The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1862-05-21

AMI only a small detachment of horse
~ = nd be seen at distance from
,h's last position warily observing our
movements.
Arranging, through spv staff officers,
for the completion of the movements
thus Leyun, Brigsdier General Breckin
ridge WAS left with his command rs II
rear guard to hold the ground we had
occupied the night preceding the first
battle, Just IN front Of the intersection of
the Pt,sLurg and Hamburg road', about
four miles from the former place, while
,he rest Of the army passed to the rear
in excellent order.
On the following day General Breck
inridge fell back about three miles TO
Mickel's, winch position we continued to
hold, with our cavalry thrown cousidera.
bly, forward IN immediate proximity 10
the battlefield.
Unfortunately, towards righ, Of the
TIh instant it began TO rain heavily {;
this cou,iuued Throughout, the night the
roads became almost inpassahle in many
places, and much hardship suffering now
e"sued before sll the regiments reached
their eneampments. But despite the
heavy casualties Of tie two eveutful DAYS
OF the 9th and 7th OF priI, tins srmy is
more confident Of ultimate success than
before its encounter with the enemy.
To Major Generals Polk, Bragg, and
usrdee, commanding corps. AID 10 Brig.
Gen. Breckenridge, commanding the re-
serve, the country is greatly indebted for
the zea;. intelligence. and energy with
which all orders were .xrended-ior the
foresight and military ability they dis
play ed in tue absence nf Instructions in
the many exigeucies OF the battle, on n
field SO denseiy wooded and broken, and
for their fearless department as they re
pea,edy led their commands personally
10 the onset upon their powerful adxerss.
ry. 1t WAS under these circumstance
that General Bragg had two horses shot
Under him, that Major. General ll.rdee
WAS slightly wounded. his coat rent by
balls and his horse disabled, and tina,
Major. Genera! Breckenridge WAS twice
struck 10y spent balls
For the services Of their galan, subor.
dnate commanders, and of other officers.
as we'll ss for the details of the battle
held, must refer TO the reports OF corps,
, division and brigade commanders, which
shall be for" arded MS soon AS received.
10 give more in detail The operations
OF the Two battles resulting from the
movement on PittsLurg than now ut
tempted, must have delayed this repor,
for weeks and interfered materially with
the important duties Of my position but
| may be permitted to say, that no, only
did the obstinate conflict for l2 hours
on Sunday, leave lhe Confederate army
masters Of the battle field. and our ad
versary benten, but we lett that field on
'hs next day only after eigh, hours in
ceasant battle with superior array o.
fresh troops, whom we had repulsed il
every attack on our lnes-so repulsed
and crippled, Indeed, rs TO leave it un
able TO take the field for the campaigt
for which II WAS collected and equipped
at such enormous expense, and with sucl
Profusion OF nil the appliances Of war -
These successful resulrs were not a
chieved, however, as before said, wi,hou
severe loss loss not TO be measured b,
ihe number Of the slain or wounded Lu
by the high social and personal worth q
so large number OF those who wer,
killed or disabled, including the comman
deI Of the forces. whose high qualitie
will be greatly missed in the moneptou
campaign impending.
deeply regret to record, also, tn,
death Of the Hon. George NJ johnson
Provisional Governor Of Kentucky, VII,
went iuto action with the kentuck,
troops and continually inspired them b,
his words aud example. Having bi
horse shot under him OH Sunday, he en-
tered the ranks Of q Kentucky regimen
on Monday, aud fell mortalIy .~ounde,
towards the close Of the day. Not b.
State alone. but the whole Confsderncy
has sustained a great loss in the death q
this brave, upright, and allie man.
Another gallant aud. able soldier an,
Captain was lost TO the service of tb
country, when Bdgad'er General Glad
den, commanding LIST B,i tSde, Wither
Division, % Army Corps. died from
severe wound received on the Oh ins,an,
after having been conspicuous 10 hi