The New York herald., 1862-06-03


Of the city Of Richmond. On the 21st Of May the
Seventh Massachusetts, regiment ordered 70 oross tns
Chickahominy and one company was detailed for skir
mshng The rebel forces under NAgruder were attack
thess they made stand On Saturday, tte Gath, sn-
other sngassmsnt tcnk place White Oak swamp.
Gsnera Nagse took part In this affair." but our division
was two miles In the a. the time Of the contest
The Tenth Massachusetts, was ordered TO the nsld;
also Thirty sixth regiment Of New York
There very heavy firing this afternoon at about
ono O'Clock on right. General Naglss, 1t appears,
likely tohavs very lively time Of M We are fully the
distance OF two miles from ths firing, which was very
heavy indeed We expecting TO move every minute
Tho rebels are trying 70 break through the right wing
and como down the railroad track. This railway ap-
pears to be thsr great lighting place. they have made
attacks before along the track have always been
bsatsn. Naglss ID doing well.
In the battle Of williamsburg the first regiment OF the
Excelsior brigade ssvsnisth regiment New York volun
tssrs lost in killed and wounded twenty two Of its
issoned officers and three hundred OF its non
commissioned officers and privatss. or these nine
commissioned officers were killed and over one hundred
non commissioned officers and privates were buried
the feld II il due 10 these soldiers commissioned and
nocomissoned that the story Of their trial and
stancy should be told.
10 prs-eminsntly due 70 the ofcsrs who died onhat
ned because regiment Is good bad, useful or other
wise, according II ID disciplined and instructed
By it, officers. Ths devotion d those onicsrs %
their duties had made them amsng ths NEST
accomplished regular volunteer, IN tho services and
the fruit Of their labor regiment Of which they
proud which did honor 70 them, to itself and to
the army. That the story shoad be told also due to
A. 18th uhs,tft al In thn
most discipline and labor in strong contrast 70
much Of the army, believing that by such submissica
they would become better soldiers and better serve the
great in which they engaged bow thsr hopes
verified how well their discipline served them In
the hour Of trial. and enabled them 70 rival the
valor Of the best troops Of ancient and moder times
shall be told When the division Of General Hooker
opposite williamsburg, found itssR engaged with an
overwhelming force W the rebels, by whom
. vigorous attempt was made 20 out6ank II,
the First Excelsior regiment, Now York, Colonel
William Dwight, Jr.,s was ordered 70 take up
and hold position in the threatened flank. This re5
snt rsrsvsd the Third regiment Of the same brigade,
and took up position whore II was partially protected
by some fslled timber. Hardly had the regiment got
into line whom Colonel Dwight saw regiment in line Of
battle within sixty yards Of him. He was about 70 order
his regiment to nre whn Of his officers said That
is one Of our own regiments" Colonel Dwight hssiatsd
for . moment, knowing that Pattsrson's brigade had
taken position earlier in the day to the left Of his
and fearing mistake. The Colonel Of the rebel regi
msnt, for It was, called out, "Show your color" "
This Colonel Dwight did not do. rs that tho -
regiment" said the rebel Colonel. Then Colonel
Dwight ordered his colors to bs displayed.
The rebel Colonel thon exclaimed, "You arc
prisoners" partial volley from the rebel regiment
settled the doubt and at Colonel Dwight opened his
Ore. His regiment was armed with the smooth bore
musket loaded with buck and ball. and their hre at this
short range destructive 30 much that tho
fire Of this the nrst rebel regiment encountered
almost sicnced by few vosys from Colonel Dwights
regiment.
Tho rebels, however, Immediately reinforced Il with
two regiments IN front Of Colonel Dwight Though this
equally large srght flank Of the First Excelsior
and then explained the rebel demand that the coos
bs shown and the rebel confidence that without shot
the First Excelsior was regiment Of prisoners.
AZ long the ammunition Of Col. Dwights rsgimsnt
held out, his men, lying down protecting thsmselyesa -
far Is pessibe by timber, maintained their hrS.
Their ranks however, rapidly thinnsd The orders
TO old that position and that position they hsd
They could hear the rebel volleys far beyond ths on
their left turning the position The IRE Of the enemy
steadily maintained from three regiments In their
front and their right described continuous
strucvs and sweeping. The constant whir Of bullets
waslks the flight Of vast nock Of birds Of prey
s the constancy OF the First Excelsior regiment stoo
Hrm That position key, and key IN their keep
ing. The brave Captain willard, OF another regiment
same up to Colonel Dwight and said 70 him, "No mon
can stand this re" ~ am ordered to hold this position
said Colonel Dwight "and besides retreat IL Impossible
wo SO than "But said the Captain and
the moment ball passed through his head and tho
tencs was unspokcn. lie was dead. Tho gallant Major
Stevens Of the Third regiment Excelsior brigade this
time addressed Col. Dwight to know what he thought OF
the position and prospects COL Dwight told him tha.
he should stay there and that no must rely Gener
Hookers saving him by clearing his left To the adu
tant who going at this moment TO inform the br
gade comm mandcr of tho condition things tho gallant
Major said Tell Colonel Taylor we will all die here or
hold the position"
Colonel Dwight was before this time himself wounde cd
in the thigh LicutsEant Colonel Farns: bad gone from
the neld wounded IN both thighs. Captain 0'Rey had
died gallanty carly in the action Captain Brunn had
died fighting with extraordinary resolution and many
other officers were wounded.
Captain Bugbes, than whom o more heroic soldier
nsvor breathed 70 Colonel Dwight and inform
cd him OF the small quantity Of ammunition yet remsi
ing Of the increasing numbers OF the rebels and spoke
nso VI tne frequency WIN winch tho rebei regiments
were rclisved Colonel Dwight acknowledged tho facts
and Captain Bugboo went 70 his post VOL knowing
that there he mus. d and At that post ho met his sc
nobly. 3
AT this time every onicsr seemed hero but distin
guishcd for their dauntlsss bearing were Captains
Price and Bugbeo Lisutenants Zeiger, Miller, Howe,
Nelson, Haynsr, Levick and Stevens. And many
tale Of gallantry could be told Of the
non commissioned, from O resouts sergeant Who
fought nob to the private who went for the rebs Dag,
and died with his hand on ii and The rssmsatal black
smith, who fought - II made Of iron, and came out Or
the nrs as unharmsd as his own forge.
During this unequal contest Colonel Dwight sndeavor