The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1862-06-11
Gen ssickics aud the Excelsior Brland

THE Excelsior Brigade, 10y its gallant conduct
In the series Of battles from lerk Nn to Rich
RJni. bids fair to carry oil the palm Of honor.
AT the battle Of WILLIAMSBURG j, held its posi-
ton unsupported Tor several hours. ami by i,s
firmncss saved the fortunes Of the day. When
Gen. HOOKER found himself threatened with an
oyerwA declining force of the enemy, who attempts
ell TO outfank him. the LIT EAcelsio. regiment,
under Col. DWIGHT, was ordered TO occupy
threatened point and holl 1t at all h"z'rd'.
Three rebel regiments advanced, aud
terrible combat onsucl, which lasted
un.il thr ammunition Of the regiment was exc
haus.cl But it WAS ordered To hold the posi-
tion, AMI ii Gil 60, although tic ranks were fear
fully thnnci. Then Col. DwiGur ordered his
men to take what ammunition thcy could from
tho dead, fix hayoucts. and lie down. II was
obeyed, all the men held the post until the
tarly ro-ciioi,cmcnts arrived, ami the brigade
commander, Gen. Mp>TGoMEEY, ordcrcd tho
regiment to retire. Thoy re,rcatcd slowly, viii
tier fdc.S 10 ne oro'7y, and here Col DwIGIIr
was wounded in the head and abdomen, and fell
into the hands Of the rebels. Lieut.. -Col. FAM
HAM had been dang rousiy wounlc early in the
GERS fell. At morning when the regiment went
into action it mustered eight hundred strong; at
evening It only had four hundred. and, as the
little band marched TO the rear, Gen. lIIiNrz-
I.kMAs and his s,ail uncovered their heads.
The General ordered his whole division TO give
the First Excelsior nine cheers. "Sollicrs,"
said the General, "Whcn you took the name Of
the First Excelsior Regiment YOU did no, de-
serve it. Now you have iron it," Nor was
this all. The next day Gen. MCCLELLAN came
70 the bedside Of Col. DwIdur who had been
paroled and thanked him AMI his regiment for
their conduct.
OF the battle on Sunday last we have fewer
accounts. General SiCKLEs headed the brave
siion wanna no nau Itissi anu uia,i ,a,...i-
thanks TO the patriotism anl sagaciiy Of IN,
President, who had re-nominatcd him after hi.
6rst rejection by a partisan Senate. As the Bri.
gade wheeled into action, We are told tina. cheer.
ran along our whole lino That it conducted it.
self well, we have the assurance of Gen.
MCCLELLAN. who stated IN his first dispatch,
announcing the victory, that the Second En-
cclsior male two splendid regiment Layonot
charges" The bay0nci seems to be the f.yogi,c
weapon Ol MCCLELLAN, ana the Second Excel
siog obviously knows how to use it with good
effect.
Since then We hear that the Excelsior Dri.,,lc
as occupied the post Of honor OF tn whole army.
In the advanced position won from tho ~, my.
Oh its loss in the engagement. We have .ls yet 40
sccount, but it must have been severe.
General SicKLES has now fully asserted hi,
position and there Is 40 doubt that he viii no.
bly, maintain it, lie raised his Drigadc in spite
Of opposition that w1ul have dismaycd man
Of less inlomina,c will and patriotism. Other
men have dome well, but he best Of all. III
plac, Of one regiment he has raised Gyc-at his
own private cxpcnso--for party Aul personal
luminosity deprived him of the all rendered 10
other voluntary regiments. A year ago, of all the
papers in the city the Sry alone asserted lis
right to b. permitted to serve his country and
exposed the unjust and the unratriotic treat
ment he received from the press and the party in
power in this city and state. Now when the
result has 30 fully vim Heated General Si,Krrs'
title to the gratitude Of Lis countrymcn, il /.
only an act Of simple justice TO recall the facts.
overlook his past career, and give i'm and the
Excelsior Brigade the credit they d,s.rye.