Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1862-05-15


first intimaGon of q movement In that direction, and
this put all on the alert By the field pieces, the great
central point Of interest," every man was IN hls place,
and many eyes turned with deep interest on the hand
and intellectual face of their commander the anna
BILE gentleman and gallant soldier Capt Wheeler, OF the
NV York Volunteer Artillery. he not only in his
place, but it was emnenty the right place. and be was
the right man in it. Down the lines to, OF the infantry
regiments all steady, and the faded men, who had
bvouacked the night before 10 mud and rai0 and were
dabbed from head to foot with the and wet to the
skin with the other stood up in their places like heroes
though they did not look eIlcy as they were on pa
rade They did not have the parade dress nor had they
either the parade faces.
Still the FIRE grew hotter 10 the woods and in few
niru,es at A pint fully bali mile away from the bat
try the euemys men began to file out Of the cover and
form In the open field. Il was bold and proved an
expensive way TO handle men. Wheeler opened bis
guns on the instant and the sWath OF dead that suose
Guenty marked the OF the brigade across the
open field began at that spot At the same momsn,,
also, the skrmishers in the field began their fire. Still
the enemy formed across the opening with admirable
rapdity aud precision and as cody as IT the ire had
been rected elsewhere and then cane on a. the double
quick tsp, in three distinct nes, firing as they came
All sounds lost for few moments In the short
roar OF the field pieces and 10 the scattered rattle aud
rand repetition of the musketry Naturally their
Are could do u.s. under the circumstances, but little
harm, and thus we had them az fair advantage,
and every nerve was strained 10 make the most OF
IT, Still they came They were dangerou'y
near ALREADY the administers the LETT had ial-n
back to their ne and the skrmshers to the right had
taken cover behind the rail fence that ran from the
house 10 The woods but from thence they bIsz ID away
earnestly as ever Yet the guns are out there and they
are what those fellows want and inthe next instant
the guns are silent. For moment, IN the confusion
and the smoke one might almost suppose that the enemy
had them but in a moment more the guns emerge from
the safe side of the smoke cloud and away they go
the field 10 point the upper redoub There again
they are unlImbered, and again they play away Far.
her back aso 20 the skirmishers And nov for few
moments the rebels had the partial OF the farm
and ouibuiiAgs but they saw that they had all their
work 10 do over, and so they came on again. Once
more hey are In fair open field, exposed both TO art
lery and musaetry; but this time the distance they
have got to 90 is not 80 great. They move rapidly
there however IL another dangerous line of infantry
they arr near to but we also are near to them -
Scarcely hundred yards between them and
the guns when our 5kirmish FIRE became silent; the
lines Of The Fifth Wisconsin and the Forly.thrd New
York formed up close order to the right OF the battery,
the long range of muket barrels came 10 level and
one terrible vclley tore through the rebel line. In
moment more the same long rauge of muskets came TO
another eve-he order to charge With the bayonet
given ard away went the two regiments with one glad
cheer Gallant as our foes, undoubtedly, were, they
couldn't meet that But few brgides mentioned in his
tory have done better than that brigade did. For
snacs which was generally estimated three quarters
OF
Y served battery, aud with q cloud OF skrmislers
stretched across their 'front.' whose FIRE was very destruc
ive and IT, after that, they had rot the nerve to meet
line OF bayonets that towards them like the splr-
OF destruction iUcsnate IL need not be wondered a..
Tney broke and fl ID in complete panic One hundred
and forty five taken prisoners. Nearly hve hun.
dred we're killed and wounded.
This bayonet charge Ia all gamuon. Our troops
were directed to retire by Gen. HILL and did so in coed
,,of,, o,I Ia. lie
only of the generals unwngness keep bis little band
of heroes longer exposed to such unequal chancesEp
WHTG
lis TO the eternal honor Of our own men that they
had looked upon this advance OF the enemys line with
spirit OF generous admiration, and that they spoke to
their prisoners 10 din rent manner from that which they
use towards prisoners generally.
This took place about halfpast four P. NJ, and as
will be seen, altogether 'sde fight"
On the whole field together We had been all day IN
very nearly the place and IL seemed very mu "a Is
if there was mudde or at least want of general d.
rectou or Of any apparent purpose. Gen. Reyes, who
had been very active oil day, Was everywhere aud saw
personally all that done within bis CORPS but be
was subordinate Was there any plan OF action all that
dayy Or had pur ed fugitive army ouy TO 'hold
our own" when got up y such queries through
many minds hat day.
At e1lc,ly se p. N, Cen Mcclellan came up. In
few mi1uts be had gathered around him nearly all the
general officers then accessible heard the accounts Of
each and seemed TO see and very clearly just
how matters stood. Scarcely Minutes had elapsed
after his arrival on the field before he give the order TO
support Gen Hancock aud press the advantage AreIdy
gained in that drec ion and in ave minutes
thousand on the march tor that point Night
fell before they reached IT, and no more was done that
day; but there subsequent examination proved,
the enemy's weak point and the General at once
what alas whole army had blundered over all day.
The Herald OF the lO;b, contains the following ed.
toral reference to the battle. /: IS oharaoerisicaly
untrulhiul
Il is announced, by steamer from Yorktown at For
tress Monroe that Gen. Mcclellan had advanced twelve
miles beyond Williamsburg, and has bad several skr-
mishss with the enemy, routing them with heavy loss
The embarkation Of troops for West Point was pro-
crossing with gres! rapidly, and heavy battle rad
taken place "Wednesday afternoon bet seen the troops
under Gen Franklin and the rebels under Gen. ,e, who
we're endeavorns 70 make their way 10 Richmond. Ii
is said have been the seyeTest battle on the Peninsula
aud the rebels were totally defeated and f,uked being
driven back towards the forces under Gen. Johnston
the Chiokahomiuy. TIE whole number Of Uoouists
killed and wounded three hundred. The enemy
we're driven back by guLbosts With great slaughter
They had not less than thirty Thousand men, while
whole force not over twenty thousand landed.
DISPATCH From WILLIAMSBURG.
WILLIAMSBURG. Mas 8,
Va Washington, May Y 1889.
The details OF the engagement Of Monday voiu-
minOus and incorrect that It will be necessary TO await
the report OF General Mcclellan, which is being
prepared
The fical report of the killed and wounded being
lengthy 10 send the military telegraph, 1t has
been forwarded by mail
Aserers from the enemy are hourly coming in.
Gen. Jameson has been appointed Military Governor
snd Provost Marshal OF the town.
The expedition up York river has been most success.
ful and We now occupy West Point Heavy firing hes
been heard in tina. direction but le particulars not
known.
Yesterday the advance guard OF our cavalry had q
skrmsh with the guard OF the enemy about seven
miles from here.
TIE main body of the enemy have re.reated across
the Jlue5 river The general impression with military
is that the rebels have made their last stand 10 Vr
ginA.
For distances OF some ten miles bsYond Williamsburg
the road lined with broken army wagons in the retreat