Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1863-05-14
THE GREAT BATTLE OF SUNDAY.
TIE MOST TERRIBLE FIGHTING OF
THE WAR
peeisl 10 the New York Times-
HEApeUARTERs IN rHE FIELD,
nKAR CHAHcELloKyrLLE,F Va.

1t~~-@- W N--S Wv ~ = A4-13~
HEADeuARTrRs IN ran FIELD,
NEAR CHAsoELLoRvILLs. Va.
Sunday May ;. Is63--6PH
Another bloody day has been added
TO the calendar OF this rebellion. An
other terrible battle has been fought,
aud more fields crimsoned with human
blood. Few more such days as this
will find no armies left on either side ID
fight battles.
Ny last letter brought up the situa-
ton TO Saturday morning. Il was then
certainly expected that the enemy
would begin the attsck as soon as il
was day, and our dispositions were
made accordingly. But the attack did
not begin. Events proved that the enc.
my did design to attack, but he chose
TO make that attack 10 q manner and al
9 point different from what was gene
rally anticipated BY us on Saturday
morning. Daylight grew broader, and
yet no guns. Finally. about 6 O'Clock,
brass Napoleon. looking down the
plank road in front Of the Chancellor
House, saw . regiment come into the
road in column and attempt to deploy,
One or two doses OF canister caused
them to deploy rather irreguIarly. and
more Ike skirmishers on the retreat.
Soon after Gen. Hooker and statf
began an inspection Of our lines. which
occupied full two hours. Every por-
tion was visited, and the work Of the
night was closely inspected. On the
extreme left new lines were chosen, and
the engineer officers soon marked out
the line and character Of the defences
to be erected. When the inspection
closed. the intrenchments were pro-
nounced to be Of the very best charac-
ter. especially those on the right. where
the columns Of Slocum and Howard
we're posted. .-. ..t.-..........
There had been only slight disturb
ances during the night, as both forces
had been busy with their axes rather
than their muskets. From Gen. How
ards front came report thst the enc
my was engaged all night in cutting q
road past his picket line to the right
How much attention was paid 10 this
fact at the time / do not know, but
subsequent events proved that it was
very significant. e-
The day continued to pass in very
dull manner for a day Of battle. and
only here and there was there anything
more even than desultory sbirmishing
and picket firing. t.f. ...r .f..
About 5 o'clock the pickets on the
right OF Gen. Slocums front reported
that from a certain position wagons had
been seen moving in westerly direc.
ton nearly all day. 1t was at once
'urmised that this might be retreat.
but subsequent events proved that it
WAS part VI an affair Of altogether an
olher nature. To ascertain, however.
what It really was. Gen. Sickles. who
Was still 10 reserve, was ordered to
make a Reconnaissance in heavy force In
hat direction. This was done with
great promptness, and the divisions Of
Gems Birney and WhippIr, with Gen.
3arlow's brigade. from Howard's corps.
we're pushed out to the front. Berdan's
brigade OF sharpshooters have the ad- I
rance, and supporting Randolph's bat
cry. Our troops moved rapidly and
oon became more or less engaged. es-
,ecially with the artillery and the
as skirmishers. Berdan |
oon sent in some sixty prisoners, be-
onging to the Twenty-third Georgia. |
including one Major. two Captains and
bree Lieutenants. Being upon the
round. / examined these prisoners.
md soon found that the wagon train"
which we had seen moving during the
lay was composed mainly Of ordnance
wagons and ambulances, and that Stone
vail Jackson and staff were at the head
4 column Of troops which the Wag-
ms followed.
Nothing more was needed to convince
Is that this daring opponent was exc
uting another OF his sudden move
nents, and it was at once resolved to
heck.mats him. Gen. Sickles was
'rdered to push on, and Gen. Williams
ivision OF Slocum's corps was ordered
o co ooperate. Birney pushed ahead
nth great vigor. and with Randolph's
'attery soon sent to the rear as prison.
re- Of war the entire remnant of the
twenty. third Georgia regiment, num-
'ering over four hundred officers and
nen. The column Of the enemy which
ad been moving to this road was now
terally cut in, two. and Gen. Williams
.d commenced flank movement on
he enemy's right. which promised the
nost suspicious results.
But at S o'clock q terrific crash Of
nusketry on our extreme right. an
ounced that Jackson had commenced
is operations. This had been sntici-
sted. but It wss supposed that after
is column was cut. the corps Of Gen.
howard, formerly Gen Sigel's. with
10 supports, would be sufficient to re
list his approach. and finding that he
7as himself assailed in the rear. he
IouId turn about and retreat TO escape
apture. /
But to the disgrace Of the Eleventh
,orps be it said. that the division oil
ZEN. Schurs. which was the first as.
allied. almost Instantly gave way.
'hreats, entreaties and orders OF com
,snders were OF no avail. Thousands
r ,ba.a ,o-ards tbrau down ~