Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1863-05-20

q i LILY uNlNOj mAA ~, -
consequent upon the difficulty experienced
by our men in picking their way throug b
the fallen timber lin front of the enemy's
line Of rifle pits, and some time elapsed be-.
fore the different brigades could be reform.
ed. During this time the enemy kept up
a murderous fire upon us, killing and woun-
ding great many: :Wrighfa ;bfigadesbe-
ing o9.aur right at this, point, was ordered
by Cd Anderson to move forward and
dislodge ehe enemy from his strong posi-
ton around the house. But one of his
regiments having as yet formed, .(the: Sd
Georgia. he ordered 1T forward, and sup
ported by Posey, swept across the field and
up to the trenches around the house. Just
as Wright commenced this last movement,
a cloud of smoke was seen to rise from the
house, and it then became apparent that
1.-THE, yandals had fired il preparatory to lea.
wing. As Wright few across the field. the
Yankees gave way and fed, utterly routed,
down the Ely's Ford Road. Just at this
moment, Stuart came up on our left, (now
10 command of Jackson's' corps and the
whole field was ours. At this point we cap
tured great many prisoners, Auderson's
division alone taking more than $780,
Wright continued to push the flying Yau-
KEGS down the Ely's Ford Road, until his
advance line of skirmishers became engaged
with heavy body of the enemy, posted in
the woods on both sides of the road, strong
ly supported by artillery. Here his skir.
mishers were forced to fall back and then
pushing two companies further to the right,
he directed them to push through the woods
and endeavor to get into the enemy's rear.
Very soon these two companies (of the Sd
Georgia. became engaged with a Yankee
regiment, and, after the exchange of few
rounds, succeeded in capturing the entire
regiment, with their Colonel, Bostick, Lieu
tenant Col. Merwin, Major and Adjutant,
and about 700 men. This was the 9th
Connecticut. ~
The skirmishers we're now halted, aud,
Gen. Lee coming upon the field, ordered
our army to form on the plank road above
Charlottesville, extending our line in a
South. easterly direction down the turnpike
below cellorsville, with our centre res.
ting about the latter point.
just then we learned that during the
morning the enemy had, taking advantages
of our very weak force, crossed at Freder.
icksburg, and driving Barksdale, with great
loss, from the town, had advanced upon and
taken possession of Marye's Heights, cap.
turing several pieces of the Washington
Artillery Gen. MoLaws was ordered to
move down at once to the support of Barks-
dale and Wilcox, the latter being pressed
back from his position at Banks Ford, had
+fallensbaeks as far as eSaleui Church, 6Ye
miles above Fredericksburg, Moving rap
idly, McLaws, with his own division, and
Mahone's brigade, Of Anderson's division,
reached the Church late in the afternoon,
and just in time to save Wilcox, who was
being heavily pressed by an overwhelming
force. For an hour or more the Yankees
pressed McLaws heavily; his men we're al
most exhausted by the forced march of over
ten miles, and the constant fighting Of the
entire morning around Charlottesville; j;
but gallant fellows, they bore themselves
like veterans, as they are, and soon the
Yankees gave way, when, springiug for.
ward with shout, they drove the Yankees
back with great slaughter. Indeed, this
must have been the most sanguinary fight
of the week, judging from the number of
Yonkees dead and wounded left upon the
field. Our own loss at this point was con-
siderable, but McLaws continued to press
the Hessians until night closed in around
him. a.. ........
Meanwhile, General Lee had ordered
Stuart (now commanding Jackson's corps)
to pass around above aud to the left of
Charlottesville and endeavor to gain the
Ely's Ford Roadl in the, enemy's rear
This he did after but slight resistance
from the enemy. General Anderson, with
three brigades-Wright's, Posey's and
Perry's-was directed to pass down the
road to the right and below Chaucellors-
vile, and endeavor to gain the u. States
Ford Road in the enemy's rear. This was
not accomplished, owing to the thick woods
and heavy force of the enemy. Anderson
worked his way down as far as the Old
Mine Road, one and half miles below the
United States Ford, where about night,
he encountered heavy force of the enemy
posted on the heights above Childs' house,
with battery of eight guns in position be-
hind earthworks. Here he rested for the
night. Early next morning Anderson was
ordered down to Salem Church to the sup.
port of McLaws. The ehemy we're mass
ing during the night a heavy force on Nc
Laws left, evidently with q view of forcing
or turning his left flank and making con-
nection with Hooker's left at or near Uni
ted States Ford. This could be done by
forcing McLaws' left and getting posses
sion Of the river road, which fell into the
Old Mine road near Childs' house. r
Anderson moved rapidly down to- Nc.
Laws support, reaching Salem Church "a
distance of fifteen miles) by II m. Here
after brief halt, during which time Gen.
Lee came upon the field, Anderson was di.
rocted tn move round in rear and South of