The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-07-17

They came with eheers-yells, Ike Indians
sounding a warhoop. The men who stood
Ike granite blocks at the apex of the tri-
angl le at Charlottesville against the impet-
cons dash of Jackson, were not to be easily
turned back. They engaged the entire mass
of the enemy, holding Longstreet in cheek
TIL word could be sent 10 Meade as to what
might be expected. While thus holding
, them division Was detached by Lonstreet,
which moved upon Sicales' left flank, to get
between him and the base of Round Ton hill.
! NINTH MASSACHUSETTS BATTERY.
"S Send up batteries anu send up men,
was Sickle's request. They were close upon
Bigelow's battery. 1t was its first expert
enoe under fire.
q want YOU to hold on ill can get UP
two batteries on the ridge" said Maj. McGil-
vray, in command of the artillery Oh the
left. "Giye them grape and canister" he
added. Capt. Bigelow gave them all he had,
the last round, and commenced on spherical
case.
The rebels were desperate. Sic&les was
pushed back. Ii was impossible for him to
stay SO far in front. There was no rout-no
disorder, but steady, backward movement
toward the ridge as orderly as If at dress
parade.
4 rebel battery hastened up and unlim-
bered close upon Bigelo~. He gave them q
shot and they limbered up again. The two
batteries were not Yet up and the Captain
and his brave men would not leave The
rebels rushed upon his guns. He blew
them from the muzzles, and filled the air
with legs, heads and arms. Still they
came with demoniac screams, climbing upon
his limbers and shooting his borses. Ser
geant Dodge went down, killed instantly /;
also Sergeant ellison. Lipman, Ferris and
Nutting, three of his cannoniers were gone,
twenty-five Of his men were wounded, and
himself shot through the side; also four men
missing, get he held on tN -NeGilrray got mp
has t'ro batteries He brought off FIVE lim-
bers and two of his pieces, dragging them in
part by hand. More than half his horse 5
we're shot. The rebels siezed the four pieces
with shouts, waved their flags and came or.
for new triumphs.
But the two batteries, with McGilvrsy
to superiatend them. were doing finely. The
division which had come on Sickles' faux
received an entilading fire, ard IVES driven
hack. Bigelow's guns were recovered.
Now IS apparent trc beaaty Of Meade 5
plan. The fifth corps started from the posi-
ton upon the run, reached the ridge, came
up tt the front and were ready to give the
third little rest.
Before the fifth arrived the second was en-
gagged, and DOubledays division of the frs
Hotter grew the fire. The rebels became
desperate. As there were no particular
signs of an attack in front of Slocum, two
Of his divisions were sent over Still the
rebelspressed on. The reserve artillery was
called fer. battery after battery. The sixth
corps, which had just arrived, all weary as
lhey were, moved up with alacrity and be
came supports
From five r. " I'LL eight the struggle went
on. The rebels charged repeatedly on our
lines, but were as often driven back, and
then our men improving their opportunity
would dash out and gather up prisoners
fifteen hundred We're brought in, offsetting
our losses of Yesterday. They were all from
Hllls and LangStreet's commands.
Where was Ewells He was not in sight
We found him suddenly. while the fire on
the left was hottest. Oar piekets on the
right discovered here and there rebel COM
ing stealthily down Rock creek A scathin 2
fire begun. Ewell, with the remainder of
the rebel army, was coming down Rock creek
and was within mnSket shot of our lines be-
fore discovered.
Locking down from his position on The
hill. Howard SAW Them two hundred feet be
low him, 4 half mile distant. The guns
among the tombs, which had been hurting
death far off to the southwest. were wheeled
10 the northeast, their muzzlss depressed,
and then with the utmost rapidiiy from forty
pieces there was hurled continuous storm
Of shells into the wooded ravine.
But Ewell pressed on. He had sworn TO
break through and reach our rear. HIS men
climbed the steep ascent. Slocum's skir-
mishers fell back from rock to rock and from
tree TO tree. But gradually the line of fire
ciept nearer the top. Another battery now
opened south of the turnpike, its line of fire
being directly up the creek. Hotter, fercer
grew the musketry, more terrible the can
nonades.
On the right the rebels rushed up to the
rife pits. There were desperate hand to
hand encounters-thrusts with the bayonet.
Men nerred themselves for desperate efforts.
1t was the fury Of tigers. Foes became i'm
paled on each others bayonets and fell to the
ground together. But the line had been so
much weakened that notwithstanding Slo-
Gums efforts his extreme right wa. pushed
back little from the creek. The door was
partly Opened. There was little break, and
one more vigorous push on the part of Ewell
might be fatal. Late at night both parties
ceased their efforts and prepared for the