The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1863-05-22
ARM Gorr . aNrns
CAMp OF 4TH ONO RECT J
OPPosITE FREDEKicKsBRG, :
~ Nav 9th. 1SCi3.


| Ed. JEFFERsoViAN:--It might prot
ably be of some interest to your read
ers toeknow Of the welfare of the Han
cock county boys in tins regimeu',
Especially now, since we have agai,
run our chances in battle and taken .,
short sojourp in Dixie. .. D.,
On Tuesday April 2sth with g drys
irations, in haversacks, and knapsacl.s
we broke up our camp in the old win
ter quarters and took up our line o
march in the direction of Gordons
vile. The day was pleasant, and with
an early start, aud the men auxiO 3
to get ont where we could once more
see somebody and fence. All things
bid fair for o, long days march, nor
did we stop until we arrived at the
old United States ford, ten miles
aboye Fredericksburg. The next day
lour regiment was thrown out as picl J.
cts along the river bank Secesh was
plainly visible on the opposite shore,
Iloiterinp about the forts, and rifle
lpits which they had constructed to
command the IOrd, others were Jump
ing, and / noticed party playing
ball, all as merry as though apprehen-
ding no danger, stipposing MS TO be
only the regular pickets but next
morning no rebels were to he seen.
and 3 o'clock two pontoon bridges
spanned the stream, and our brigade
was the first to take possession OF the
deserted works
After passing their works, we halt
ed and formed in line of battle, scout
ling parties were Immediately sent
out to ascertain the whereabouts of
the enemy. but nothing could he heard
= of them, and we again resumed our
lnarch in a South -Eastwardly direct
ion. The road was strewn with KNAPP
sacks, blankets aud other articles
which plainly indicated that they had
made Il hasty retreat
We canned for the ni"ht in the
n angle of the plank road leading to
Gordonsville, and the main pike tc
/. Richmond. The balance of the 2nd
corps, also the 1t and 3rd crossed
i after us. and carc up during th,
hight. Here we formed II Junction witt
tae 9th, llth and 18th corps, whicl
rr0sscd farther up mt kelly's Ford
md came down on the planl, road.
Friday morning long columns o
,ilfantry, and large number of bat
: te les pushed father on toward til,
e rear Of the enemy; hut they wer
= soon discovered, and brisk Sllirmish
ing began, which lasted all night
= In front Of or main camp an,
s. seemingly base of operation, lie
: girt OF pine woods, abo II hall mil
sidc, near the margin OF il was OF
y ufP OF battle In front. OF this. an
at parallel with it, was girt of ope
h 'rouirry abont u mile wide, this boz
tered on what is known as the Pin
wilderness, embracing many tho1e
ne ans acres which mt one time was ric
ioa 20 banco plantations in the margi
oi this, and nearly parallel with orr.
WIS th' rebel troops .arravel in lin
/. of battle
4 tlooNefs object nov, was to hol
- TIE mNe, AL plank. roal, which I'll
] rebels musthave, in order to retire:
Oh. if necess,sv.
About noon IN Saturday. slirmisl
~ lng began on tn, left, aud the nrtiley
on both sides seemed disposeJ not
in let each other rest Gen. Hook,
'ae took up his headsuartci, in n larc
hrick mansion whici stoo out on ii
- yr'y front line of battle. this the rel
els shelled, and seyera, times he r.
: ! very narrow escapes Sells burstir
4 = aIl around the house, but he seem,
- mind them not so mach as scho
boj' would Il humble bee. -- -
10 About four in the afternoon. d
/ afternoon, the rebels made n t.espe
. ate attack on the right of oar cent?
o.. anl was hravcly met by our infantl
. hIt hey seemed determined to car
an an everything 10y storm. They made
peated charges uppon our batteri
oms and were moved down with grape a
- canister, like grass; but like {
E he ocean tide, on they came, yelling q
'g5 whooping like demons. At this w
,aio ,aih moment the llth corps gave way a
began disgraceful retreat to the re
this s",e or7 reDels a bold face,
.., when met by our second line, W,
-. checked, and sent back with hea
y, loss, the rebel artillery had so INT
4 advanced they were enabled to ST
We the rear of our line. This caused
panic among the teamsters aud str
ope' glers, and joined by the skedad.ll IL
% %oan. from the llth corps, all started
y Ia the river pell nell, but by the ex
sie' y, ton of officers and cavalry were tn
ly stopped.
Heavy cannonading and muslie
GU, was kept up till near midnight, wh
A.. as if by common consent, hostili
cs .s y, ceased, and both armies rested
is az tIheir arms, within almost speak
W. distance.
M Sunday morning, before dayli.
&c the fight was resumed with redout
,ssm energy; the very earth seemed
DsS shake under'the roar of artillery
VII Eclash Of musketry. BY 8 a. m.
4 - = fight ragged furiousy, and yict
- seemed to be on a turning poin
H' The rebels, as they did the day
~. fore, began charging and yelling,
Zoo 90 were met with showers of bu
Zoo Zoo rom our brave boys, and for
100 fhours, without nome is cessa
90 the fighting contiued; then gradl
!, 10 died away into stray shots. l.
80; 30; The lossoH bothIsides was he
400 but the rebel prisoners all ack
iIIo edge that their loss in Saturday