M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1863-05-21

a matter Of course, the superiority
which they evidently felt themselve.
Our own men fought well. There
was no lack Of courage; but an evi-
dent feeling, apparently the result OF
having been 80 often whipped, or oil
having witnessed tue rout on the
night previous, that they were des-
tined to be beaten, aud the only thing
for them to do was to fire and retreat.
The enemy felt confident that they
were to be victorious, and our own
men had, fron some OCCASION, imbi
bed the same impression, Our men
showed lack of earnestness and en-.
thusiasm, but no want Of courage -
All that they needed was the inspira
ton OF series of victories to look
back upon; aud an earnestness and
confidence Of success OF the cause for
which they were fighting. Thus en-,
ded the Sabbath, and another chapter
in this series Of our disasters.
MONDAY.
Another day of misfortune, and the
day was hardly ushered in before the
enemy in force came down upon tie
dotachments which had been thought
sufficient to hold the works upon the
nights of fredericksburg. First a
brigade, then a division, then a lar
ger force came in upon them, and at.
ter strongly cOntesting the position
they were compelled to yield and fall
back under the protection OF the town.
The enemy formed their line of battle
on the outskirts, and within the town
the twro brigades Of General Gibbon
held them in check as long as could
be. Many wounded men were here
in the hospitals, and the position was
maintained as long as possible. AT
length the ground was given up, the
troops we're withdrawn, the bridges
taken up, and Fredericksburg was
given back to the enemy.
They were now ct liberty To turn
their attention TO Sedgwick, and they
lost no time in concentrating their
forces against him. They were toe
strong Tor him.
Alter a most obstinate fight, il
which the enemy almoss were sue
cessful in destrying the bridges, and
the possibility Of his escape, he made
good his retreat also to the east bank
OF the Rappahannock. His losses
were appalling. Hcsuf5red terribly
and il. their retreat there was much
confusion and disorder among tue
troops. A few at the first onset laid
down their arms ana yielded them.
selves prisoners without firing mus
ket, but generally the men of thii
corps displayed the greatest gallantry
in fighting, and only yielded whel
overpowere1 by superior numbers.
TUESDAY.
By this time the aspect of affair
had become exceeding dark. The
troops were much dspirited, and al
though they had held their position
ON Monday, the prospect Of meeting
the combined forces of the enemy
with large reenforcements, whicI
they were known to have received
was exceedingly unpromising. A Sc
we're storm appeared also on Tues
day afternoon, swelling the Kappa
hammock to torrent and threatening
to carry away the bridges. Tucsda.
night the Army of the RappahannocI
was Withdrawn and our entire lore
brought again to this side Of the river
with the exception Of many dead an
wounded, who were left to the tende
mercies vi the enemy.
Thus ended the nine days can
campaign on the Rappahannock.- =
What was, it would seem, the mos
difficult part OF the task was accom-
pliShed most successfully. The arm
was concentrated in the rear of tn
enemy's works, and they were force
to come out of them and give battl
in tue open field. Strange to say
the army failed to beat the enemy o
comparatively equal ground aud upO
even footing.
OUR LOSSES.
During these nine days our lossc
can hardly tall short of $1,000 mel
Possibly they will be more. D. W.
. Inhn RrnMn Rnid An Imnnr