The New York herald., 1863-05-07

forced Whole brgades would be swept away In the de-
termined effort to force our lines and still other brlgades
would spring up to take their places And % they fought
u.s. continued to sight, until the cartridge boxes
OF began TO grow light and their powers pf en-
durance began TO flag under the constant exertion.
In this ightfuI e and death struggle the whole plain
iChancelorsve swept BY the missiles OF the
other party and heart sick and weary Of witnessing
such sacrifices OF human life turned my horses head
away and moved down the road towards the ford And
here other equally scng met nay eye Long trains
Of ambuancss were constantly coming down the road,
depositing their loads Of suffering manged at i'm.
pomptu hospitals hastily fitted up beneath the shelter
Of the woods where large gangs OF surgeons
pied TO the utmost limit OF their ability In
dressing the wounds. The road swarmed with
those not sufhciently wounded 70 necessitate car
riage in an ambulance, yet for whose sufEerings Is
they went hobbIng and groanlng along the ssoutest
hearted must bleed
And stll the carnage went on. It was nine
o'clock Since dve O'Clock that deafening. horri'
Bile roar OF musketry bad known no cessation
and the loud booming OF hundred cannon
sent the sound only to greater distance without adding
70 its volume. And yet held their position Could
human endurance stand mores They, too were suffer
ing not slain 80 avishy the enemy because sheltered
but thes ranks were sspsibly thinning Hafpast nine
o'cock-our column growing weak 10 ocock-the work
Of death still goes on. Tan thousand brave men have
closed their eyes in death during the past I'VE hours
Two thousand an hour slani Ten thousand more
have been mangled and crippled FOR life. The ratio
Of deaths 70 the simply wounded was equalled
in war; Ono to one. We moved the enemy down
by brigades; they wounded rs BY dozens and
scores Could we endure the exertiou long enoughs
Even though they did greatly outnumber should
finally destroy them. But our men were exhausted.
THalfpast ten O'Clock Our ranks are broken. From
sheer fatigue our men have given way. One
trance into those ride pits and the still dense
masses OF the enemy make but short work
OF clearing them But though repused, are not dis.
ordered Like veterans, every column falls back In
ORDER and the line ID re-esabshed at the old brick
house, Chancellorsvills.
lHB sLoss o. rm BATTLE.
The old house had been taken early In the bat.
tie for Q hospital and was now crowded with
wounded Our lines were reformed along In front
OF TO hold, possible, the roads. The enemy
halted the edge OF the woods, as II to breathe, and
there was few moments OF silence. That horrible
has ceased The quiet Is painful. But 1t lasts but few
seconds Tho enemy brings forward his guns and com.
uences to shell our new position. W
NARROW ESCAPE OF GEssRAL HocKss.
And here the Commanding General met with very
narrow escape He standing upon the porch Of the
old brick house. leaning against Of the pillars when
q
General was thrown down somewhat stunned;
but otherwise unhurt 1t not his fate 10 be In
ured in this battle. He had been the field throughout
its continuance everywhere present where the fight was
the hottest encouraging his to renewed efforts and
had escaped without q scratch His safety was nest
miraculous
- BURNED.
Tho vigorous shelling OF the enemy riddled
that Z old mansion In all directions, and some
OF s6e wounded who had already had their
wounds dressed, were killed Al last an incen.
diary she'll burst within the building, and soon II was
envelopei in flames Some Of the wounded were re.
moved. How many pcrished have net roen able 10
ascertain.
A RENEWED AssArrr
Between eleven and twelve clock the enemy mustered
their forces and renewed the assault They came down
upan US in aod masses, against which It seemed like
folly for comparatively small force wearicd and
exhausted they were, 70 contend they did con.
tend. Thsy accepted the challenge OF bartle, and
though overpowered, fought like heroes contestine
every inch Of ground back to the White House. half
mile on the road the Ford and here contest ceased
Here We had powerful array artillery that drove the
rebels back rapidly they advanced aud they were
glad 10 accept the opportunity Of resting from the serce
struggle
There 10 much Of incident and personal expsrisnce and
observation thas am reluctantly compelled 10 omit In
this communication owing to the length 10 which Il has
bssn extended These items may furnish the matter for
aaoshsf letter.. Let me simply add here that, save
sliaht skrmsh this evening tho e the particulars OF
which have no yst received there has been fighting
since Sunday.
As rssuJ u the great struggle csnno, be told, Tho
burning woods have ended ne torture Of many
wounded, while the buk Of our own slain and
many Of eur worst wounded were len upon
ths neld from which We were driven. We
have lost ground; bnt our lines arc now
90 circumscrbcd that shall have trouble In holding
them We have taken about ave shousard prisoners In
addition 70 which We have weakened the enemy by
twenty thousand killed snf wounded Our own loss will
be not sAs from Twelve thousand killed. wounded and
missins
CORRESPONDENCE Of Mr.. [. W. BUCKINGHAM.