Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-12-25

| eN'h WIG SuChy . pOoieoh w nv mas
sapona1, and drive him bssshd. "a.
creek. General franklin cofbmandeC
the movement in person, aud bandlec
his troops with remarkable Judgment
The rebels maintained possession o
some small hills with their ussal stab,
bornness. but gradually fell bsek as the
Union troops evinced deteIndinatior
to go forward. During the si,ernoor
the rebels came to stand. sud for q
time assumed the offensive; bdt asthes
advanced to meet US thew were brsvely
met and repIlsed with heavy HISS. II
was at this time that some thee hun
dred OF Hills command fell mo ouf
hands and were conducted tsStiz rear
as prisoners. Slill the nemyS5rts s9ied
every foot Of the ground, and i was
only by dint of the hardest kind of
fighting that he could be compelled 10
change his position.
1t was during the heat of this en-
gagement that the gallant Bayard was
morlally wounded. He was conyelsing
with Gen. Franklin. when a esnnon
ball struck him in the hip and threw
him clean out of the saddle. Poor
Bayard, he never dreamt of danger 10
the thickest of the battle, and neTer
lost his courage even when his leg was
amputated. The surgeons say that he
cannot survive many days. and that
the operation they have performed can
only prolong his agony short while
But am DEPRESSING from main facts.
The obsrinacy with which the rebels
held possession Of their ground rem
dered Gen Franklin's task a very diff
cult one indeed. He had to cope with
Stonewall Jackson and the veterans'of
Cedar Mountain, Bull Run and Ante
tam-troops who understood their bu-
siness thoroughly, and were not to be
scared bv tribes. Hence the task Of
turning the rebels position on the Mas
sapouaz was no ordinary one. Sill the
Union com msnder was not discouraged;
he had driven the enemy back severa!
rods and was determined to drive them
further. Old Stonewall had met his
match this time, and. notwithstanding
his troops fought with their usual
bravery. they were gradually pushed
soulhward. At sundown Franklin had
succeeded in driving the enemy nearly
a mile. and his troops occupied the
field during the remainder oi the night.
The movement on the left was COM
plete success. although tomorrow is
required for finishing Up the job. The
casualties on both sides were very nu-
mrrous. Among those who were
wUuuuFu were UHpraru rIruurrOs.--v,n,
commanding Ninth New York State
militia, and Captain Hartt. Assistant
Surgeon General to General TYLER.
Rryaolds' corps advanced ere the
dense fog had lifted itself from the
river banks, and about nine O'Clock
the enemy's infantry were engaged
The opposing columns had fairly got to
work when the rebel artillery com
menced playing upon us through the
fog. The shots we're all aimed at ran
dom, however, and produced but little
effect. Notwithstanding the view was
so obscured, the rebel artillerists kept
up the cannonade for several hours.
and, as peal alter peal rang through the
air, the effect was terribly sublime
The fire was returned by our batteries
in gallant style. and for hours nothing
but the deafening roar Of artillery
could be heard on all sides Up to
noon. when the fog cleared Cd and the
balloonists we're enabled to get lance
at the enemy's works, the fight was
an artillery one, and productive OF no
very important result on either side
As soon as the sunshine showed itself.
however, the infantry we're brought IN
to play and the work commenced IN
real earnest. Gems. Mead and Gibbons
div sious encountered the right of Gen.
A.P. Hills command and Longstreet's
veterans.
The fight ragged furiously during the
entire day. and our troops suffered ter
ribly from the enemy's artillery. The
enemy we're posted behind hills in great
strength, and at one time it seemed i'm
possible TO dislodge them. About noon
Gen. Gibbon was relieved by Gen.
Doubleday's command. Gen. Meigs,
who was fighting against superior odds.
was also re-enrorced by Gen. Stone
mans command. which had the effect
Of checking the rebels and driving them
back short distance. 1t was in the
midst of this struggle that Gen Glib
bon was wounded and partially dis
abled He kept the field, however.
during the remainder OF the day. and
won many laurels by his brilliant con
duct. General McClellsn's indorse-
ment of Gibbons dash and ability has
been fully borne out by the result of
the days fighting. During the alter
noon General Newton's division was
moved up to the left Of the center,
when the firing, which had ceased IN
that part Of the field, broke out again
with redoubled fury. Our troops were
here exposed to a plunging 6se from
the enemy's artillery. which was post
ed on the neighboring hills. and Tor a
short time the Union soldiers were op-
posed to destructive fire. Our srtll-
lery returned the fire with deadly effect;
and immortalIzed themselves by their
accuracy Of aim and unwsvering cour-
age.
THE RTGuT