Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-09-25


on walk, under as CALLING fire OF mus
kerry as is often experienced This move.
ment was evidently no fault OF the men.
The rebels advanced, and as they venturcd
little to the rear of our line Mt that
point, Colonel Burke { acting Brigadier-
General in General Richardson's Divis-
ion, . changed his front, and poured in
several voleys upon their flank, otrewing
the ground with dead. Tho balance,
hastcned somewhat by a cross fire from
Ayers Battery, fed in utter dismay.-
The left of French's Division advanced
again, and fought like heroes until ordered
to the rear.
RICHARDSON'S DIVISION.
Three Brigsdcs Of this Division, com
mandcd by Gen. Meagher, Gen. Caldwell
and Col. Burke, Tenth Pennsylvania, did
not cross the creek until Wednesday
morning, when Gen. Richardson was or
dcred to form on the left of French's
Division. The Division crossed the river
and moved up with alaciity near the line
OF battle, ready for action. 1t was now
about Q o'clock.
LIE IRISH bIlbADbs
In less than half an hour after TAX
ing this position Cen Meaghcr was or
dcred to enter the line with the Irish
Brigade. They marched up the brow Of
the hill, cheering as they went, led by
Gen. Meagher in person, and were well
coined with cheers by French's Brigade.
Tho musketry fighting at this point was
the scvercst and most deadly ever wit
messed belore--so acknov vlelgcd by vet
! erns in the servivc Men on both sides
fell in large numbers every moment, and
those who were eye witnesses Of the strug-
gle did not suppose it possible for single
man to escape. The enemy he G, at first,
were concealed behind knoll, so that
their heads only were exposed. The
Brigade advanced up the slope with a
cheer, when most deadly fire was poured
= in by second line of the enemy con.
cealed in the Sharpsburg road, which at
= this place is several feet lower than the
.. surrounding surface, forming complete
! rifle pit, and from a force partially con
l ocaled still further to the rear.
: AT this time the color bearer in the
S right wing advanced several PAGES to the
front, and defiaatly waved his flag in the
faces Of the enemy; as if a mericle, he
escaped without serious injury.
The line of the brigade, in its advance
> up the hll was broken in the centre TEN
porarily by an obstruction, the right wing
: having advanced to keep up with til,
u colors, and fell back short distance
T. I,,.l Mn,,,ha, liro,tnI t1,f tot
J fence which the enemy lew minuets be
fore had been fighting behind should be
, torn down. His men in front of the
CALLING fire, obeyed the order when the
whole brigade advanced % the brow o
the hill, cheering as they went and caus
), ing the enemy to fall back to their sec
! ond line-the StraSburgh road, which i,
three feet lower than the surrounding STIR
face. In this road were a>ssd large
y force OF infantry, and here was the mos
> hotly contested point Of the day. Eacl
brigade Of this Division was in turn
brought into action at this point and tn,
q strugg lie was truly terrific for more thar
k four hours-the enemy finally however
i were forced from their position. In thi,
t. the New York German Battery stationed
;, on the hill across the Creek, rendered eff
i ticient service by pouring in upon the
Il massed forces constant stream Of 20
= pound shells.
T., Gen. Caldwell's Brigade was next or
+ deled into action by Gen. Richardson ii
person. y too advanced in good or
/ der, cheering, and were received witt
= cheers by lhe Irish Brigade. 1t was
= at about this time that the left of French
/ Division, commanded by Col. Brooks o
; the Tenth Pennsylvania was directed b,
;, Gen. Richardson to wheel to the right
II and a murdcrous ilanking fire was poure,
i into the flank Of an advancing Division
VI Of the enemy, causing him to recoil, an,
II fall back in disorder.
s This Division was actively engaged 70
nearly five hours, and lost nearly half o
/ the men taken into action.
/. The fight which opened by five 'clocl
t in the morning gradually swept down tC
:. the left of the main line, whereit opene,
II about nine o'clock. Soon after this tim
= Cen. Burnside's guns were heard on thu
;, extreme left, on the flank Of the enemy
y he having obtained possession Of tn
it stone bridge across the creek on the Stras
burgh road. This seemed to surprise th
rebels, and desperate effort was made t,
change their line of battle so as to Iepel tn
y thanking movement on their right. II
:, this end their line was extended, an
% large columns Of infantry were throw
n off to meet Gen. Burnside, 50 that by |
; o'clock the reoel line of battle, havin
:, been forced back on the right was cresen
~ shape. Toward night our infantry go
=, to work on the extreme left, the rebe
ranks gave way at all points-but il
a good order. and the days fighting wa
brought to close by n heavy artiler
i lire-and the enemy, in language of tn
! cannoading General, were Just where W
y, wanted them.
=. 1t was undoubtedly the intention O
- Gen. Lee to repeat here what he accom-
=, plished at--crush our right wing b
:, throwing the bulk Of the force at his dis
l. posal; and nothing but the consumat
"a gemeralship prevented success in his pc
u scheme. In selecting Gen. Hooker t.
, take initiative in this important move
~ ment, the right man was put in the rig
- place. lie soon discovered the intende
-, movement, and he was heavily reinforce
l.. Il,