The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-06-13
THE BATTLE NEAR RICHMOND.
ACCOUNT OF SUNDAYS FIGHT.

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1t was about quarter of seven when Gen
Heintzeman ordered Gen Hooker to attack
the rebels in his front, and drive them from
the woods. The Excelsior brigade marched
out from their camp in the woods to the
Williamsburg road, the New Jersey 9TH and
9th following. The Excelsior brigade filed
in the wheat field IN front of our earthworks.
to the right of the road, while the two regi-
ments of New Jersey troops took a position
to tie left. As the second regiment, Excel
>ior brigade, was forming in position TO the
front of the wood, the rebels opened rapid
and heavy fire upon it, killing two or three
privates and wounding about six. The fire
of the enemy Immediately became simultane-
Gus along their entire line The New Jer-
sey troops fought splendidly, loading and fir
ing without finching from their position
Gen Sickles' regiments did great execution,
advancing at every fire upon the rebels mask
ed by the wood. However, it was plainly to
be seen the enemy had every advantage, and
it was resolved TO clear the woods at the
point of the bayonet.
Gen Sickles rode along the front of his
men. in the midst of an iron hail which the
rebels poured in, and gave orders for the I'd
regiment, Col G. b. Hall, TO charge bayonets
No sooner was the order given than the men
fixed bayonets. Col Hall gallantly led the
charge-one of the most brilliant ever mad.
in any battle. Not a man shirkcd or strag-
gled from the ranks. The rebels presented
strong front to the cleaning 5ayonets of
our men, not a hundred yards distant. As
the I'd advanced on the double quick, cheer
ing and shouting, the rebels held back their
fire until our men were hardly one hundred
feet from their line, when they fred mur-
derous volley into the ranks of the I'd. 1t
proved too low, and few were killed or woun-
ded. Immediately after the rebels fired this
volley, they broke ranks and fed through the
wood. A few of their bravest remained to
resist our passage, bu: they were soon now
ed down by the steel front of the gallant I'd
| Excelsior. Major Herbert of the Sth Alaba-
MA regiment was taken prisoner at this time.
His horse had been shot under him, and as
/ he fell he received shot in his side He
sprang to his feet, however, almost instantly.
and seeing several of our men in front OF
! him, mistook them for some of his own regi-
ment. Rally once more, boys" he cried, but
they corrected his mistake by presenting
| their bayonets and demanding him to surren-
der, which he did with all the grace and fin
ish that an original secessionist, as he after
wards informed me he was, could do under
the circumstances The rebels made two or
three attempts to flank US on the left, after
retreating from their center, but they were
beat back with great loss, our troops pursu-
ing them for nearly two miles.
None of our forces on the left flank partici-
pated in the fight. The rebels were defeated
and driven back by Hooker's and Richard.
sons divisions. At II o'clock the firing on
both sides ceased. The rebels had fallen
back to beyond our original lines, leaving
guards stationed to watch our advance and
also to bring their wounded off the field
The enemy were driven from every position
they occupied by our troops. The main col
umn rested mile in advance of their posi-
ton, at the commencement of the fight.
At about II o'clock, Gen Mcclellan rode
up to the front, accompanied by his staff ant
body guard, and met Gen Heintzelman seat
ed at the foot of tree. Little Mac demo
cratically seated himself at the side of Heint
zelman on the ground, when his staff grouped
themselves, resting en- stumps Of trees and
legs. There was the Prince de Ioinville
Count de Paris, and the Due de Chartres
forming select group of three, eonversinR