Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1862-06-14

BATTLE FIELD, IonUaN, June :, lcOS.
The Rebel army still occupied the camps
of Casey and Couch's Divisions on Sunday
morning. with a strong picket force guarding
the road facing Sncads house and the wheat
field where our earthwurls were thrown up
extending from our extreme left to the rail
road, near Fair Oak Station. The distance
from the point wLcrc our carthworks We're
located TO the edge Of the wood could not
have been more than four hundred yards
This position the Rebels held until day
dawncd on Sunday morning.
To our right, on the other side of the
railroad, the divisions OF Gems. Richardson
and Scdgwick were found in semi-circic,
with their left resting on General llOokcr's
right, at the railroad, and the left tlanking
the enemy. These divisions were composed
of parts OF the brigadcs Gen. Burns, Gen.
French, Gen. II. +. Mvaghcr, with four bat
tcrics OF artillery.
General lIookcr's division We're campcd
in the wood fronting Sncad's house, on the
Williamsburg road, occupying the centre,
and little in advance Of our right and left
wings. On our left the remaining portions
Of Couch's and Cascys divisions rested with
reserves of Fresh troops extending to our
extreme left, near the middle road, under
Gen. keycs.
General Hcntzclman was on the grodnG
at the front as soon as day dawncd, accom-
panied by two Aids. General Hooker met
him, and the two Generals sat down at the
foot of tree behind our brcastworks,
arranging q plan for the days proceedings.
Generals jameson, KCyCs and SicklcS arri-
we'd at the front soon after, and the fight of
Saturday was talked over rs one Of no parti-
cular advantage to the enemy, rs they had
concentrated their main force upon this por-
tion OF our front lines, and the effect was
disastrous to them. Their loss in killed in
Saturdays fight exceeded ours two TO one,
and OF their number wounded it is imposSi-
Bile to form an estimate. Several of their
men brought in rs prisoners gave their loss
in killed and wounded upward Of three
thousand. They made desperate attack,
it is true and gained considerable ground,
beside a large number OF guns, camp cqui-
page, &c, ~ trophies.
PREPARATIONS FOR TIE BATTLE on Sun
DAY.
General llrintlclman, at \. NJ, ordered
u reconnaissance 10 be made Ivy a small force
on tie left OF the wood. and to the ri ght,
toward the railroad \ Lieutenant with
two cavalry men crossed over the wheat field,
behind Sncad's house. and was about 20 pen
citrate the wood near the Williamsburg road
when the cncmy's pickcts appeared at his
front. lie Immediately turned back and
reported 10 Gen. Hcintzelman the close
proximity of the enemy.
In the meantime the other parties sent
out came in, and reported the enemy in
great force in front Of our right and left
ilanks.
General IIcintLclman then ordered out
General Ilookor's Division, part Of which
had been left to guard the camp, and GER
tain position on our extreme left. The regi-
mcnts General Hooker brought on the field
were the five regiments comprising the
Excelsior Brigade, under command Of Gen.
ID. L. SiCkles, and the Fifth and Sixth New
Jersey Regiments Gen. fIcintzelman having
resolved to attack the enemy and drive them
from the wood.
THE BATTLE.
1t was about quarter of seven when Gen.
Heintzelman ordered General Hooker to
attack the Rebels in his front, and drive
them from the woods. The Excelsior Bri-
gade marched out from their camp in the
woods to the Williamsburg road, the New
Jersey Fifth and Sixth following. The
Excelsior Brigade filed in the wheat field in
front of our carthworks, TO the right of the
road, while the two regiments Of New Jersey
troops took position to the left AS the
Second Regiment, Excelsior Brigade, was
forming in position to the front OF the wood
the Rebels opened rapid and heavy fire
upon it, killing two or three prlvates, and
wounding about six. Among those wound
ed at the first fire of the Rebels was Lieut..
Lawria formerly an aid to Gen. Sicklcs)
and Capt. Nolan.
The fire of the enemy Immediately became
simultaneous along their entire line.
The New Jersey troops fought splendidly,
loading and firing without tlinching from
their position. General Sicklcs' regiments
did great execution, advancing at every fire
upon the Rebels, masked 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.
General Sicklcs rode along the front of his
men, in the midst of an iron hail which the
Rebels poured in, and gave orders for the
Second Regiment, Col. G. B. Hall, TO charge
bayonets. No sooner was the order given
than the men fixed bayonets. Colonel Hall
CALAMITY led the charge-one Of the most
brilliant ever made in any battle. Not a
man shirked or struggled from the ranks.
The Rebels presented strong front TO the
cleaning bayonets Of our men, not hun
dred yards distant
A. the Second advanced on the double