The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1862-06-12
ordered GIN. Hooker-


| attack the rebels in his front, and drive
them from the woods The Excelsior brig
4 ade marched out from heir camp in the
woods to the Williamsburg road, the New
Jersey 9Th and 9Th following. The Ex e.
sfor brigade fled 10 the wneas field 10 front
of our earth works, 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
weed, the rebels opened a rapid aud heavy
fire upon it, killing two or three privates,
| and woundlng about six Among those
wounded at the first fire # the rsbets were
Lieut.. Lawria formerly an aid to General
Sickles) and Capt. Nolan.
The fire Of the enemy immediate became
simultaneous along their entire line
The New Jersey troops fought splend;dly,
loading and firing without dinching from
their position. Gen. Sickles regiments did
great execution, advancing at every FIRE
upon Ethe rebels masked by the wood.
However, it was plainly to be seen the enc
my had every advantage, aud it was re-
solved to clear the woods at the point of
the bayones. - ,-s - siA4+as
e- Gen. rSickles rode along the front of his
men, in the midst fan iron hail which the
rebels poured in, aud gave orders for the
I'd regiment, Col. G. 3. Hall, to charge
I bayenets. No sooner was the order given
! than the men fixed bayopets. Col. 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 a strong froutto the
| cleaning bayonets of cur men. not a hun
| dred yards distant.
As the Second advanced on the double
al nd
| held back their FIRE until our men were
hardly one hundred feet from their line,
when they fred q murderous volley into
the ranks Of the Second. 1t proved TOO
|zlow, aud'few were killed or wounded
Immediately after the rebels fred this
volley, they brake ranks aud fed through
the woods. A few of their bravest remained
to resist our passage, but they were soon
moved down by the steel front of the gall
liant Second Excelsior. a
Major Herbert, of the 9Th Alabama r. g-
! menf, was taken prisoner a. this tiale. his
horse had been shot under him, aud as he
fell he received a shot in the side. He
spraug to his feet, however, almost Instant
~, and seeing several CT our men in front
of him, mstOob them for SOME of his own
regiment.
Rally once more, buys" he cried, hut
they corrected his mistake by presenting
bayonets and demanding hin 70 surrender,
which he did with all the grace afd finish
that An original seeessionist, as lie after
wards Informed me be was, could do under
the circumstances. The rebels made Two
or three attempts to flank US on The left /
after reIreating from their centre, but they /
were beat back with very great loss, our
troops pursuing them for nearly two miles |
Richardson's brigade, before the ehemy's |
centre gave way, had hard fight; the |
ground was hOtly contested by the rebels |
The 4th aud 5ih Excelsior regiments we're /
sent 70 SUPP oFt one of Richardson's latter |
les, but before the battery git Ia fair work /
ing order the enemy began 10 show sgns |
of a retreat. The rebel officers could be |
heard distinctly urging the men 10 fight, /
Dat they would run away. The Irish brig /
ade fought spieudidIF, and routed the rebels /
at the point oil the oayoaet.
None of our iorc4s on he left flank par |
ticiPat@d - the Sight. The-rebs1s were de- T
leated, and driven back by Rockers and /
Richardson's divisions
Advance p,rIies secured the woods on
both sides OF the Richmond roa /, AID sue
eeeded in capturing nearly two hundred
Of the enemy, and amopg them three Lien
tenants
Al IL O'clock the firing upon both sides
ceased. The rebels nal fallen back TO be-
yond our original lines, having guards sta
noned to watch our advance, aud also to
bring their wounded Off the field.
The enemy were driven from every posi-
ton they occupied by our troops. Their
main conmn rested mile in advance of
their nosition, at the commencement of the
fight.
AT about II . clock Gen. McCle Ian rode
up to the froat, accompanied by his staff
aud body guard, and met Gen. Heinizsman
seated at the foot of IA tiee. Little Mac
demoeraticaily seated himself at the side of
heiuiz'lman, on the ground, when bis staff
grouped themselves, sting on stumps OF
trees and logs. Ehere was the Prince de
Joiuville, Count De- Paris and tn Due de
Chartrts, forming select group of three.
conVerSinS quite huimatedly in French, and
the other members of McOlellans staff j1iu-
ing III with a little English.
They 4 ght on Sun1 ~, al ways" said
the Due de Charities, aliudng to the rebels
Gen. Mcclellan had een seated probably
a bali an hour, conversing with General
Helnizelman, when Gen. Hooker rode no ,
from the extreme advanced iiae gained that
and rs be was dismo1ntit & from
his hurse Gen. Mcclellan rose from his seat,
and, adVaacing, sh1ok him warmly by The
bald, and congratulated him and his noble I
division in arms in terms eff the highest
praise. a long conveisati0u took place be- '
tween them 1t was PLAINLY seen no iur- {
-her advance was to be made that day, as i.
10 troops were ordered up to the front r
At a little after one DEL )ck Gen. McClel-
an mounted his horse aud rode along the p
ines Vt his troops. back and forth, until all b
he soldiers had a good opportunity Of see
pg him Napoleon never was received by
MS enthusiastic troops with greater mani
estation OF delight than was Mcclellan by :"
us army, showing that he possessed the
confidence, as well as the hearts of his men
They feel that they must ever be victorious q
lnder his guidance.
Prisoners continued TO be brought in very :
asst; we had captured near,y FIVE hundred :
hey were Immediately handed over to q
Provost Marshal Young, of Gen. Hooker's d
ivision, who sent them properly guarded
o Heinlzelman's headquarters, at Snyage's n
station. Many of them were dressed in .
ew clothes, captured in Casey's camp-a -
arge supply having been sent up to Casey's
vision a few dAys before the battle but