Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1863-05-13

coxrsspondsnce Of the New York Times
HEAD e1xa1sRsin rae RIEID, NEAR CHANcKIes{
LoRsvIlAs, Va, sunday, May 3, 1856 ?.
Another bloody day has been added to
the calendar of this rebellion. Another
terrible battle has been tonight, and more
fields crimsonediwith human blood. A lew
more snch days as this will ind no armles
lett on either side to fight battles.
Ny last letter brought up the situation
to Saturday morning. 1t was then Ger
tainly expected that the enemy would be-
gin the attack as soon as it was day, and
our dispositions were Mado accordingly.
But the attack did not begin. Events
proved that the enemy did design to at
tack, but he chose to make that attack in
a manner and at a point different from
what was generally anticipated by Us on
Saturday morning. Dayi. b. grew broa.-
er and yet no guns. Finally, about SIX
o'clock, brass Napoleon, looking down
the plank road in front of the Chancellor
House, saw regiment come into the road
in column and attempt to deploy. One.or
two doses of canister caused them 10 de.
ploy rather irregularly, and more like
skirmishers on the retreat.
Soon after. Gen. Hooker and staff be-
gan an inspection of our lines, which oc-
cupied ful. two hours. Every portion was
visited, and the work of the night was
| closely Inspected On the extreme lett
new lines were chosen, and the engineer
| officers soon marked out the line and char
| acter of the defencss to be erected When
the Inspection closed, the intrenchments
were pronounced to be of the very best
character, especially those on the right,
where the columns of SLoOUM and How
AID were posted.
There had been only slight disturbances
during the night, as both forces had been
busy with their axes rather than their
muskets. From Gen. HowARD's front
came report that the enemy was engaged
all night in cutting road past his picket
line to the right. How much attention
was paid to this fact at the time l do not
know, but subsequent events proved that
it was very significant.
The day continued to pass in a very
dull manner for day of battle, and only
even than desultory skirmishing and
picket firing.
About O'Clock the plckets on the right
of Gen. Slocuin's front reported that from
certain position wagons had been seen
moving in a westerly direction nearly all
day. 1t was at once surmised that this
|
proved that it was part OF ar affair OF
altogether another nature. To ascertain,
however, what it really was, Gen. Sickles,
who was still in reserve, was ordered to
make Reconnaissance in heavy force in
that direction. This was done with great
promptness, and the divisions of Gems.
Birney and Whipple, with Gen. Barlow's
brigade, from Towards corps, were sent
out to the front, Berdan's brigade of sharp.
shooters having the advance and support
ing Randolph's battery. Our men moved
rapidly and soon became more or less en-.
gagged, especially the artillery and sharp
shooters as skirmishers. Berdan soon
sent in some sixty prisoners, belonging to
the Twenty Georgia, including one
Major, two Captains and three Lieuten
ants. Being upon the ground, | examined
these prisoners, and soop found that the
"wagon train" which we had seen MOVING
during the day was composed mainly O
ordnance wagons and ambulances, an6
that StoneWall Jackson and staff were a
the head of a column of troops which the
wagons followed.
Nothing more was needed to convince
US that this daring opponent was execut
ing another of his sudden movements, anC
it was at once resolved to checkmate him
Gen. Williams division of SIocum's col
umn was ordered to cooperate. Berdar
pushed ahead with great vigor, and with
Randolph's battery soon sent to the rear
as prisoners of war the entire remnant OF
the Twenty-third Georgia regiment, mum.
bering over four hundred officers and men
The column of the enemy which had been
moving up this road was now literally cut
in two, and Gen. Williams had commenced
a flank movement on the enemy's right,
which promised the most auspicious re-
suits.
But at 5 o'clock terrific crash of mus
kerry on our extreme right, announced
that Jackson had commenced his opera
tons. This mad been anticipated, but it
was supposed that after his column was
cut, the corps of Gen. Howard, formerly
Gen. Sigels,) with its supports, would be
sufficient to resist his approach, and find
ing that he was himself assaulted in the
rear, he would turn about and retreat to
escape capture.
But to the disgrace of the Eleventh
Corps be it said, that the division of Gen.
Schurz, which was the first assailed, almost
instantly gave way. Threats, entreaties
and orders of commanders were of no
avail. Thousands of these towards thre W
GOWN tnelr guns ana soon Streamed dow
the road toward headquarters The ene-
my pressed his advantage. Gen. DeveEs'
division, disaffected by the Generalization
of the forces in front of him, soon followed
suit, and the brave General was for the
second time severely wounded in the foot,
while endeavoriDg to rally his men. Gen.
| Howard, with all his daring and resolution
and vigor, could not stem the tide of the
retreating and cowardly poltroons The
brigades of Co.'s. Bushbeck and Mclean
only remained fighting, and maintained
themselves nobly as long as possible. But
they too, gave way, though 10 good order,
before vastly superior numbers.
Gen. Hooker now sent to the aid of
Gen. Howard the choicest division of his
army, the creation OF his own hand-the
famous Second Division of the Third Corps
commanded by Maj. Gen. Berry. Capt.
Best soon moved his batteries on ridge
running across the road, and after a short
but sanguinary contest the further advance
of the enemy was stayed.
OF course this disaster compelled the re-
call of Sickles and SlocuIn. who had been
| pursuing their work with remarkable
vigor. Gen. Williams division returned