Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1863-06-04
Tur GRAM Assault ON yICssBUR,

ON TUESDAY, Corn MAY,-We find lie
following details of the general assault ON
the Notifications behind Fredericksburg
by General Grants army, on the 10th of
May last, in the New York Times. The
division which made the assault was com
posed of the first brigade, General Il, a,
Smith the second brigade, Colonel L.
Kirby Smith commanding, and the third
brigade, General Ewing, This division
was about the only one that advanced,
and Its losses were heavy;
{" At precisely two o'clock the various
regiments rose to their feet, and with a
tremendous cheer, started at double quick
over the hill,
Passing over the crest of the first hill,
behind which they lay, the charging col
umn saw in front of them another hill
about five hundred yards distant. To
reach this it was necessary to descend
slope for about two hundred and fifty
yards, the surface of which was broken
with deep gullies, and covered with fallen
timber. Down this our men rushed in
double quick, took a moments rest at
the bottom, and then commenced the steep
ascent beyond, This slope is covered
with an abattis of heavy timber, beyond
which is high rail fence, then ditch
ten feet in Depth then nearly perpen-
dicular ascent some twelve feet in hight,
and then the rebel parapet and ride-pit,
hight ~
| The bitches around the works were
commanded by an entilading fire from
guns mounted upon traverses, while to the
right and left were works and buildings
and other objects, behind which rebel
sharpshooters could find protection, and
pour destructive FIRE upon an enemy,
after as well as before they had gained
the interior of their main works.
The 18th infantry, 4th Virginia, 9th
! Chic, 127th Illinois, 9th and Sth Nilsson
ri, and possibly one or two other regl-
ments gained the ditch, The conflict was
short and decisive In twenty minutes
the brigades had assembled the hill and re-
turned, minus some eight hundred men,
The rebels moved our gallant fellown
| down with grape, canister and musketry;
| tho, were protected-we had nothing t
shield us from tho ''.'.uiy storm.
| The 18th infantry lost SO men kllle'
and wounded out of 204, among whom
was It's gallant commander, Captain
F, Washington, wounded and taken PRISON
err; Captains Yates and Ewing, LieuteG
| ants How, Little, Bates and other officer.
se-erreelly wounded. Every brigade in the
charge had from tire; three &c .;'e eolorbesr
ers shot down while advancing upon the
rebel works. Three men of the 18th
Regulars were killed while carrying the
!, colors. Captain Yates then seized them
am, was in the act Of planting them in
the d, ,.ch, when he was shot in fom
nIsces re handed them to Sergeant
who was strr, k down by cannon shot
| wben thew were ,eken by Captain Ewing
| who, although woun..' led in the act, carried
them safely from the 6e,.o ~
The brigade uader Gene, al mayer adj
zanced and fell back after sui1>' ring some
slight loss. Had MeClernsnd 40 vanced
as was intended, the capture of Vicks, burg
would undoubtedly have taken place at
the time of this irst assault.
Many of our wounded were left on the
field until after dark, particularly those
who were lying close to the rebel works.
About midnight the enemy called to oar
skirmishers not to fire upon them, as they
were about to carry in some of our wound
ed. AT the same time they built a fire
upon the parapet of their works, stuck
up small white flag by it, and then
called to our men to come and carry off
the wounded, as they would not be dis
turbed. This was done blythe ambulance
corps guided by the fire they went all
over the ground covered by the fight, ev-
en- in the bitches before the works, and
before morning had secured every wound
ed man left upon the field"