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

ter confnslon and panic of one full
iorps, and their eethlsiasm was from
hat moment dampened, aid the con,
iidence they had hitherto felt III their
success under General Hooker was
lost iE the reflection that they could
place little confidence in one another.
The gallantry of General Hooker
here shown ont cOnspicuously, ana
every one will admire the se,f.sacrlticc
with which ne threw his own life IN
the extreme peril to restore the conf
dehee OF his men and put an end to
the panic which had been created.
But a little ground was lost in this
event, yet all had an ill-boding sense
oftear that our men would not prove
reliable and that our successes thus
tar were but to prove fruitless in the
end. This rout Of the Eleventh (tor,
mcrly SigerS) corps, was the crisis
This was the turning point, from
which our succeeding fortunes can
be most distinctly traced. Saturday
closed tie operations OF the frat week
with doubtful prospects Of a final re
suit, and the previous successes Of the
right wing seemed destined to end in
disaster.
Sedgwick, with the Sixth Corps,
had at this time withdrawn to the
east bank Of the river, taken NJ his
bridges and replaced them again d
rectly in front Of fredericksburg, and
prepared for an assault on the NOR.
row on the earth works back Of the
town.
SUNDAY.
The assault Of General Sedgwick
npon the nights Of Fredericksburg
was commenced on Sunday morning.
A more determined and desperate at.
tack has not been made. No men
ever attacked the Notifications of al
enemy with more enthusiasm or Wig.
or. The bark was steep, the fire OF
shot and shell was terrific, and the
slau hter Of General Summers corps,
iour months ago, gave little promise
of success. To almost certain death
The men charged up and carried the
work0, drove the artllerists from their
guns, captured twelve pieces OF the
best and heaviest artillery, aud many
pris spners OF war in their trenches -
With the heaviest losses, Scdgwick
followed up his success with the bold
est energy, and pursued the enemy
toward Chancelurvle, with the pur.
pose Of uniting with General Hooker
at that place.
Bat this brilliant success came too
late, for the enemy held the plank
road which the ruut Of the Eleventh
corps had yielded to them on the pre-
previous night, and the enemy was
enabled to throw an efficient force
against him to prevent his junction
With Hooker. This was speedily
d'ne, and soon Sedgwick's fine corps
The largest and perhaps the best o
th. army, was cut off from communi,
cation either with Hooker or with
Fredericksburg, aud thus isolated
was compelled to fall back upon the
river at Banks Ford, where bridge,
had beer thrown over, by which, i
severely pressed, he could make SAT,
his retreat across the Rappahannocl
again. Thus followed misfortune OIL
misfortune, not for the lack Of skill
or bravery, but for the conluct Of th
miscreahts who had fled from the;
position or the previous night almos
upon the first attack Of the enemy.
Bnt another repulse was sustaine,
on Sunday morning by the army nea
Chancellorville. The enemy renewed
the attack and again drove back on
lines for half a mile. From the larg
brick house which gives the name o
this vicinity the lines Of the enem,
could be seen sweeping slowly, bu
confidently, determinedly, and surel.
through the clearings which extend
ed in front. Nothing could excit
more admiration for the best qualitie
of the veteran soldier than the man
ner in which the enemy swept out, a
they moved steadily onward, tne fol
ces which were opposed to them.-
We say it reluctantly, and for tn
} first time, that the enemy have show
} ed the finest qualities, and we az
knowledge on this occasion their 81
periorlty in the open field to our ow
; men.
They delivered their fire with pre-
} cision, and were apparently inAexibi
and immovable under the storm {
bullets and shells which they wei
! constantly receiving Coming to
piece of timber, which was occupie
| by division of our own men, ha
the number were detailed to clear til
woods. 1t eemed certain that hel
, they would be repulsed; but the
, marched right through the wood, DR.
u;,c. or, o,yn oold iara ont uho dali,