Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-05-18

Vol XIV. Raleigh, c., May No
No. 80.


McLaws threw his force upon them, and drove~.hem
into their works. And thus Saturday night c'osed
upon Nothing of interest had occurred in front
Or below Fredericksburg except that the indication
showed the enemy were disposed to abandon. their
position in front of Early.
At daylight Sunday morning our army commenced
advancing upon the enemy from all points. We were
now almost completely around him. but single point
OF escape being open to him. that by way the Eys
ford and U. S. ford roads.
Soon the roar of artillery was heard in Jackson's
direction, and Anderson moved forward in front Ma
hone the right with his right resting the south
side of the plank road then Wright Posey and Per-
ry; McLAws with his left the plank road and his
right extending well across the turnpike.
The enemy had dug rife pits cut abattis in front
and along his whole front, while his artillery we'll
protected by earth works, was planted on every
inence and swell rising ground so as to get direct
and entilading fire upon all points of oar advancn,
lines. On gallant army moved, their ranks play
ed upon by incessant fire of SHE'LL grape and
lister from the 'front.' the right and the left. On
gallant commander pressed through the woods, over
the fields. up the hills the very mouth of the
enemy's batteries and up to the long line of rife
pits. With terrible shout they sprapg forward,
and rushing through the abattS, they gained the
bank in front of the rfle-pis when the enemy gave
way in great confusion and fled. This on our
treme Left, under Jackson and that portion Of our
centre, where Wright, Posey and Perry engaged
The enemy still held their position right, and
that portion of centre in front of Mahone.-
Soon, however, McLawS pressing them vigorously,
they gave in his front, and the entire cute" line
of tue enemys works were in our possession. shall
not attempt to describe this terrible and gallant
charge of our men, will merely say that | have
never during the whole seen strong position
carried quickly and with little loss. The charge
OF our men was like terrible avalanch which bore
every thing away with it without feeling the resist
ance The enemy had now concentrated heavy
fire in their inner works, close around the house
charlottesville and with their artillery, commenced
furious fire across the open field, and upon our
men, who, having gained the north side of their
ter line of breast works. completely exposed to
this mnrf!erons fire Their was confusion in
= ranks consequent upon the difficulty experienc-
ed by in picking their way through the
fallen moer in front of the enemys line of rifle pits
and some time elapsed before the different brigades
could be reformed. During this time the enemy kept
up murderous fire upon US, killing and wounding
! great many Wrghfs brigade being on our right
at this point, ordered by General Anderson to
move forward and dlslodge the enemy from hsstrong
position around the house But of his regiments
having yet formed (he third Georgia. he ordered
it forward and supported by Posey swept across the
field and up to the trenches around the house Just
as Wright commenced this last movement, cloud of
smoke was seen to rise from the house and it then
became apparent that the Vandals had fired it prep
aratory to leaving. As Wright few the field
the Yankees gave way and fed, utterly routed down
| the Ely's ford road. Just at this moment Stuart
came up on our left, (now in command of Jackson's
corps,) and the whole field was ours At this point
captured great many prisoners, Anderson's di-
vision alone taking more than $500. Wright con-
tinued to push the flying Yankees down the Ely
ford road until his advance line of skirnishers be-
came engaged with heavy body of the enemy, post
ed in the woods both sides of the road, strongly
supported by artillery. Here his skirmishers were
forced to fall back and then pushing two companies
further to the right he directed them push through
the woods and endeavor to get into the enemys
Very these two companies. (of the Sd Georgia.
became engaged with Yankee regiment and after an
exchange of few rounds succeeded in capturing the
entire regiment with their Colonel Bostick, Lieut..
Col Merwin, Malo and Adjutant and about 700 tnen.
This was the 9th Connecticut.
The skirmishers were now halted, and, G9n Lee
coming upon the field ordered army to form or
the plank road above Charlottesville, extending
line IN south easterly direction down the turnpike
below Charlottesville, with centre resting abou
the latter point
Just then we learned that during the morning The
enemy had taking advantage of very weak force
crossed at Fredericksburg and driving Barksdae witt
great loss, from the town, had advanced upon ant
taken possession of Maryes heights capturing
n pieces of the Washington Artillery. Gen. McLaw'
: was ordered to move down at to the support o
, Barksdale and Wilcox. the latter being pressed bacl
8 from his position at Banks Ford had fallen back
far Salem Church. five miles above Fredericksburg
Moving rapidly McLaws, with his own division, AM
Mahone's brigade, of Andersons division, reached th
church late in the afternoon and just "a time
S Wilcox who was being heavily pressed by an over
a whelminp force For an hour or more the yankec