slowly back
behind our batserss which kept the rebels In check
until, having received fresh supplies Of ammunition,