Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-12-25
Yiria DescriptIon of BattIe WorI..


A correspondent Of the Philadelphia
Press gives the following description Of
the charge Of French's division at Freder-
icksburgh:
"The battle then began by the advance
of Frenchs division on the enemy's left
supported Immediately by those of Hancock
and Howard-the whole three composing
the army corps Of Couch. The object was
to take the first line of batteries in their
front Steadily the brave fellows ascend
ed the range Of hills, two ranks deep, un-
der a furious fire of artillery, flashing
deaths terrors under the most fearful form,
and gaily they climbed the numerous fences
in their way. Men dropped, and broad
gaps were made in their ranks, but the
lines Immediately closed, and were COM
pact as before The wounded silently fell.
All bosh about the screams Of the wound
ed, that we read in books. On, on they
went, until blazing line Of musketry
stormed upon them from rife pits hitherto
invisible, and induced halt. Firmly they
stood and returned the FIRE. Up went the
sword Of field officers, wildly cheering them
on. Again they advanced. Again they
halted. Line officers ran behind the men,
picking up csrtridge-bexes from the dead,
and replenishing those of the living. Back
and forth they went in the rear of their
companies, asking men if their ammunition
held out, indicating localities where shots
might be effective, and encouraging with
hopeful words.
"Steady, boys, steady; give EN- HI"
Smith are you hurt 27 " Yes, sir; my
armys broke" "Go to the rear, my boy"
Another man falls. "Where are you
struck, Roberts 2" ain the thigh, sir I
can't move" uLie still and keen cool
They'll take you q way soon" Dennis,
what's the matter with your Why the
ID don't you fire faster ?" The balls
banged the top o. me muskit together, sur,
and broke me baggenet" "Piteh it away;
here's another "Fire faster, Jones.
That's right, Robinson Give ifemI Give
il'emi Splendid boys, splendid Down
with you there's a new battery openingW
So it goes; encouragments and reproof by
turns, in quantities varied by the individ-
ual vitality Of the officers, interspersed
with constant orders TO lie down and avoid
the fire Of batteries. "D-n this KNAPP
sack !" says one 90 can't stand it." and
it is jerked off, "This coats as hot as
bell p says another, off it goes. Terrible
is the work of death The enemy in rife
pits have an advantage three to one. They
pop their heads up, fire, and down they 60
to load. "0h, blast it Captain we amt
got no chance against them fellers. We
ought to have reinforcements."
"This cry extends along the lines. Col
onels, in their visits to the companies hear
it from the line officers; it soon comes to
the knowledge of the Generals, and, after
an hours fighting, an order to fall back is
given, which is obeyed with steady pace
and but little struggling, towards the city.
Here they are Joined by the lst and Sd ai-
visions Of Wilcox's corps, commanded by
Generals Burns and Getty, and again ad-
vance. They are soon followed by the I'd
division, and the line deliberately loads
and fires in unexceptionable order, sup
ported by our blazing batteries. Ammuni-
ton becomes exhausted, and they again re-
tire, when, after receiving cartridges, they
are again reinforced by the division Of
Humphrey and Griffin on their left, from
Butterfeld's 8 corps and Hooker's grand di-
vision. The roar of eannnr,, tha --Li-- -
scream Of shell, the crack Of musketry is
unending. Poor fellowsl God help them
What will not the nation owe to men who
face these horrors? The day deepens, and
lull takes place. Burnside rushes over
the river from his commanding position at
the Phillips House, followed by orderlies
and aids. Presently his stirring presence
is betoken by furious charge-the dark
ening hills fash with vivid ight-the
cracking of rifles is tremendous-cheer
rises after cheer-a range of rihe-pits is
won, and the night closes with gain Of
half mile"