Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1863-05-08

tersect running 10 Gordonsville and the
United States and ether Fords OF the Rap
pahsnnock. Commanding as it does these
various highways, the position is deemed one
of importance. Our troops arriving near
this point on Thursday, met with slight re-
sistancc, but on Friday, occurred the fighting
CT which the Geographic reports have given
US brief account, and which the New York
Times correspondent, writing from Cham
cellorvillc, describes Is follows
The forenoon was mainly occupied by General
Hooker, his staff, and able corps commanders, in
consultation. and in making dispositions Of the
columns. At abou, l. O'Clock, Gen. Sykes diyi-
sion was sent forward on the left. by the Banks
Road. 10 make an attack, aud compel the enemy
10 develop his strength on that bank. He moved
promptly into position, with Weeds. now Wat
sons, regular battery. The first gun was frei
by the enemy, about l. O'Clock Heavy skirm-
ishng commenced. our men entering the fell
with much enthusiasm The Eighth Pennsylvania
cavalry skirmi-hed IN the very front for some
time, and sustained a CALLING fire from the
enemy's infantry but behaved with great intrcp-
idity. They charged and rcchargei upon the
4lA1LAiN July 10 ne IN turn NllNfN liA|h Nf..II
sykes then threw forward two companies O.. ia-
fantry, without knausacks on the d0uble-Quick,
vino supported the cavalry, and checked the
further pursuit Of the enemy. The action row
became quite general between the two forces,
each seeming 70 be about the slmc strength The
rebel division thus engaged WAS tina. Of Aulrr-
son, part Of Longstrcct old corps, and coA-
sisting Of the Brigade Of Plsav. Malone ana
Wilcox sykes fought the latter brigade M
Gaines NIL The rebels contested the ground
very Vigorously, giving way only when press /
very hard Our troops fought FIR fully ana hour
with great spirit and drove the enemy from two
successive and strong positions upon ridges Cf
land which run parallel with the Elppahluuock
The distance thus gained was nearly one mile
and some fifty prisoners. mostly belonging %
Virginia regiments, were captured They gave
themselves up readily. many Of them manifested
pleasure at their position About ! ID O'Clock
just as Col Chapman. commluiin. a brigade of
regulars, had expressed desire 90 "tske auoth-
er ridge, an orier was received hv Gen Sykts
from Gen Hooker to suspend the attack anil
retire nearly 90 DIS former position. This APP
Qearcd inexplcahle Go both officers sul men, and
as the latter came back slowly end u good 0rlsr
frequent mutter.ncs were heard among them
about being con the retreat again" But the
sequel proved that there WIS mind over 1u,
who directed what was best for them.
The cause for this movement WAS tine fact THAT
Gen. Hooker had received iuGrmaton from bis
headquarters that the enemy had thrown rho
greater part of M, force over on this side ot the
fortiicatious, and had also renewed many a..
the guns in the lower batteries, and placed them
in position at the upper end 81 the toru-tiu-
indicating an intention of making 900 attack ou
u. Ie,thcret1re, suspended th'- preliminary
attack at once, which hal been arranged Ms
prelude 10 important operations elsewhere, ami
rightly surm-el that if the enemy dl really
mean 20 attack MS they would follow ur Our re
tireuent At T. VI. he remarked Il think
can make them come ont and f-h' INC en- my
own ground 80 In two hours the assertion was
proven. The enemy m!sto0k our voluntary re-
tirement for g cheek. and followed u- rapidly IS
we fell back
Gen. Sykes division hal got l1 tas.r Oh ro-
sition. and picsets thrown out. when the enemy
again appeared In force on the ridge, ~ the ioat
Of which we l1y Oar men bal stacked arms
and were ~ rest. The whole division. save the
Duryea Z7uaves. were lyn. at uelrly right
angles with the rad. Tie Zou4vc- were par
allcl with the roal Quick rs Thought, Gen.
Sykes brought D. mon into line, the Lcures ou
the left wheeling int0liue Cf battle like machine.
The rebels paused q moment ou fhc top O. rt.
ridge, and, as il 90 nerve them tr the onset,
gave one of their scattering, dem7unc y,ls.
and then came down on the loutle-5u.ek-
shooting, capturing and literally running over
our poor pckets who scrambled behind al sorts
Of obstruction But iu an instant more tor
r.ble crash re-ogn5ei from the Zau8ve end uf the
line and down the column r1,lel The most deaf
eniug roar ot uuske,ry that in an my wan o1-
perence has ever met my ears lt il mot 'l-t.
apparently. two minutes, hut i's work vas oI..-
tive.
This attack was very d.rcc aui .cm-
much nearer tllu the rre,iou. hau-
had . been. created considerable c0mmuuou
around the crOss-rlaIs To st once brought
Gen. Hooker into the saddle Cor She first uue
during the day. and things were speedily a
shape. This onslaught was for the p1rpos. oi
retakiu- this very important point 1he first
thing done was the m1-,inc of artillery uelr
the roads, and in fifteen minutes twenty-five
guns were sending shell into the woods. and the
roar Of artillery became ten times more dcalu-
ing than that of the musketry hal been The
work was soon done. The contest ll-tcl three
quarters OF an hour, ami che enemy I-n1min-
iously retired.
Although this attack was So handsomely re-
pulsed, 1t proved to be only preliminary 90 stu .
greater operations. At $50 p. 81. Cuf un,n. .
who had cavalry skiIm shers GA the pltnk-rla
reported the enemy advancing in force and lry-
me IN his piCkets. lie was soon discovered Be-
ploying 10 the right, and Gen. Sl0cum PROMPTLY
net the move by sending in Gerry division and .
IIampton's battery. The attack proved to be
)nly feeler, however, and the next thing was a .
development still further on our right. which
vas again checkmated by Gen. Williams. who.
With three batteries Of artillery and his own d.
vision, replied very effectively TO the enemy's
ire, which was some times brisk, but new
hp7rv Knr-assl I.a j not
occasionally shell our extreme right, under Gen
Howard, but his troops were very placid. and
he shells did no damage
For while there was a Cessation Of the de
ultory and spasmodic firing, which had been
,oing on for two hours But at - O'Clock
desperate charge was made for our batteries
commanding the plank rosd The rebels al
-anced through the woods at a rapid pace. and
,ot within point-blank canister-range Of our
,uns. A column. also. came up the road wildly
ieary met them with great prompncss. and
7heeling regiment into the road, a deadly
Obey was poured into their advance At
he same time Knapp and Hampton double
hotted their guns with canister. and for fifteen
minutes there was another fiery episode. OF
curse the enemy were severely rcpulscd. and
nth heavy loss Their killed and wounded fell
] the timber in front Of our batteries. and
he leaves and brush having been set on fire by
bells. the poor wretchcs are suffering double
cath.
After this hour there were no more vigorous
ttempts on the part Of the enemy.
Our losses are not yet known We had about
ne hundred killed and wounded in Gen. Sykes
ght early in the afternoon. Capt. Marsh C.
lie 18th Regulars, was killed. Capt Overton.
Gen Sykes staff, was wcunded-not danger
lsly; Lieut.. Wells, 18th regulars. wounded
lieut.. Col. Walker, Asst Adj't-General to Gen.
ouch, was wounded by a piece Of shell. IN the
-m-not seriously.
The troops acted magnihcently. No; a case
misbehavior has come to my knowledge. They
, into battle with enthusiasm. and one idea
ems to animate every one--the IDEA Of victory. ,
The rebels, when they recently occupied
-illiamsburg, Va, kindly informed our
that they would permit him t.,
nd supplies into their lines for the three
lndred lunatics in the Asylum at that place
hen they left. of course the Asylum again