The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1862-12-20

~ ssm1as isfasass Sses ssgagsd. Tbs
sepssise solsass bad fairly got - work
80 rsesi arsillsrJ oonnsseed playing mp
. . throsgh TIE fog, shots aimed ct ran
-, Aswsver, produced little effect. Not
vishstAading To view vas % obscsred, the
rebel artllierists kept up eannonadins sew
sssl hours and - peal after pesl rang
through the air the effect uas terribly sub.
line. The 6rs vas returned BY our bate
riss 10 gallant style. For hours nothing
bus the dsafening roar Of artillery could be
hoard % I'll sides sp - soos, shes the fog
cleared OF and ballooaists we're enabled %
get glance y the sseny's works. The light
VS. an artillery one and productive Of no
very important result TO either side. Soon
- the suosnine showed itself however, she
infantry we're brought into play and the
work commenced il real earnest.
Generals Mead and Gil bos's divisions
sscoansered the right Of A. P. H,l's COM
naod and Longstress's veterans. The
fight ragged furiously the entire day. Our
troops suffered terribly from the eDemy's
artillery. The enemy were posted behind
hills Of great strength. At one time it
seemed ,spossibls 70 dislodge .beu- About
noon Gen. Gibbou vas relieved BY Gen.
Dosblsday's command. Gen. Mead, Who
vas fighting against superior odds, vas
also reinforced By Gen. Stobemsp's com
osnd, which bad The effect Of checking the
rebels, and driving them back short dis
lance. i wss 10 the midss Of this struggle
that Gen. G,bbos vas wounded and par
italy disabled. He kept the field, however,
during the remainder Of the day. During
the afsersson Newton's division wss moved
up to the left Of the center when the firing,
when had ceased 90 that part Of the field,
redostled every boar. Tho troops we're
here exposed TO plugging Ere from q e
snems's artillery. which WAS posted on the
neiehb oring bills. and for time the Union
soldiers were opposed to destructive FIRE.
Our artillery returned the fire w"h deadly
rff.o,, and immo s,ised themselves by their
accuracy Of aim and answering courage,
Sumner, commanding the 7th and Oh Q rps.
commenced action on the right. At 10
O'clock the 6gnt ragged furicusly. The en-.
envy occupied the woods aud hills 10 the
rear of the city, and in point Of advantage
the odd. were decidedly in their favor.
The courage Of the Union troops vas IN.
bounded. However every inch of ground
was botly contested. 1t soon became ev'.
dent that the FIRST ridge Of hills on which
the enemy were posted behind earthworks
could not be Carried except at the point Of
the bayonet; accordingly, Sumner ordered
Frencb's division to charge upon the bat.
teries. Gen. Towards division acted as u
support, and the troops sprang forward to
obey the order with enthusiasm. By this
time the atmosphere was clear, except from
the smoke Of the artillery, and good view
could be had Of the rebels position and
the country adjoining. Steadily they
marched across the plain, aud never fsl.
tered until they were within dosen yards
Of the ridge, xhen suddenly they were met
by q CALLING FIRE from rebel infantry posted
behind stone wall. For few moments
the head Of the column exhibited some con.
fusion, but quickly forming into line retired
back to ravine within musket shot OF the
enemy. Here the Union troops were re-
inforced by fresh body Of infantry, Who
advanced to the assistance Of their COM
rsdes 10 splendid style, notwithstanding
large gaps were made in their ranks Al
every step. Reinforcemsnts having arrived
and the line Of assault being again formed,
and the order double quick with 6xed bayo.
nets given once more, the column advanced
and dislcdged the rebel artillery. From she
moment the s,orming party left the ravine
up to the time they reached the foot Of the
hills they we're exposed to the hottest fire
from the enemy. The concentrated FIRE
less from the artillery than the infantry
rained upon their devoted heads in man.
nsr truly terrific. No troops, however dis
cirlined or brave, could stand the shock
and after suffering terribly our soldiers
were thrown into disorder and brought to q
sadden halt. Al this juncture the cente'
column gave way and fed 10 dismay, bu
we're afserwsrls rallied and brought back
A ssoosd and third attempt vas made T.
dislodss the rebel arsillerists, bot 10 vain
aad at each attempt the ranks Of he storm
ing party grew thinner and thinner. Som
usr now brosghs all his available ar,iller.
| into play. hoping 70 shell the rebels ou,
Fsou that time until dark the var 1T can
! non vas inosssans. The rebels, who hnt
been driven back short d,ssance daring
the dav. returned to Their original pos,ti",
vbeu night came, % that we we're unabl,
TO remove our dead. Several attempt,
wers made ~ remove 'hs bN as during th'
night, be, the sn~Dy "p-oed upon M vnl
there infantry. and compelled ~ to des,ss
The center. 81 ind b srnv cnrps unds,
Hooker, On operated v,ih Summers enl
unn. During the hattie the men we're full
Of hope and eonijeos Of sarsess, and shey
Sled eus 9f the e,sy IN spieodsd order
Ssiraishisg eosoroe-d shortly after DAY.
hight, and .hort tine sfssrssrd she rebe