The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1863-05-08
The topography of the position at
charlottesville is thus described:

/ True Stlle Vi virginia village, consisting
/ of one house and cross-roads--albeit,
the house, in this instance. is fine large
structure, and will accommodate q great
many wounded, to which purpose it IS
already devoted But the cross roads is
the matter of vital Importance. From
this point the plank road runs directly
west to Culpepper, by way of Germania
Ford; or by turnpike via Ely's Ford.
The Gordonsvilla turnpike diverges to
the left, four miles in our rear. The
plank road to Fredericksburg runs di-
rectly due east, making an elbow bend to
the south here, but regaining its easterly
direction within four miles Nearly east,
or about eastnortheast, runs the old
turnpike to Fredericksburg, which inter-
sects the plank road again about three
miles from here Near this intersection
road bears to the left, and goes to
Banks Ford, six smiles, direction north
east. United States Ford lies north
west, and the road thereto leaves the
Ely's Ford road and bears to the right
about one mile from this point This
road winds through the timber, and is
very Indifferent at the best.
! The beginning of the great struggle is
graphically described as follows:
{ The forenoon was mainly occupied BY
/ Gen. Hooker, his staff and able corps
commanders, in consultation, and in
making dispositions of the columns. At
/ about II o'clock Gen. Sykes division
was sent forward on the left, by the
Banks Ford road, to make an attack,
/ compel the enemy to develop his strength
on that bank. He moved promptly into
position with Weeds, now Watsons S. reg
uiar battery. The first gun was fred by
the enemy about II o'clock Heavy
skirmishing commenced, our men enter
/ ing the field with much enthusiasm The
! Sth Pennsylvania cavalry skirmished in
the very front for some time, and sus-
tanned CALLING fire from the enemy's
infantry, but behaved with great intrep-
idity. They charged and re-charged
upon the infantry, only to be in turn
driven back Gen. Sykes threw forward
two companies of infantry, without KNAPP
sacks, on the double quick, who support
ed the cavalry and checked the further
pursuit of the enemy. The action now
became quite general between the two
forces, each seeming to be about the
same strength. The rebel division thus
engaged was that Of Anderson, part of
! Longstreet's old corps, and consisting of
the brigades of Pasey, Malone and Will
! cox. Sykes fought the latter brigade at
Gaines Mill. The rebels contested the
ground very vigorously, giving way only
when pressed very hard. Our troops
fought for fully an hour with great spirit
| and drove the enemy from two successive
and strong positions upon ridges of land
which run parallel with the Rappahan-
mock. The distance thus gained was
nearly one mile, and some fifty prison.
ers, mostly belonging to Virginia regi-
ments, were captured. They gave them
selues up readily, many Of them mani
Testing pleasure at their position About
II o'clock, just as Colonel Chapman,
comma nding brigade of regulars, had
expressed desire to "take another
ridge" an order was received by Sykes
| from General Hooker, to suspend the at
tack and retire nearly to his former posi-
sition. This appeared inexplicable to
! both officers and men, and as the latter
: pdSh SlOHli anu III SOOu OiOGI, iIt-
quent mutterings were heard among them
about being on the retreat again" But
the sequel proved that there was mind
over all, who directed what was best for
them.
The cause for the movement was the
! fac: that Gen. Hooker had received in
formation from his headquarters that
! the enemy had thrown the greter part of
/ his force over on this side of the fortiica-
/ tions, and had also removed many of the
! guns in the lower batteries and placed
them in position at the upper end of the
town, thus indicating an intention of
making an attack on us. He therefore
suspended this preliminary attack at
once, which had been arranged as pre-
lude to important operations elsewhere,
and rightly surmised that if the enemy
did really mean to attack us, they would
follow up our retirement. At two D. m.
he remarked, 81 think l can make them
come out and fight me on my own
ground" In two hours the assertion
was proTed. The enemy mistook our
voluntary retirement for check, and
followed US rapidly as we fell back.
Gen. Sykess division had got in their
old position, and pickets thrown out,
when the enemy again appeared in force
/ on the ridge. at the foot of which we lay.
. Our men had stacked arms and -nAra-4t
rest The whole division, save the Du-
ryea Zouaves, were lying at nearly right
| angles with the road. The Zouaves were
parallel with the road. Quick as thought
Gen. Sykes brought his men into line,
! the Zoueves on the left halfwheeling
into line of battle like machine The
rebels paused moment ON the top of
the ridge, and, as if to nerve them for
the onset. gave one Of their scattering,
demoniac yells, and then came down on
the double-quick-shooting, capturing,
and literally running over ol.r poor pick
cts, who scrambled behind all sorts of
distractions But in an instant more a
terrible crash resounded from the Zovave
end of the line, and down the column
rolled the most deafening roar of mus
kerry that in all my war experience has
ever met my ears. 1t did not last, ap-
parently, two minutes, but its work was
effective.
This attack was very fierce, and being
go much nearer than the previous firing
had been, created considerable commc-
ton around the crossroads. 1t at once