Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-05-14
on their arms. That nights work was

Now cone to Sunday. 1t was per-
fectly evident, from the position OF affairs
On Saturday night. that there must be q
change of our lines, which would throw
the enemy out of our rear aud into our
front again. 1t will be seen by what
skillful generalship the enemy was fought
and checked on front, and flank, and rear,
while this was being done.
Gen. Reynolds First Army Corps sr-
rived at United States Ford on Saturday
afternoon. 1t was Immediately put into
position on our right, which was with
drawn from the plank road to the Ely's
Ford turnpike. This lire was immeli-
ately formed by Gems. Reynolds and
Meade, the latter's position, on the left,
having been relieved by Gen. Towards
eleventh corps, which, notwithstanding its
disorganiZed condition was so far reorgan
lied duriug the night as to be fit for duty
again this morning. They were assigned
the position on the left, where it was
probable there would be little or no fight
ing, and were protected by the strong
works built the day before by General
Meade's corps. Our new line now sssum-
ed the shape of triangle, prolonged at
the apex, the right of the line being some
what longer than the left. As the por-
ton of the line on the right was new, time
was necessary to fortify and intrench it,
and the work was carried on vigorously
by the fifth and first army corps
1t was very evident at daylight this
morning that the day would bring forth
terrific battle. We knew that the enemy
had been reinforcing his line all night, at
the expense, undoubtedly, of the strength
of his force on our left. His intention
was, evidently, to fight COR the possession
of the plank road, which it was perfectly
apparent he must have, as that portion of
it which we then held was subject to the
enemy's assaults in front and on both
tanks.
But the possession OF this road was not
obtained by the enemy save at our own
time, at his severest cost, and after one of
the most desperate, tenacious and bloody
conflicts, for its short duration, of the
whole war. At 5 O'Clock A. NJ. the reb-
els could be plainly seen upon the plank
road, about mile and half from the
Chancellor House, which Gen. Hooker
still retained as his headquarters, though
a shell had gone through it the evening
before. and another had cut down tree
directly in front of it.
Our line OF battle was formed with Gen.
Berry's gallant division on the right, Gen.
Birney next on the left. Gen. Whipple and
Gen. Williams supporting. At 81 A. NJ.
the advance became engaged in the ravine,
just beyond the ridge where Capt. Best's
guns had made their terrific onslaught the
night before, and where they still frowned
upon the enemy and threatened his de-
structiOn.
The rattle of musketry soon became a
long continued crash, and in a few mo-
ments, as battalion after battalion became
engaged, the roar surpassed all conception
and indicated that the 6ght would be one
of the most terrible nature. Gen. BERRY,
division, which had checked the enemy g
advance the night before, engaged him
again, and if it were possible for them to
add mole laurels to their fame, then they
did it thrice over again. The enemy ad.
vanced his infantry in overwhelming
numbers, and seemed determined to crush
orr forces. But the brave men of S1oKLEs
and SLooUM, who fought their columns
with desperate gallantry, held the rebels
among them. Gen. FRENoH's division
was sent in on the right flank of our line
at about A. NJ, and in short time a
horde of ragged, streaming rebels running
down the road, indicated that that portion
of the enemy's line had been crushed. At
8 O'Clock A. NJ. Gen FRENCH sent his COM
pliments to Gen. HOOKER, with the intor.
nation that he had charged the enemy
and was driving him before him.
SIOKLEs maintained the attack upon hi,
line with great endurance. The enemy
seemed determined to crush him with Lne
immensely of his forces, and, as subseque III
ly shown from the Statements of prisoners
five whole divisions of the rebel ann,
were precipitated upon this portion Of tie
line, for from these five divisions We took
during the day an aggregate of over two
thousand prisoners.
The exploits of our gallant troops in
those dark, tangled, gloomy woods may
never be brought to light; but they would
fill hundred volumes. 1t was deliber-
ate, desperate hand -to-hand conflict, and
the carnage was perfectly frightful. Cool
officers say that the dead and wounded of
the enemy covered the ground in heaps,
less of their lives, and literally threw them
selves upon the muzzles of our guns
Many desperate charges were made during
the fight, particularly by Berry's division.
Motifs brigade made fifteen charges, and
captured seoen stand of colors, the Seventh
New Jersey, Col. Frsncine, alone captur-
ing four stands vi colors and five hundred
prisoners.
General COUGHS Second Army Corps,
though onl in part present, did excellent
work. It Was Gen. French who charged
and drove the enemy OF the flank, and it
was the indomitable Hancock who gal.
lantly went to the relief of the hard
pressed Sickles.
The engagement lasted without the
slightest intermisslon from $50 A. NJ. TO
$40 A. NJ, when there was temporary
cessation on our part, occasioned by get.
ting out of ammunition. We held our
position for nearly an hour with the bay
onet, and then, being re-supplied, an order
was given to fall back to the vicinity of
the Chancellor House, which we did in
good order. Here the contest was main
tanned for an hour Or more, not so severely
as before, but with great hovoc to the
enemy and considerable loss to ourselves.
The vicinity of the Chancellor House
was now the theatre of the fight, and my
visits to that spot became less frequent.
Gen. Hooker maintained his headquarters
there until 10 A. NJ, when it was set on
fire By the enemy's shells, and is now in
ruins. Charlottesville is no longer in
existence, having perlshed with the flame,
but Charlottesville is in history, never to
be effaced.
Our new line was now so far establish