The Portland daily press., 1863-05-06
From the Army of the PO-
IOmaC.
HOWARD COMPELLED TO RETREAT.
Capture Of a Georgia Regiment.
Rebels ATTEMPT to Force our Lines and are
Driven Back with Great Slaughter
General Berry Killed while Leading our
Home Men.
All Retreat to Richmond Entirely Cut of.

tNUEfes~ on New YORK, May 5.
The Times and Herald contain long and in
teresting accounts of the proceedings of Gen
Rockers army. The Times correspondent
states that after three days skirmishing on
both sides, the rebels on Saturday afternoon
and evening, attacked our right flank, jackson
with his whole corps Of 10000 men throwing
himself impetuously on Gen. Towards corps
BIT the movement was only partially success
full, and reinforcements being promptly sent by
Gen. Hooker, the rebels were handsomely
checked. Towards corps consisted ofSchurz's
Stimmelor's and Devins' divisions. The Times
correspondent states that Devins' division dis
gracefully abandoned their position behind
their breastworks, aud rushed panic stricken
| towards the headquarters Our right was thus
completely turned, and the rebels in fair way
OF doubling us up. Gen. Hooker was immedi-
ately in the saddle. and turning to the com
mander OF his own old corps, Gen. Berry, he
shouted General throw your men into the
breach, and receive the enemy on your bayo-
nets. Don't fire shot. They can't see you'
They rushed gloriously at double quick to the
| rescue, pressing forward a horrid array of gilt
tering steel. The enemy were checked, and
retired to the breastworks just abandoned by
| Towards corps. Batteries were Immediately
massed on the crest of the hill, pouring in a
terrific fire till late in the night.
with flying battery Of dozen pieces. He
drew up his little brigade of cavalry with
drawn sabres to protect the guns. He had
them double shotted with canister and swept
the enemy's position with murderous fire.
In this charge of the rebels they took from
the cowardly Dutchmen, as the Times cores
pondent styles them, twelve pieces of cannon.
The Germans fled past Gen. Hooker's head
quarters in panic. Many Of the members of
Rockers staff with pistols and sabres vanly
endeavored to stay their flight Gen Sykes
regulars are picking them up.
What made this retreat most disastrous, was
the fact that Gen. Sickles had, by branch
road, pierced the enemy's centre, and pene-
trated for mile, cut them in twain, and Sc
cured the key to victory, when the turning of
Towards position obliged him to retreat,
bringing off 400 rebel prisoners. The artillery
combat continued until midnight fercey.
Another correspondent of the Times, dating
Sunday evening, says it was reported from
Gen. Towards front that the rebels had been
engaged all Friday night cutting a road past
his right, but not much attedton was paid to
the fact.
On the afternoon of Saturday, it was report
ed by the pickets on the right of Gen. Slo-
Gums front, that wagons had been seen NOV
ing all day in westerly direction.
Gen. Sickles with heavy force was sent 20
reconnoitre, when the advance fell in with the
rear Of Gen. Jackson's army. Gen. Sickles
Immediately pushed on to checkmate jackson,
aud soon captured the entire 23d Georgia reg
iment, 800 strong, including the officers. This
movement Of Gen. Sickles cut Jacksons force
in two, when Gen. Williams commenced a
flank movement ON the enemy's right, with
good prospect of success.
1t was supposed that Gen. Towards corps,
formerly Gen. Slgels, would successfully resist
Jackson's movement, but the first division as
sailed, Carl Schurz's, almost instantly gave
way, thousands of the towards throwing down
their arms and streaming towards headquar-
tiers. Gen. Devins' division, disafiected by the
decentralization OF the others, was unable to
stand against the rebels, and Devins was a
second time wounded In the foot while endeav-
oring to rally his men. Gen. Howard, with
all his daring and resolution, could not stem
the tide, and the brigades. OF Coils. Bushbeck
and Mclean remained fighting rs long as pos
sible, retiring in good order.
OF course this disaster compelled the recall
OF Gen. Sckles, who had been vigorously at
work. Gen. Williams division returned TO
find portion OF their works occupied by the
enemy. Gen. Sickles could not communicate
with the whole OF his army by the route he
came, and Gen. Hooker ordered night at
tack to restore the communication.
Gen. Wards brigade, aided by Belts battery,
made an attack at IL O'Clock ut night, which
was entirely successful, and in charge made
BY the brigade a portion of the artillery lost
by Gen. Howard was pallantly retaken NV
Gen. Hobart Ward. The enemy were driven
back nearly a mile that night Saturday. Our
men slept on their arms.
On Sunday at 3 o'clock in the morning the
rebels could be plainly seen on the plank road
about | I-2 miles from Gen. Hookers head
quarters at Councillors House. which house
had been penetrated the evening previously
by a shell. Our line of battle was Immediate.
ly formed, and in half an hour our advance
became engaged, the enemy advancing his
infantry in Overwhelming force. seeming deter
mined to crush ours. Gems. Sick,es and SIo-
cum. brave men. however held them in CHECK
infiicting dreadful slaughter upon them.
Frepch's division was sent in on our RIGHT
and soon crushed that portion of the enemv,s
line. and at 8 O'Clock in the mornino French
sent his compliments to Gen. Hooker. stating
that he had charged the rebels. and was driy.
ing them before him.
Five whole rebel divisions were thrown m
on Gen. Sickles, but he and his gallant soldiers
held the traitors in check, taking during the
day an aggregate of over 1000 prisoners. The
fight was desperate hand to hand conflict.
and the carnage was perfectly frightful The
officers saw the dead and wounded rebels COW
cred the ground In heaps.
The rebels literally tl,rowed themselves upon
the muzzles of our guns. Gen. Motifs brigade
made sixteen distinct charges. and CAPTURED
seven stands of rebel colors. The Eth n 7
Col Francis, alone captured four stands of
colors and 500 prisoners. Part of Gen. Coucb's
I'd corps was present. Hancock pallantlv going
to the relief Of the hard pressed Sickles. The