The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-05-13

fame. then they did il thrice over again. The
enemy advanced his Infantry in everwhefna
ing numbers, and seemed determined to crush
our forces But the brave men of Sickles
and Siocun, who fought their column with
desperate gallantry, held. the rebels in check,
and inflicted dreadful slaughter among them.
Gen. Freneh's division was sent in on the
rightsfiank Of our line at about A. M, and in
short time horde of ragged, streaming reb-
els running down the road, Indicated that that
portion of the enemy's line had been crushed.
AT 8 O'Clock a. NJ, Gen. French sent his COM
pinonts to Gen. Hooker, with the informa-
tion that he had charged the enemy and was
driving him before him.
Sickles maintained the attack upon his line
with great endurance The enemy seemed
determined TO crush him with the immensity.
Of his forces. and as subsequently shown from
the statements of prisoners, five whole DIVE
sions of the rebel army We're precipitated up
on this portion of the line, for from these ave
divisions we took during the day an aggregate
), of over two thousand prisoners.
The exploits of our gallant troops in those
dark, tangled, gloomy woods may never be
brought to light; but they would fill hum
dred volumes. It was deliberate, desperate
haild-to-h hand conflict, and the carnage was
perfectly frightful. Cool officers say that the
dead and wounded of the enemy covered the
ground in heaps, and that the rebels seemed
utterly regardless of their lives, and literally
threw themselves upon the muzzlos of our
guns. Many desperate charges were raade
during the fight, particularly by Berry's divi-
sion. Moore's brigade made Is distinct
charges, and captured seven stand of colors,
the 17th New Jersey, Colonel Francne, alone
capturing four stand of coiors and five hun
dred prisoners.
Gen. Couch's second army corps, though
only in part present, did excellent work. 1t
was General French who charged and drove
the enemy on the flank, and it was the indom-
table Hancock who CALAMITY went to the re-
lief of the hard pressed Siekles-
The engagement lasted without the slight
est intermission from 5 15 A. NJ. to 8 A. M,
when there was a temporary cessation on our
part, occasioned by getting out of ammuni-
ton. We held our position for nearly an
hour with the bayonet, and then being re-sup-
piled, an order was given to fall back to the
vicinity of the Chancellor House, which we
did in good order. Here the contest was
maintained for an hour or more, not so severe
" as before, but with great havoc to the enc
my, and considerable loss to ourselves.
The vicinity of the Chancellor House was
now the theatre of the fight and my visits to
the spot became less frequent. Gen. Hooker
maintained his headquarters there until 10 a.
NJ, when it was set on FIRE by the snemy's
shells, and is now in ruins. Chancellogvtile
is no longerin existence, having persisted with
the fame, but Chancellorsyille is in history,
never to be effaced.s is : ss
Our .ew line was so far established as tc
render it safe to withdraw all eur forces or
that front, which was accordingly done, and
ut half-past eleven in the morning The mus
kerry firing ceased
The engagement had lasted six hours, bui
had been the most terrific of the war Oul
artillery had literally slaughtered the enemy
and many of the companies had lost heavily
in men themselves, but the guns were al
saved.
The enemy was now no longer in our rear
but had been showed down directly in oul
front, and is now directly between us and oul
forces in Fredericksburgh, and We were again
in an intrenched and formidably fortified posi-
ton. The enemy has gained some ground
it is trse, but at the sacrifice of the flower oi
his force, five of his seven divisions having
been cut to pieces in the effort, and over 2,00(
of them have fallen into our hands.
Our right wing, under Generals Rcynold,
and Meade was not engaged, save the division
of Gen. Humphreys, which went into tht
woods on the enemy's left flank, and Tough
valliantly under their brillians leader, unit
their ammunition was exhausted.
During the afternoonlthe enemy has mad'
several attempts to force our lines, particular
ly at the apex of our position, near the Chan
cellor House, but Captain Weed has massec
large quantity of artillery in such position
as to repulse with great less everything com
ing within its range The enemy tried sew
eral batteries and regiments at that point a
different times during the afternoon, and the
were literally destroyed by the terrible fire Q
our guns. Nothing can live within range.
Our present position is impregnable if ou
troops continue to fight as they have to-day
Gen. Lee, the prisoners say, has issued an Oh
der that our lines must he broken at all haz
ards. Let them try it again, with what the
haveieft They can, and perhaps will des
troy themselves by attacks upon this posi
ton. Our troops are perfectly cool and cor
fident. They have fought with great spir
and enthusiasm, and willcontiane to do so.s
The rebel prisoners report that Gen. A.
Hill was killed this forenoon during the san
Culinary conflict his division had with Genera
Berry's Division. Gen. Berry was himse
killed, while calamity leading his brave mel
headquarters Ohio Militia. r.
ADJUTANT-GENERAL OFFcE,l
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