Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1863-05-14
The War i'm Virginia.
NEAn CnANoElnonsylI1E. VA. MAY 8.

MEAN ANNHhNCELhORSNILiE VA, Way ID.
EDITOR OF FARMER There has been tr &c
days severe fighting, terminating with this day IS
quiet, caused by general exhaustion on both sides.
II he ball opened seriously on Friday morning,
when our troops were in position at and around
Charlottesville. The rebels attacked General
Sykes division in force, and n severe engage
mCnt ensued, lasting half an hour. There was
skrmishing n other portions of the field, but it
was slight
On Friday night the enemy moved powerful
force, supposed to be Hills grand DIVISION round
our front, with the view of hankng IIooker's
right. The movement of troops continued all
night.
On the morning of Saturday, Gen, Sckels got
position commanding road over which the
rebels were moving, sheling them vigorously,
breaking their line, when he moved up Birnev's
division, and had some brisk skirmishing for the
possession of Tho road, with prospect of a gen
eral engagement Howards corps, on the right,
and Slocum's on the left, were ordered up to sup
port Birney-a general engagement ensuing
speedily. Howards corps - Sigcl's old com.
mand-behavcd badly, and broke in confusion
coming down on Birney's line in n regular STAN.
pede. Slocum also fell back, leaving Birney
without support save Whipple's small division.
Biney stood his ground bravely, notwithstanding
this stampede across his line, and fell back in
good order, with Whippe Whippe and Birney
were left on the extre ne right of the line, nearly
surrounded. Gen. Sickles, commanding the corps,
fought like hero, and held ground against pow
erful and overwhelming bodies of the enemy,
finally rcpulsng them. At midnight Birney was
ordered to clear the woods between himself and
the main road leading to Charlottesville. lie
charged bayonets through the woods driving the
rebels out in the utmost disorder.
An attempt was then made to change front face
to the west. Sickels' corps to have the extreme
left. The movement was partially completed at
daylight on Sunday, when the rebels attacked our
left flank. Sickels held his ground obstinatey
for two hours gradually falling back to get on to
the line intended to be taken. The enemy
brought up powerful masses OF infantry, and hurl-
ed them upon us like an avalanche. Our ar.il-
! lery moved them down by brgades, but only that
fresh brigades should take the places of the fall
en-. Frightful slaughter continued all the morn
ing, our troops contestng every inch of ground,
though pressed by vastly superior numbers.
The fighting along our whole line was unequal
ed in the war. The loss of the enemy in killed
was treble that of ours, they being the attacking
party, and our troops partially protected by has
tily constructed rifle pits and breastworks. Still,
the rebels brought up fresh troops, and continued
crowding. There was an incessant roar of mus
kerry for six hours, intermixed by the thunders
of hundreds of cannon. Our left was crowde 1
back mile and half, and our right halfa mile,
though tie line was unbroken at any point. Our
men fought like veterans. The enemy retook
Ir iiooAI. o..A o tio i.,
W liic D. rol' W 'ne 'nseiseotiol vi tlt II
ueLhess roau WIN polnt hiioMn as wii,leliouse,
am mere l cmeckcu inc enemy. our ueau anu
nouhueu hi ioii INV .te ,Ip,si poo. na
ht"ulu'.aers u. ~ i"rse
1.lch mouse, % we'e tulneu Iil ,tT uo'p.t, cur! III
tne n hehs lne reoecS ' sneiieu W. se'til5 ~ oh
,I Ire an nI,''uGr vi mounaeI were gu'neu up
~, ne scNe'e sn.''.ns S'so s,s ,'e "oous ~" n'e'
anu lurse hu'ioprs oi wouaueu mete he.,
nerc was no,lIo s.enen I,e. % "t' '''o o"''.e
ne.u from '''c iaise huii'oei pu'i'cu'-n'eh anu
ai',1ia's' ,o.n . mn o,, nm ..,,
we nare 'aNen pe."eon @ "'0To "1L n'JG PS nno
iT1 ne ,epei .o's 70 nos '0 rh .a''h
hl'eu; "ounulu anu rsonI.1 hioa ne a a..e, say
' .na' .ue nui'io.t Vi ''ien A'A'u anu "o"'ueu
, was never c Iqualeu. ,.;., l., ,,1 ..;,
hee iouSh. every u,'' s., ne iuu, 'AIe
haiiy ;, ei' 10 uelehu rleuetichsou.S @ was as
ueternlineu 70 urlve US iroiii t,c sou'u paiN VI
the rlNer' Whlch proJect would nave succeeuea
out Tor the unsurpassed vaior OF SichIes corps
which bore the brunt OF the battle olocum
corps also fought bravely, anu suffered much -
Some divisions of Mead's corps did heavy work,
and were much cut up, Howard's corps was
completely demora llzed on Friday night But
for the superior discipline OF the remainder OF the
army, the stampede OF this corps would have
been fatal
Today everything has been quiet, save slight
sklrmish this evening, caused by Hooker sending
out column to fee! of the enemy o
, Our loss in the whole action was from lo'ooo
to i2,oO6 Killed, wounded, and missing.
=. MaI' Gen' Berry, "a Diylson, 3d Corps was