Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-05-12

MASSACHUSETTS FIRST REGIMENT.-A cor
respondent of the Boston Traveller gives the
following interesting particulars of the for
tunes Of the Massachusetts First in the late
battles on the Rappahannock:
The First regiment broke camp Tuesday
night April 2Sth, in company with the rest Of
the Sd corps, and proceeded to the left bank
of the Rappahannock, four miles below Fail
mouth, in which vicinity they stayed until
part of the 9Th corps had crossed the river ana
established themselves on the opposite sida.
Thursday forenoon, April 30th, they start
ed for the eight where the LIST, 9th, llth, and
18th corps had begun operations under Gen.
Hooker in person. Meeting with no opposi-
ton they crossed the river May-day on pom
toon bridges and rested about noon in a desert
ed rebel camp. The weather was intensely
hot, and the men, borne down by their unu-
sual load of eight days rati0ns, as well as eX-
hauSted by fifteen mile march, seemed
hardly in condition to proceed Immediately to
the front, But to the front they were straight
way called and went off in the very best of
spirits. Friday night they halted in dense
wood not half Il mile from the rebel position,
and threw out pickets joining those of other
regiments along the whole line.
During Saturday, the I'd, they remained in
pretty much the same position, both sides be-
ing engaged in skirmishing without coming to
any general engagement. Saturday after
noon, however, an attack was made on our
right, held by the llth corps, which was at
once driven back, losing largely in killed,
wounded and prisoners. This led to gener-
al rebel advance about midnight, along the
whole line, which was only checked after an
hours desperate fighting, during which our
artillery was worked in Il most mastery man
ner, moving down the rebel front as the farm
er mows his early grain. The moon was at
the full; the woods were alive with men,
yelling, shrieklug, grooming, cheering; long
lines OF flame leaped from the infantry ranks,
shells were bursting in every direction, can
non were vo iting forth grape, schrapnel and
canister; generals, aids, orderlies, hurrying
to and fro; stretcher men and ambulances,
bringing out their CHASTITY loads of wounded,
dying and dead; surgeons, chaplains and hos
pital attendants busy and bloody, at the hos
pitfalls, binding up the wounded, attending the
dying, burying the dead-it was fearful, fatal
strife, with all its cUnComtants of human az
Ony, wrath and woe.
1t could not last long and it did not.
The rebels were driven back But on
Sunday morning, having been largely rein
forced they came on more fercely than ever
nearly two entire regiments were taken pris-
oners, and seven stands OF coIors captured by
us. Our artillery played upon their ranks
with even more deadly effect than before,
throwing them into confusion and driving
them back repeatedly. But onward they
came with increased numbers and undiminish-
ed fury, fighting fully four hours, until our
lines were driven back over quarter Of a
mIle where new position was taken and
breastworks hastily thrown up in front,
against which they seemed dlsincmed to
press. Here, until Tuesday evening, May
9th, We remained, constantly strengthening
the position, only pickets AMID skirmishers
fighting.
Monday night Fredericksburg was rctaken
from Gen Sedgwick. All the day Tuesday
rcinforcements were coming into the rebel
lines under Longstreet and Hill and reliable
information having been received that the reb-
els were massing their forces SO as to flank
our right and come up in our rear, Gen.
Hooker decided to fall back. A furious
thunder storm arose just at this time, fayoring
the plan, as it impeded rebel pursuit. Guns
were planted, covering the bridges, and
speedily the entire army was in motion to the
rear.
The Sd corps, suder Gen. Sickles, perform
ed prodigies of vaor, and lost heavily in kill
ed and wounded. Several brIgadiers and
colonies were also killed or wounded at their
posts, and very many field, staff and line Off
GERS met with the same fate. The men of the
corps, old soldiers and new recruits, were
everything that could be desired, and drew
from their general the deserved enconium Ca
diamond, red white and blue, being our corps
mark that diamonds were certainly trumps
in this fight"
The killed are Capt. Charles E. Rand
Charles +. Robbins, George X. Baxter, Ste
phen Badger, Charles A. Brown, Joseph NJ.
Mclntire, Andrew Graden, William Jolli-
more and Samuel Wilder.
=. The same correspondent gives the list of
casualties as follows; killed 8; wounded 43;
missing A.