The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-05-09
The Great Rattle Of sunday.
HEADQUARTERS IN THE FIELD,

rpuoiAiSco' y s.. ..s.-. .
The Great Battle of Sunday.
HEADQUARTERS IN THE FIELD, -
NEAR CHANCELLoRSvILLE, VIRGINIA, 7
SUNDAY, May 3, 1865 P. NJ.
Another bloody battle has been added to
the calendar of this rebellion. Another
terrible battle has been fought, and more
fields crimsoned with human blood. Few
more such days as this will find no armies
left on either side to fight battles.
My last letter brought up the situation
to Saturday morning. It was then certain
ly expected that the enemy would begin
the attack as soon as it was day, and our
dispositions were made accordingly. But
the attack did not begin. Events proved
that the enemy did design to attack, but
he chose to make that attack in manner
and at point different from what was gem
orally anticipated by us onSaturday morn
ing. Daylight grew broader and yet no
guns. Finally, about o'clock, a brass
Napoleon, looking down the plank road in
front of the Chancellor House, saw regl-
ment come into the road in column and at
tempt to deploy. One or two doses Of can
lister caused them to deploy rather irregu-
larly, and more like skirmishers on the re-
treat. 80
Soon after, Gen. Hooker and staff began
an inspection of our lines, which occupied
full two hours. Every portion was visited,
and the work of the night was closely in
spected. On the extreme left new lines
we're chosen, and the engineer officers soon
marked out the line and character of the
defences to be erected. When the inspec-
ton closed, the entertainments were pro-
nounced to be of tho best character, espec-
tally those on the right, where the columns
Of Slocum and Howard were posted.
There had only been slight disturbances
during the night, as both forces had been
busy with their axes rather than their mus
BOTS LrrNy, (NDVr
report that the enemy was engaged all
night in cutting road past his picket line
to the right. How much attention was paid
to this fact at the time do not know, but
subsequent events proved that it was very
significant.
The day continued to pass in a very dull
manner for a day of battle, and only here
and there was there anything more even
than desultory skirmishing and picket fir
ing.
About O'Clock the pickets on the right
OF Gen. Slocum's front reported that from
& certain position wagons had been seen
moving in q westerly direction nearly all
day. 1t WAS at once surmised that this
might be retreat, but subsequent events
proved that it was part of an affair of al
together another nature. To ascertain,
however, what it really was, Gen. Sickles,
who was still in reserve, was ordered to
make reconnaissance in heavy force in
promptness, and the divisions of Gems
Birney and Whipple, with Gen. Barlows
brigade, from Howard's corps, were pushed
out to the front, Berdan's brigade of sharp
shooters having the advance, and support
q ing Randolph's battery. Our troops moved
rapidly, and soon became more or less en-
gagged, especially with the artillery and the
sharpshooters as skirmishers. Berdan soon
sent in some sixty prisoners, belonging to-
the sd Georgia, including one Major, two.
Captains and three Lieutenants. Being up
on the ground, examined these prisoners,
and soon found that the ''wagon-train''
which we had seen moving during the day
was composed mainly of ordnance wagons
and ambulances, and that Stonewalt Jack
son and staff were at the head of a column
of troops which the wagons followed. aA
Nothing more was needed to convince us
tlat this daring opponent was executing
another OF his sudden movements and it
was at once resolved toscheckmate him.
General Sickles was ordered to push on,
and General Williams division of Slo-
GUMS column was ordered to corporate -
Birney pushed ahead with great vigor, and
with Rapdolph's battery soon sent to the
rear as prisoners of war the entire remnant
Of the 2Sd Georgia regiment, numbering
over four hundred officers and men. The
column of the enemy which had been NOV
ing up this road was now litteraly cut in
two and Gen. Williams had commenced u
flank movement ON the enemy's right,
which promised the most suspicious re-
snlts. .5#.ass. y. ,-
But at five o'clock terrific crash of
musketry on our extreme right, announced
that jackson had commenced his OPERA
tons. This had been anticipated, but it
was supposed that after his column was
cut, the corps of Gen. Howard, formerly
Gen. Sigersl with its supports, would be
sufficient to resist his approach, and find
ing that he was himself assaiied in tho
rear, he would turn about and retreat to es-
cape capture. t..G# ar
But TO the disgrace of the 18th corps be
1t said the division of Gen. Sehurz, which
was the first assailed, almost instantly
gave way. Threats, entreaties and orders
ofcommanders were of no avail. Thou
sands ofthese towards threw down their
guns and streamed down the road toward
headquarters. The enemy pressed his adj
vantage. Gen. Devens' division, disaffee-
tedby the decentralization Of the forces in
front of him, soon followed suit, and the
brave General was, for the second time,
severely wounded in the foot, while endeav-
ingto rally his men. Gen. Howard. with
all his daring and resolution and yigor,
could not stem thetide of the retreating and
eowardly poltroons. The brigades of Coils.
Bushbeck and Mclean only remained
lighting, and maintained themselves nobly
aslong as possible. But they, too, gave
way though in good order, before vastly
superior numbers.
Gen. Hooker now sent to the aid of Gen.
Howard the choicest division of his army,
the creation of his own hand-the famous
second division of the Sd corps, comman-
ded by Major-General Berry. Capt. Best
! soon moved his batteries on ridge run
ming across the road and after short, but
sanguinary contest the further advance Of
me enemy was stayed.
Ofcourse this disaster compelled the re-
call OF Sickles and Slocum, who had been
pursuing their work with remarkable Wig
I or. Gen. Williams disyision returned on
iyto find portion of their works filled
with the enemy. Sickles' division could
not communicate with the rest of the army
q. all by the way they advanced, and only
great risk by any other route.
This was the position at dark, and it did
not look very promising. But our ener-
Hetic commander was more than equal TO
ne emergency. New dispositions to re-
par this disaster were at once resolved up
%. Communication was at once chad with