Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1862-05-23
Battle of Williamsburg.

Stlll the nre grew n0tteT IN the WOODS, ana
in Il few minutes, at point fully half a mile
away from the battery, the encmy's men be-
gan to file out Of the cover and form in the
open field. 1t was bold and proved an ex-
pcnsivc way to handle men Wheeler open
ed his guns on the instant, and the swath of
dead that subsequently marked the course Of
the brigade across the open field began at
that spot. At the same moment also the
skirmshers in the field began their fire.
Still the enemy formed across the opening
with admirable rapidity and precision, and
as cody as il the fire had been directed else
where, and then came on al the double quick
step, in three distinct lines firing as they came.
All sounds were lost for few moments in
the short roar Of the field pieces, and in the
scattered rattle and rapid repetition Of the
muskctry. Naturally their fire could do us
under the circumstances, but little harm, and
thus We had them at fair advantage, and
every nerve was strained to make the most
of it. Still they came on. They were dan
gcrously near. Already the skirmishers to
the left had fallen back to their line, and the
skirmishcrs to the right had taken cover be-
hind the rail fence that ran from the house
to the woods, but from there they blazcd away
as earnestly as ever. Yet the guns ore out
there, and they are what these fellows want /;
and in the next instant the guns are silent.
For moment, in the confusion and the
smoke, one might almost suppose the enemy
had them; but in moment more the guns
emerge from the safe side Of the smoke cloud
and away they 60 across the field to 4 point
near the upper redoubt. There again they
arc unlimbered, and again they play away.
Farther back also go the skirmishers. And
now for few moments the rebels had the
partial cover Of the farm and out-buildings
but they saw that they had all their work to
90 over, and so they came on again. Once
more they are in fair, open field, exposed
both to artillery and muskctry but this time
the distance they have got to go is not so
great. They moved rapidly: there, however,
is another dangerous line Of infantry they
are near to us but we are also near to them.
Scarcely hundred yards were between them
and the guns when our skirmish fire became
silent; the lines Of the 9th Wisconsin and
the AID New York formed up in close order
to the right Of the battery, the long range Of
muskct barrels came to one level, and one
terrible volley tore through the rebel line
In moment more the same long range Of
mnskcts came to another level--the order to
charge with the bayonet was given, and away
went the two regiments with one glad cheer.
Gallant as our foes undoubtedly were, they
couldn't meet that. But few brigades men
toned in history have done better than that
brigade did. For space which was gener-
ally estimated at thrcc-qunrters Of a mile they
had advanced under the fire Of splondidly-
served battery. and with cloud Of skirmish-
crs stretched across their front, whose fire
was very destructive; and If. after that, they
had not the nerve to meet line of bayonets
that came towards them like the spirit Of des-
truction, it need not to be wondered at
They broke and fled in complete panic. One
hundred and forty five were taken prisoners
Nearly five hundred were killed and wound
ed.