Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-05-06

a moment on the top OF the rlugeI anu Is
IL to nerve them for onset, gave one Of
their scattering, demonaic yells, and then
came down on the double qniek-shooting,
capturing and literally running over our
Door piekets, who scrambled behind all
sorts Of distractions. But in an instant
more a terrible crash resounded from the
ZOuavs end of the line, and down the col
umn rolled the most desfening roar of
musketry that in all my war experience
has ever met my ears. 1t did not last, ap-
parently, two minutes, but its work was
effective.
This attack was very fierce, and being
SO much nearer than the previous firing
had been, created considerable commotion
around the crossroads. 1t at once brought
Gen. Hooker into the saddle for the first
time during the day, and things were
speedily in shape. This onslaught was
for the purpose Of retaking this very i'm
portant point. The first thing done was
the massing Of artillery near the roads, and
in fifteen minutes twenty-five guns we're
sending shell into the woods, and the roar
of artillery became ten times more deaf
ening than that Of the musketry had been.
The work was soon done. The contest
lasted hree-querters Of an hour, and the
enemy ignominiOusly retired.
Although this attack was SO handsomely
repulsed, it proved to be only preliminary
to still greater operations. At 430 Pm,
Col. Diven, who had cavalry skirmishers
on the plank-road, reported the enemy ad-
vancing in force and driving in his pickets.
He was soon discovered deploying 10 the
right, and Gen. Slocum promptly met the
move by sennding in Geary's division and
/ Hampton's battery. The attack proved to
be only q feeler, however, and the next
thing was a development still further on
our right which was again e~heckmated by
Gen. Williams, who, with three batteries
of artillery and his own division, replied
very effectively to the enemy's fire, which
was sometimes brisk, but never heavy.
Beyond this he did not 90, except to oeca-
sionslly shell III extreme right, under
/ Gen. Howard, but his troops were very
| placid, and the shells did no damage.
For q while there WAS a cessation of the
desultory and spasmodic firing, which had
been going on for two hours. But ct half
past 6 o'clock q desperate charge was made
for our batteries commanding the plank
road. The rebels advanced through the
woods at a rapid pace, and got within
point-blank oanister-rsnge Of our guns.
A column, also, came up the road wildly.
Geary met them with great promptness,
and wheeling a regiment into the road, Q
deadly volley was poured into their adj
vance Atthe same time Knapp and Hamp-
ton d-ouble-shotted their gums with canis-
ter, and for fifteen minutes there was an
other fiery episode. OF course the enemy
-. aa-a-o1r -a-u1anI o.1 NTH haauu
loss. Their killed and wounded fell in the
timber in front Of our batteries, and the
leaves and brush having been set on fire
by shells, the poor wretches are suffering a
double death.
After this hour there were no more Wig
erous attempts on the part Of the enemy.
For an hour or moro q sharp Smelling was
kept up against our extreme left, occupied
by General Meade. General Coueh's forces
were deployed early in the afternoon, and
rendered effective assistance in supporting
the centre. General Sickles column acted
as q reserve.
The entire operations ofthe day indicate
that the enemy was engaged mainly in
feeling our lines, endeaVoring to find a
weak point, and to ascertain the strength
of our position and forces, but he was re-
pulsed at every point, particularly in his
attempts to retake Charlottesville, and in
his insane charge upon our batteries.
Everything goes to show that Lee will
open the ATTACK early this morning. IT
is now 8 o'clock A. NJ, May 81 Our troops
have been at work all night, and the woods
resound with the ring Of axes. Both par
ties are busy building earthworks and
sbattis. Certain changes are being made
in our lines, and we shall be fully ready
for any emergency. The grestest day in
the history Of the rebellion is about dawn
ing. General Hooker got some restduring
the night, which which was much needed,
but at this hour he is in consultation with
with his Corps Commanders. His staff
are prodigies Of energy, and their labors
are unceasing.
Our losses are not yet known. We had
about one hundred killed and wounded in
General Sykes fight early in the after
noon. Captain Marsh, of the Seventeenth
Regulars, was killed. Captain 0Verton, of
General Sykes staff was wounded-nOt
dangerously; Lieutenant Wells, Four
tenth Regulars, wounded; Lieutenant
Colonel Walker, Assistant-Adjutant Gener-
al 10 General Couch, was wounded by a
piece Of shell il the arm-not seriously.
The troops acted msgni6eently. Not a
craze Of misbehavior has come to my knOWl-
edge. They 90 into battle with enthu-
siasm, and one idea seems to animate every
one-the idea Of victory.