The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-05-15
THE WAR IN VIRGINIA.
The Stampede of the 18th Corps
on Saturday.
THE BATTLE ON SUNDAY.

The New York papers of Thursday morn
ing contain nothing of Importance beyond
what we have already published. We
make some extracts, however, from a de-
tailed account in the Herald of the engage
ments of Saturday and Sunday:
THE STAMPEDE OF THE ELEVENTH CORPS.
The 18th Corps had been ordered to ad-
vance on the right of Birney, and moved
forward to take the position assigned to
them on Birney's flank. One brigade sue
ceeded in getting up to the hill, and re-
ported, by its commander (whose name l
have unfortunately lost), to Gems. Sickles
and Brney. The rest of the corps met
the enemy in force when about two thirds
of the distance up. Here they had short
engagement, in which it does not appear
that they had even so large force to con-
tend against as that which Williams, with
his single division, had fought so bravely
Headed by their commander, the gallant
Howard, the German corps charged boldly
up to the rebel lines Here they were
INST, as the rebels always meet their foe,
with shouts of defiance and derision, de-
termined front and heavy fire of musket-
ry. The German regiments returned the
fire for a short time with spirit, manifest
ing disposition to fight valiantly. But
at the time when all encouragement to the
men was needed that could be given, then
some officer of the division Gone at least,
as l am informedD fell back to the rear,
leaving his men to fight alone. At the
same time Gen. Devens, commanding the
first division, was unhorsed and badly
wounded in his foot by musket ball.
Thus, losing at critical moment the in
spiriting influence of the immediate pres
ence of their commanders, the men began
to falter, then to fall back, and finally
broke into complete rOut. Gen. Howard
boldly threw himself into the breach and
attempted to rally the shattered columns /;
but his efforts were perfectly futile. The
men were panic stricken, and no power on
earth could rally them in the face of the en-
emy. Information of the catastrophe was
promptly communicated to Sickles, who
thus had moment given him to prepare
for the shock he instantly apprehended his
column must suffer. The high land of the
little farm that formed the base Of his ope-
rations was packed full of artillery and
cavalry, nearly all the artillery of the Sd
corps, together with Pleasanton's cavalry,
being crowded into that little fifty-ac in
closure But Sickles was not to be thrown
off his guard by trife, and anything short
of complete defeat seemed to be consid-
cred by him in the light of trife. With
the GOODNESS and skillfulness of a veteran
of hundred campaigns, he set to work
making his dispositions He had not a
single regiment within his reach to support
his artillery; Whipple was falling back,
and must meet the approaching stampede
with his own force in retreat; Birney was
far out in the advance, in imminent dam
ger of being completely surrounded and an
initiated; the rebel forces were pressing
hard upon the flying Germans who could
only escape by rushing across his lines,
with every prospect of communicating the
panic to them. 1t was critical moment
indeed, and one that might well stagger
even the bravest hearted. But it did moi
stagger the citizen soldier. Gail to .aone
after another of his staff, he sent them all
off. one after the other, lest any should
fad of getting through, to warn Birney oi
his danger and order him i tod fall back.
Then, turning to Gen. Pleasanton, he di-
rected him to, take charge Of the artillery,
and trainlit all upon the woods encircling
the field. and support it with his cavalry,
to hold the rebels in check should they
come on him, and himself dashed Oft to
meet Whipple, then just emerging from
the woods in the bottom land. lie had