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


brigade, to file off to the left of the plank
road, and passing well round to the right
t1anh and rear of the enemy's position to fail
upon him there while Posey would continue
to push him in 'front.' Wright passed to the
left until reaching the track of the Orange
and fredericksburg railroad, (near compile
ted,) he passed up that road, keeping in front
strong body of%hirmishers, until he reach
ed Wi'ford's iron furnace, two miles south
west ct Charlottesville. Here he met Gen.
Stuart who informed him that the enemy,
IN ncon>iderable force, were posted in the thick
woods between the furnace and ChancelIors-
vile, and about half mile from the furnace
Wright Immediately changed his direction,
and being provided With guide from Gen.
Stuart, advanced in the direction of Chan
cellorsVllle, having now got completely in the
rear OF the force which was disputing Posey's
advance upon the plank road. Wrigbt's ad
vance soon became engaged with The enemy
in thh thick woods, and throwing forward his !!
whole force, he soon drove the enemy from /
the woods into the open fields around Chan |
cellors house. Here encountering a very /
superior force of the enemy, he sent back to /
| Gen. Stuart and procured from the latter his !
horse artillery, which, coming up, was soon /
| put in position and opened terrific fire upon
: the enemy. Wright now advanced his whole
line, and soon drove the enemy flying across
the field and up steep hill, into the woods,
on the opposite side. 1t was az this time the
| gallant Major Price, of Gen. Stuart's staff
was killed, and not at Spotsylvania Court
House. lie was standing by Stuart's artil-
lery, giving the necessary ORDERS when a
fragment Of she'll struck him upon the leg
and thigh, horribly mutilating bis entire
limb But to return to Posey and the yam
KEGS on the plank road. As soon as Wright
began his furious attack upon the eneiny's
right flank and rear, the yankees upon the
plank and turnpike roads, in Posey's and
Mahone's front, began to give way, and by
night had been pressed back to Chancellors-
! We, their line Of sskiImishers and picketG
being advanced down both of the roads some
eight hundred or, one thousand yards. After
dark Wright was ordered back to the plank
road at point where the road from the fur
mace falls into the former. Here the main
body of our army slept during Friday
night Early Saturday morning, Jackson,
with A. P. Hills and Rhodes divisions pass
ed Up to the left by the way Of the iron
furnace, and passing on, inclining to the
north, struck the plank road some where
near Wilderness Church. Anderson's di-
vision Except Wilcox's brigade, leftat Banks
Ford) occupied the centre of our line with
Wright's brigade, on the left of the plank
road Malone, Posey and Perry on the right
where they connected with the left of Nc
Laws, who had come up in the night, and was
then with his centre on the turnpike road,
with his right extending across in the direc-
ton of the United States Ford; and his left,
as just stated, connecting with Andersons
right This left long interval between An
dersons left and Jackson's right, which, the
enemy percevng, was enabled to take advan
tage Of, and about 2, P. nj threw down a
strong column and took possession of the iron
furnace, thus cutting off our connection with
jackson, and capturing several ambulances
and wagons belonging to Jackson's train
and, it is said, taking prisoners nearly ar
entire Carolina regiment. AS soon as this
movement of the enemy was discovered by
Gen. Anderson, he despatched Posey to mee
the enemy, and, if possible, retake the posi-
ton at the furnace. Poseys advance soon
engaged the enemy, who, appearing in over
whelming numbers, Gen. Z. was obliged tt
retire Wright, with three of his regiments
was ordered to Posey's support, and soon tn
enemy gave way across the run that flows a
the foot of the hill on which the furnace i
situated Late in the evening the enem
uaQe all auVdnCe uOWl Iue pidHh lodu, Will
two brigades, no. doubt having discovers
that Anderson had withdrawn most of tn
troops from that point. This advance wa
met in the woods by the Sd Georgia reg
ment, of Wrights brigade, which had bee
advanced all Jay we'll to the front as ski
mishers. They checked the Yankee advance
and finally, after two hours hard fighting
, drove the enemy, (two brigades) back to the
, line of entrenchments around Chancellors
vile.
: About sunset, or little before, Jackson ha
f ing got his men in position upon the enemy
i right flank and rear, opened upon him, an
d terrific fight ensued, lasting until after dar
The enemy were driven from every positio
n and with immense loss, until their right hs