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

were killed or wounded. =
Immediately after the Rebels fred this
| vollcy, they broke ranks and fed through
| the woods. A few of their bravest remained
| to resist our passage, but they We're soon
moved down by the steel front of the gallant
| 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 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
| regiment.
Rally once more boys !" he cried, but
they corrected his mistake 10y presenting
their bayoncts and demanding him to sur
render, which he did with all the grace and
finish that an original ScCessionist, as he
afterwards 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 centre, but they
were beat back with great loss, our troops
pursuing them for nearly two miles.
Richardson's brigade, before the enemy 5
centre gave way, had hard fight the
ground was hotly contested by the Rebels.
The Fourth and Fifth Excelsior Regiments
but before the battery got in fair working
order, the enemy began to show signs OF Il
retreat. The Rebel officers could be heard
distinctly urging the men to fight, but they
would run away. The Irish Brigade fought
splendidly, and routed the Rebels ut the
point of the bayonct
None OF our forces on the left flank parti-
cipatcd in the fight. The Rebels were de
tratcd and driven back by Hookcr's and
Richardson's Divisions.
Advance parties secured the woods on
both side, of the Richmond road, and sue
cccdcd in capturing nearly two hundred
OF the Rebels, among them three iicutcnants.
At IL 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 of the field
The enemy were driven from every posi-
tion they occupied, 10y our troops. The
main column rested mic in advance of
their position at the commencement Of the
fight.
At about twelve o'clock Gen. Mcclellan
rode up to the front, accompanied by his
Staff and body guard, and met Gen. Hcint-
Zclman seated at the foot of Il tree. Little
MAC dcmOcratiCally seated himself at the
side Of Ilcintzclman, on the ground, when
his staff grouped themselves resting on
stumps OF trees and logs. There was the
Prince dc Joinvillc, Count dc Paris and the
Due de Chartrcs, forming Il select group of
three, convcrsing quite animatcdly in French,
and the other members cf McClcllan's Staff,
joining in with little English.
"Thcy fight on Sunday always said the
Due de Chartres, alluding to the Rebels.
Gen. Mcclellan had been seated probably
half an hour, convcrsiug with Gen. Heint-
2clman, when Gen. Hooker rode up from the
extreme advanced line gained that morning,
and aS he was dismounting from his horse
General Mcclellan rose from his scat, and,
advancing, shook him warmly by the hand,
and congratulated him and his noble divi-
sion in terms of the highest praise. a long
conversation took place between them. 1t
was plainly seen no further advance was to
be made that day, as no troops were ordered
up TO the front.
At little after one o'clock Gen. Mcclellan
mounted his horse and rode along the lines
of his troops, back and forth, until all the
1 soldiers had good opportunity Of seeing
him. Napoleon never Was received 10y his
enthusiastic troops with greater manifesto
tion Of delight than was Mcclellan by his
army, showing that he possessed the conf.
dencc us well us the hearts his men. They
feel that they must ever be victorious under
his guidance
Prisoners continued to he brought in very
fast; We had captured nearly five hundred
/ They were Immediately handed over TO
Provost Marshal Young, of General Hooker's
Division, who sent them properly guarded
| to lCintzClman's headquarters, at Savage'S
Station. Many of them were dressed in new
clothes, captured in Caseys camp--a large
supply having been sent up to Casey's Diyi-
sion Il few days before the battle but had
not been distributed to the men. Theresult
was, that the enemy, who had been wearing
faded, worn-out home spun, dotted their
forms in our gcntecl uniforms. This was
the cause of many serious mistakes, our
men unfortunately mistaking them for our
own.
INCIDENTS OF THE FIELD.
Gen. Sickles had several narrow escapes
he was always to be found in the thickost
of the fight. Had those gifted Senators who
refused to confirm his nomination but wit
messed the enthusiasm of his troops when
serving under him, and his military qualii-
cation for the office, they would do penance
until reelected.
The Rebels, during the fight, had their
sharpshooters posted in the trees to pick of
our oifcers-a fact discovered in the early
part of the action. One of these sharp
shooters had been wounded, and lay down
at the foot of tree. As Gen. Sickles was
riding in the wood, he took deliberate aim
and fired, but fortunately missed his mark.
Some of our men rushed at the wounded
Rebel, and were about despatching him
with their bayonets, when Gen Sickles
ordered them not TO harm him, but take
him prisoner
As | stood watching the regiments of
Hooker's Division march in the battlefield,
| recognized, marching at the head of his
company, Capt. johnson, belonging to the
Third Regiment Excelsior. Capt. johnson
was in the battle of Williamsburg, where he
acted with the most heroic courage, and
was wounded badly in the lett arm by Il
MIME ball. SO dangerously was he woun-
dcd, that the surgeons, at one time, thought
an amputation OF his arm would become
necessary to save his life. The wound,
however, took favorable turn, and he is
now in fair way of recovering. At the
head of his company marched this gallant
officer, his bandaged arm resting in a sling
As he passed by me, smiling, an Aid from
Gen. Keyes, who, with his staff, was on the
opposite side of the road, rode up to me and
inquired the name of the wounded officer.
gave it to him; he exclaimed, "He is a
| brave manm If his country rewards her