The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1863-05-22

UNr NA1 VI GENs SEDUW1OAs
Awful Fighting and Slaughter.
Retreat Across the Rappahannock.
The Defeat at fredericksburg.
FALMOUTH, Va, Tuesday, May 5, 1868.
Yesterday two terrible battles were
fought by the Sixth corps, Gen. Sedgwick,
resulting in fearful carnage on both sides.
Owing TO the sudden appearance of the
enemy in the rear, I was unable yesterday
to complete my account of Sundays ope-
rations, and will now go back and refer
briefly to them. After the charge of the
flying division on the Washington artillery,
portions of Howe's charged up the hill
further to the right, under a most CALLING
fire, capturing four guns. They were
taken, the earthworks were stormed.
twelve guns captured, and the stars and
stripes planted.
The various divisions of the corps (Sixth,
Gen. Sedgwick's) moved rapidly forward
up the Gordonsville turnpike, to the dis
tance of four miles, skirmishing all the
way, where they found the enemy in force,
when another battle ensued, in which
Brooks, Newtons, and the flying division
were engaged-the first suffering severely.
The rebels were in wood, and, as we ad-
vanced to it, opened CALLING fire. Rus
sells brigade, composed of the 95th and
and 117th Pennsylvania, and 121st New
York, made charge, and suffered severe
ly, the 95th being almost annihilated.
While the battle was progressing, the ene-
my suddenly commenced firing on our left
to the rear, and Brooks division was
obliged to change front. The battle lasted
till dark without any decisive results being
obtained on either side During the night
the woods took fire, and it is feared that
many of the wounded on both sides perish
ed in the flames. Monday morning the
rebels suddenly made their appearance on
the hills to the left of Fredericksburg, and
coming down rapidly, occupied the city,
thus getting in the rear of the corps.
A serious blunder was perpetrated in
pushing our forces on so rapidly without
ascertaining whether or not there were
any rebels on the woody heights to the
left of the city. One whole corps came
down, and, forming in line of battle, i'm
mediately marched after the corps. The
only way of retreat lay by Brooks ford,
five miles above the city. Gen. Sedgwick
was signaled from this side of the river of
the condition Of affairs, and Immediately
turned about, formed a line of battle facing
this way, holding the rebels in check, and
working down toward the ford. The lines
of battle remained in this condition until
about the middle of the day, when the
rebels attacked us, and were CALAMITY re-
pulsed-Howes division capturing three
hundred prisoners. The rebel reinforce
ments had fought none, while our troops
had been fighting more or less since the
/ previous Tuesday night For time it
was feared that the corps could not make
communication at Banks ford, and that
the whole of it must be captured. But by
noon connection was made, and Gen.
Sedgwick sent for supplies.
Meantime the wounded in Fredericks-
burg were being taken across the pom
toons to this side. all of them being got
away on the sudden appearance of the en-
emy on the outskirts above. The doctors,
supposing, of course, that the enemy
would come down and take them, made
all the arrangements for being taken pris-
Oners; but, for some reason, either thro
fear of our forces above or siege guns on
this side of the river, the enemy did not
advance into the town. The positions Of
the respective armies were then as fol-
lows:
| Our main force on the north, then the
main force of the enemy, the Sixth corp:
below, corps OF rebels still lower, and oul
heavy guns on this side-a most eXtraOr
binary sandwiching of opposing forces to
gether.
Skirmishing occurred along the whole
line until 81 O'Clock in the evening, wher
the rebels attacked us from two ways
The Union forces were at the time arraye(
in an arc, both wings resting on the river
the right at Banks Ford They were ar
rayed as follows:
Flying Division, Brooks.
Howe's,
80. Newton's.
I'd Div, I'd Corps. -.
80. Together with the VT. Brigade
River. River
We were arranged in two lines of bat
tie. The enemy, attacking the second di.
vision of the second corps and Howe's al
first approaching them diagonally from
Fredericksburg and the country directly
beyond. Gen. Mills brigade, consisting
of the Thirty-third New York, Twentieth
New York, Forty-ninth New York, to-
gether with the Vermont brigade and
the Seventh Maine, bore the brunt of the
charge, repulsing the enemy handsomely
The Vermont brigade were on the lef
of Gen. Mills. Gen. Mills brigade ant
other troops made counter charge; bu
reinforcements coming up to the enemy
we were not able to drive them. Th,
Seventy-seventh acted nobly, but tn,
Twentieth New York behaved very dis
gracefully, as it did at White Oak Swamp
and falling back, brought cross fire OF
the Thirty-third. Their Colonel, how
ever. conducted himself most bravely.
The other lines of battle are now attack
ed by overwhelming numbers and oblige'
to fall back to the river. While the bat
tie was raging terribly our siege guns o.
this side of the river opened a rapid fir
on the enemy from behind, but they ad
yanced so far in driving our forces tina