Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1863-07-11
Tho Battle OF Thursday.

y
the belief that the rebels were conceutra
ting their forces ON our left flank, which u
felt to be secure. under the protection OF
the invincible Third corps. Our line was
Immediately strengthened on that Hank,
General Sickles' corps being sent TO It's
support, and several batteries from the re-
serve being brought out aud placed 10 po
sition. ..l. H.I .-'st"
AT about 2 o'clock T NJ, the enemy
sent bis first compliments by u salvo Of ar.
tillery, his first shells falling uncomfortably
near General Meade's Headquarters
From this hour forth TO s l 2 O'clock, oc
cured by all odds the most sanguinary en-.
gagemeuts yet chronicled in the annals OF
the war, considering its short durstion-
The artillery attack which was made by
the enemy on the left and center was rapid
ly followed by the advance of his infantry.
The Third Corps received the attack with
great GOODNESS. The rebels at once made
for our flank, aud kept moving heavy col.
umns in that direction. This necessitated
support, which was quickly given by the
Third corps, the division Of Gen. Barnes
being sent TO the right, and that Of Gen
Ayers, Regulars, TO the left, with General
Crawford in the reserve.
The battle now became perfectly fearful.
The armies engaged each other at very
short range, and for three long hours the
war of musketry was incessant. | have
heard more noise, louder crashes, in other
battles, but never saw or heard of such
desperate tenacious fighting as took place
on this hank. The enemy would often
bring up suddenly heavy column of men,
and force our liue back, only to be in tnrn
forced back by our own line of gittering
steel. Our gallant columns covered them
selves with glory over and over again.
They fought superior force in numbers.
The dispositions of the enemy were very
rapid, for look where you would on that
field body of rebels would be advancing
Our dispositions would be equally rapid,
and the enemy fond more than their equal
10 such veterans as Sckles and Birney and
Humphreys. AT | 2 O'Clock Gen. Sick.
les was struck in the right leg by piece
of shell and borne from the field The in
jury was so great that amputaion became
Necessary, and it was performed successful
ly below the knee.
The struggle grew hotter and hotter
The second corps was called on for aid, and
though its own position was strongly threat
ened, yet the first division, formerly Gen.
Hancock's, flung themselves into ihc fight
With desperation, and after long and OBJ.
s,inate conflict the enemy slowly and sui
lenly gave way. In this last charge the
brigade of General Caldwell, Second corps,
and that OF Colonel Swi'zer, from the Fifth
corps, won great houors The rebels made
frequent attempts to capture our artillery,
| and at one time had Watson's battery in
their possession, but it was retaken in fu
rious charge by Birney's division xxx
The battle lasted till fully 2 o'clock
when the enemy fell back to his old posi-.
tion, and left our veterans the ensanguined
victors of that field Our pickets were
thrown out, aud our lines covered most of
the field, including large number Of the
'enemy'S dead and wounded.
visited some portions Of the lines by
moonlight and con bear personal witness
to the terrible ferocity Of the battle. In
front of some of our brigades, who had
good protection from stone walls or fences,
the rebel dead laid piled in lines like win,
'N"o w ~ ilOhb vi NCuC. al w COO .
the Philadelphia brigade-they lay so
thick as to literally cover The ground. Not
far from here vas found the body Of Gen
Baiksdale, that once hanghty and violent
rebel, who craved as dying boon cup of
water and stretcher from an ambulance
boy. He is literally cut to pieces with
wounds, and must die W as. ra. .
A great and magnificent feature of this
fight is the splendid use Of artillery. Tho
our line of battle was only a mile and a
half long, yet almost every battery belong.
ing to the Army of the Potomac was more
or less engaged. Every one Of the reserve
batteries was brought into action, the pc
sitions for use being numerous. The enc.
my also used artillery largely, but not to
near so great an extent as We did. From
this they suffered immensely, and specially
on the left, where canister was largely used
| believe we lost no artillery. unles it was
two or three disabled pieces.
Fridays Battle.
The decisive battle has been fought to
day, and the enemy have been repu!sed
with terrific loss. AT daylight, Lees right
wing batteries opened upon our left, and
shortly after those of his center followed.
After half an hours cannonading. doing but
little damage to US, the fire sackened, and
ouly Jt 'asional shots were exchanged
Shortly aflerward the enemy's left, com.
posed entirely of infantry and sharpshooters.
made an attack on our right wing. So
sudden and impeluously was it accomplish.
that our skirmishers and front line were
driven back from their intrenchments, but
by the aid OF the batteries 10 the rear, and
the indomitable bravery of the 1l:h corps,
we regained the first position, csptaring O
considerable number Of prisoners.
Several hours of ominous silence followed
this repnlse. At one o'clock the enemy
fired two shots, apparently as signals for
the grandest artillery fight ever witnessed