Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-05-14
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A AceOast Aof ,hes Rattle near
WlolansbulG, W.


THE FOBT BNCOUNTB2BO BIZ BAMCVSAs
Different ssatemeuts have been made
a. to the force the enemy had engaged
in this movement Ooe prisoner stated
that there we're six regiments, and an.
other that they were led BY two Gene
rails. It 10 probable that there we're
two brigsdes, or parts Of two. One Of
these was Gen. Early's, AID comprised
the 5th North Carolins, aud Path Wiz
g'nia regiments, and Georgia regiment.
Dead men were found on the field IN
the uniform of the Louisiana Tiger.
Beyo.d this We cannot designate the
regiments; but it would be safe to state
the force 1t three thousand. On our
part this force was encountered by the
9th Maine, the 5th Wisconsin,, and IL
AID New York regiments, and Captain
Wbeeler's battery Of volunteer artillery,
With some guns also, We believe, Of
Captain Keonedy's battery; but Capt.
Kennedy Vas on duty in another part
Of the field.
THE FIELD.
Gen. Hancock's position was in an
open plain Of about two miles in length
from north to south, and aUeut nile
in width. He had entered it At the
northerly end, and at the other stands
Fort Magruder, and half q mile away
from the line of woods that bounds the
plain on the left, are farm house and
two barns. Between the farm house
and Fort Magruder arc two redoubts,
and three hundred yards above the farm
house is the first redoubt. Around this
farm house Gen. Hancock's men were
posted. Wheeler's battery was in pos.
ton by the corner Of the farm towards
the plain, and commanded the whole
field below it. Behind, and we'll to.
wards the first redoubt on the left, was
the 9th Maine regiment, and between
the farm house and the first redoubt on
the right, we're the 5th Wisconsin and
43d New York regiments. Skirmishers
from the latter were thrown out in the
woods on our right and far in advance !;
skirmishers OF the 9Th Wisconsin were
in advance on the open field, and Skin
,nishers of the 9Th Maine were in ad-
vance, also in the open field, on our left.
ALL READY.
Under cover OF the wood and directly
through it. the enemy advanced from
the neigbborhood of Fort Magruder
doubtless tempted. as we have said, by
the bait of battery OF beautiful field
pieces. From The sharp fi'e Of the
skirm,shers in the woods on our right
came the FIRST intimatiun of movement
in that direction, and this put all on the
alert. BY the field pieces, the great
central point Of interest, every man was
in Misplace ard many eyes turned with
deep interest on the handsome and in
lie ctual face of their commander, the
amiable gentleman and gallant soldier,
Capt. Wheeler, Of the New York Vol
unteer Artillery. He was not only in
his place, but 1t was imirently the right
place, and he was the right man in it.
Down the lines too OF tho infantry regi.
ments all was steady, and the jaded
men, who had bivouacked the night be-
fore in mud and rain, and we're drabbled
from head to foot With the one and wet
TO the skin with the other, stood up in
their places like heroes, though they
did not look exactly as if they were on
parade. They did not have the parade
dress, nor had they either the parade
faces.
SPLENDID ADVANCE OF THE HNRMY.
Still the FIRE grew hotter in the woods,
and In few minutes, at point fully
half mile away from the battery, the
enemy's men began to file out Of the
cover and form in the open field. 1t
was bold and proved an expensive
way to handle men. Wheeler opened
his guns on the instant, and the swath
of dead that subsequently marked the
course Of the brigade across the open
field began at that spot. At the same
moment also, the skirmishers in the
field began their fire. Still the enemy
formed across the opening with adm,ra.
bic rapidly and precision, and as ccolIy
AS il the fire had been directed else.
where, and then came on at the double
quick step, in three distinct lines, firing
as they came. All sounds we're lost I,
a few moments in the short roar of the
field pieces, and in the scattered rattle
and rapid repetition Of the musketry.
Naturally Their fire could do us, under
the circumstances, but little harm, and
thus we had them at fair advantage.
and every nerve was strained to make
the most of it. Still they came on
They we're dangerously near. Already
the skirmishers to the left had falle.
back to their line, aud the skirmishers
to the right had taken cover behind the
rail fence that ran from the house to
the woods, bat from there they blszed
away as earnestly as ever. Yet the
guns are out there, and they are what
these fellows want; and in the next 10.
slant the guns are silent. For moment,
in the confusion and the smoke. one
might almost suppose that the enemy
bad them; but in q moment more the
guns emerge from the safe side of tie
smoke cloud, and away they 90 across
the field to . point near the upper re-
doubt. There again they are uulimber-
ed, and agais they play away. Farther
back also go the sk'rmishers. And
now tor few moments the rebels had
the partial cover of the farm and out
buildings; but they saw that they had
all their work to do over, and so they
came on again. Once more they are
in fair, open field, exposed both TO ar
tilIery and musketry; but this time the |
distance they have got to 60 is not so
great. They move rapidly there, how