Daily Nashville union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1862, 1862-06-08

as the previous day, from the woll.directed
ERE Of our artillery, piling the ground with
che slain. Terrible also 10 them we're the
frequent charges of our solid columns, press
ing them back, step by step, TO the last point
Of endurance, when they broke and run, in
gloriously leaving behind them many Of
their men and officers, as well as privates,
prisoners in our hands. The number Of these
IL Is not possible TO ascertain, several days
necessarily elapsing after every engagement
before full inventory can be taken.
Details Of the second Days Fight.
THE BATTLE.
II was about quarter Of seven when Gen.
Heintzelmau ordered Gen. Hooker to attack
the rebels in his 'front.' aud drive them from
The woods. TIE Excelsior Brigade 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-held in front Of our earth
works, TO the right Of the road, while the
two regiments Of New Jersey troops took a
position to the left. As the Second Regi-
ment, Excelsior Brigade, was forming ia po-
sition to the front of the wood, the rebels
opened q rapid and heavy ere upon it, kill
ing two or three privates, aud wounding
about six. Among those wounded at the FIRST
fire of the rebels was Lieut.. Lawria (former-
ly an aid TO Gen. Sickles) and Captain No
Ian.
The fire of the enemy immediate became
simultaneous along their entire line.
The New Jersey troops fought splendidly,
loading and firing without ninchng fcom
their position. Gen. Sickles' regiments did
great execution, advancing at every FIRE upon
the rebels masked by the wood. However,
Il was plainly to be seen the enemy had eve.
ry advantage, and il 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
Second Regiment, Col G.. b. Hall, TO charge
bayonets No sooner was the order given
than the men fixed bayonels. Col. Hall gal.
lantly led the charge-one of the most brill
liant ever made in any hattie. Not man
shirksd or struggled from the ranks
The rebels presented a strong front to the
cleaning bayonets Of our men, not hun
bred yards distant.
As the Second advanced on the double
quick, cheering and shouting, the rebels held
back their fire until our men were hardly
one hundred feet from their line, when they
fred murderOus volley into the ranks Of
the Second. It proved too low, and few
were killed or wounded.
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, bat they were soon
moved down by the steel front of the gal
liant Second Excelsior.
Major Herbert, of the Eighth Alabama
Regiment, was taken prisoner at this time.
His horse had been shot under him, and as
he fell be received shot ia the 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
bayonets and demanding him TO surrender,
which he did with all the grace and finish
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
retreatng from their centre, but they were
beat back with great loss, our troops pursu-
ing them for nearly two miles.
Richardson's Brigade, before the enemy's
centre gave way, had hard fight; the
ground was holly contested by the rebels.
The Fourth and Fifth Excelsior Regiments
were sent to support Que Of Richardson's
Batteries, but before the battery got 10 fair
working order, the enemy began TO show
signs OF a retreat. The rebel officers could
be heard distinctly, urging the men to Eight,
but they would ruu away The Irish Bri.
gade fought splendidly, end routed the reb.
els at the point Of the bayOnet.
None OF our forces on the left flank parii.
cipated in the fight. The rebels were defeat.
ed aud driven back by Hooker's aud Rich
ardson's Divisions
Advance parties secured the woods on
both sides of the Richmond road, aud sue.
ceeded in capturing nearly two hundred of
the rebels, among them three Lieuteuants,
At IL o'clock the firing on Both sides
ceased. The rebels had iallen back 80 be-
yond our original lines, leaving guards sta
toned TO watch our advance aud also TO
bring their wounded eff the field.
The enemy were driven from every posi-.
ton they occupied by our troop. The
main column rested a mile ia advance OF
their position, at the commencement Of the
fight
At about II O'Clock Gen. Mcclellan rode
up TO the front accompanied by his staff aud
body guard, and met Gen. Heintzelman
seated at the foot Of a tree. Little Mac DEM
ocratically seated himself at the side of
Heinlzelman, on the ground, when his STAFF
grouped themselves, resting on stumps Of
trees and logs. There was the Prince de
Joinville, Count de Paris, aud the Duo de
ChartTess, forming a select group Of three,
convtrdng quite animatedly 10 French, aud
the other members Of McOlelan's AT Join
iug In With q little English
"They eight on Sunday always said the
Due do Cha tres, alluding 10 the rebels.
Gen. Mcclellan had been seated probably
a half au hour, oouveIaing with General
Hentzelman, when Gen Hooker rode up
from the extreme advanced liIe gaine that
morGing, aud as he was dsmountinR from
his horse Gen Mcclellan ross from bis seat.
and advancing, shook him warmly by the
hand, aud congratulated him and his noble
division IN arms OF The highest praise. A
long conversation took pace between them.
IL was plainly seen DO further advance wac
TO be made that day, ~ no troops were order
mn N, ffta