The New York herald., 1863-05-16

rH0 snloH BRIGADE IN ACrI0N-RESCUD OF TE
yIFrH MAINE BATTERY, ETC.
EXTRACT FROM PRIVATE Lxfrn

TIE IRISH BRIGADE IN AcrI0N-REscU1 OF THE
With MAINE BATTERY, ETC.
EXTRACT FROM PRIVATE LxfrxR.
In giving description OF this bloody and protractsd
battle mean to connns myself chiefly to the achieve
ments Of the Irish Brigade As had the honor OF being
through the aght with General hcagher fater myself
that my account will have at least the merit OF being
correct.
On the evening Of the 3oth OF April General Msagher
invited his sta officers 10 camp supper, preparatory to
the march. The brigade then formed into marching
order and proceeded under the guidance OF Lieutenant
Miller, OF General Hancocks staf. We LETT camp about
O'Clock, and, way lay through thick forest
supposed to be occupied by rebel sharpshooters,
had to proceed with great caution. About twelve
O'Clock at night bvouacked In the midst Of the Forest
aud at dawn resumed march towards the United
States Ford About next day halted to give the
troops time and refresh themselves and also
have the pontoons completed the Rappahannock
About six O'Clock n the evening we resumed eur
march, the brigade bringing up the extreme left OF the
Second army corps. Our passage across the river by
moonlight magniScently grand indeed the army do
ployed in close column along steep and almost pcrpsn
dicular hill reach the river Seen from the top o this
HILL the long line Of ambuanoss and trains extending sr
miles, the almost iniermnabie columns Of men, with
forests OF gerng bayonets, the brilliant uniforms OF
generals and their siaa officers, presented one grand
brigade pcketed for the night commanding ford at
the south side Of the rivo. the main road from
Frcdericksourg TO Richmond. About noon next day we
Within few miles Of chspcelIorsSo We arrived here
about ten O'Clock on Friday night AS this an i'm
portsnt position, and exposed BY 6yrosd 70 the lett
loophocd the mill and oinces, and fortified them with
men We also had battery OF six guns In position In
riug all the afternoon, which We subsequently learned
produced By au engagement between the enemy and
Sykes DIVISION General Meade Filth army corps, which
was the FIRST TO engage while General Hooker
pletng his plans for the formation OF his line OF battle
should have mentioned that the FIN, Eleventh aud
Generals Meade, Howard aud slocum crossed Kelly
Ford in order TO form junction with the Second corps
under MAJOR General Couchthe First, under General
Reynolds and the Third under MAJOR General sickles
Tho three last corps crossed al the United States Ford
distance OF eight miles from Kelys Ford. Chancelors
Vile about six miles north Of the United States Ford
| on the military road aud midway on the pike road
between Fredericksburg Gordonsvllc being about
ten miles from both places II was good looking house
with piazzas and balconies and large open plain In
front beyond this place Is a thick forest Behind the
house another open plain intercepted by belt OF TO-
rest Behind this Burns house, as Il is called the
White House. The brigade remained all Friday night
and saturday defending the ford for was well known
that General jackson was trying TO turn the
right wing Of our army. and, as road through the
ton TO defend About eight O'Clock Saturday morning
the nring was again commenced In our front beyond
Chanceorsvie. Our sharshooters and advanced guards
had engaged the enemy Ia the woods, and steadily
repulsng them. Here the nght continued without inter
miss ion until apout TWO OcCk Tue eAcWy wee driven
| hack over mIe From the entrance ot tho ", od we
could column after coumn forcing back the enemy
VIII we're nercely dspuiing every uc of ground About
this the light raging furiously tho right.
! Hay brigade Third corps we're forming into iue
The tho thirty seventh New York Volunteers were In
front and before companies formed the enemy
burs, upon them After aew moments desperate
the thirty seventh had 10 tall back by snk movement
and were ably suppo ted by the First New York Filth and
| THIRD Michigan and Nineteenth Name 1hn Thirty
seventh ost heavily in this short but 90 encounter.
Tho Eleventh army corps, under c1mmanf OF Gcu How.
ard had taken up their psitcn commanding the Cor
Their ic was supporedsby The Tut army corps, white
| the fith and twelfth iiy IN ihcir About three
oclork IN the Afternoon advance post of the rete
army attacked the Eleventh corps The nring here or
some time as tcrridcay grand The rebels Scp,
ue and destructive Gre O snd musictr
| which threw the Eleventh corrs llio gnar lauio
cen Howard did all that brave man could ~ fa'iy
them, bet 10 yap ios lacy rsfe4sed pei mel back