The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-05-10

/ lnto one, the enemy refused longer 20
continue the battle at so great disad-
vantage Another demoralizing influence
was the pounding in the distance OF
Sedgwick's guns, which admonished the
enemy that his right flank had been ex-
/ posed to this interloper via Fredericks-
burg There was, therefore, no fighting
IN the afternoon, with the exception OF
now and then = slight skirmish.
The number of killed and wounded is
doubtless large, though it will probably
fall short of the casualties Of Aniietam,
as the troops were less exposed to MUIR
derous artillery firing The small arms
were more suited 20 the nature of the
Held, although at times artillery was
used with good effect.
The CdPture OF fredericksburg.
ORDER OF THE ADVANCE.
II was at half past twelve o'clock in
the morning, on Sunday, May 3. that
we iefs the green plain on the rivers
bank and marched to and up the Bowl
ing Green road. Shsler's brigade had
the advance; behind it came battery G,
Second United States artillery, Lieut.
Butler; then Wheaton's brigade, and the
second brigade Of Newton's division,
commanded by Col. Brown.
Lieut.. Colonel Joseph Hamblin, with
the First United States Chasseurs,
skirmished in advance of the whole line.
For the greater part Of the distance our
march was unmoleste6; but as the ad-
vance was on the descent of little hill
just south of the town, Ere of pickets
was opened upon them from an opposite
hill to the left. BY this fire several men
were knocked down, and Major Healy,
of the Chasseurs, was wounded, we fear
mortally. The gallant fellow thought
the wound fatal one, and his last TO-
membered words were to Lieut. Colonel
Hamblin: "Its all over with me, Joe,
Goodbye"
But the Chasseurs went on steadily,
and about three o'clock entered The
town Of Fredericksbu and held is
until the remainder OF the column came
up. IL was a bold feat 10 enter thus a
place like this, where every house might
suddenly open upon us like mine. But
the result justified the apparent rashness
of the venture.
On We went through the town in q di-
reotion nearly north until we came to the
railroad track, and then we turned TO our
left and went fair west; again wo went
to our right in northwesterly direction
At this time no one knew, perhaps, ex-
actly where we were. But here was
Shaler's brigade massed in the road in
the same road Buffers battery, men all
mounted, caissons up, &c. We were on
the marcis Shsler was ordered to the
left to feel, and discovered that we were
in dangerous proximity TO the enemy in
position and TO what else it was impos-
sible to make out in the dark General
Newton, wisely cautious, stopped this
advance.
just after daylight, we received the
first fire from the enemy. A fierce fu-
silade was begun from rifle pit fairly
in our font Unfortunately, il so hap
pened that the 23d Pennsylvania was in
line of battle in the open field, within
range of the rifle pits en- the hill. From
those pits fierce eruption of musketry
suddenly broke forth, and took the 23i
by surprise but they stood there, bravely
and glOriously--nOt a man moved foot.
But when the fire held up for a moment
then this magnificent 23d ans wered it,
not with fire but with one magnificent
cheer.
THE BATTLE BEGINS.
This fire knocked down a number of
men and told us where the enemy were.
Immediately battery G, I'd United States
artillery, Lieut. Butler, with McCarthy's,
Horn's and Hexamer's batteries, unlim-
bered and opened a fire on the position
whence the enemy's fire had come. This
stopped the musketry rs the enemy kept
his men covered, and commenced % shell
the town, in which our men were massed.
WE INQUIRE FURTHER WHERE THE ENEMY
ARE.
General Frank Wheaton's brigade was
now thrown forward to the left, and skir-
mished towards the enemy's position in
that direction. The enemy was found
TO be there Still further 10 the left
General Howe did the same, and the
enemy was there. Could il be possible
that this line was thus occupied through
its whole extent? That seemed incredi-
bic; but, occupied or not, we must find a
point somewhere, and pierce the line.
ANOTHER POINT TRIED.
After some examination a point far 10
our right was picked out, and Brigadier
General q. X. Warren thought that that
was the place" II was determined that
there were neither artillery nor men At
that point. Gen. Gibbon was sent there
with his command First battery was
| placed on bill at point blank range OPP
/ posile the enemy's, so that guns should
not be brought there. Scarcely was the
battery--ihe Sd Rhode Island, Captain
Hazard--in position before two guns
opened upon il from the work in front,
10 which Hazard, on tho open field, re-
spOnded handsomely.
Hazards battery was supported by the
% Rhode Island.
Meanwhile General Gibbons infantry
was In motion toward the supposed preg-
nablo point Of tho enemy's line. Far
away 20 the right, across the green plain
and toward the hillside, they moved ia
column, aud az them also the enemy be-
gan 10 throw shell. While this infantry
was in motion toward a work that was
crazily thought 10 be undefeDded, your
correspondent, from position on the left
Of Hazard's battery, could clearly see in
these very pits swarms Of The sere and
yellow wretches of the enemy's army, az
they peered over the intrenchm nts and
gazed with maligu interest upon our meu
cn the plain
As Gibbons line thus advanced 10 che
right, bad place 10 the road caused th,
2Oth Massachusetts 10 become some Whal
massed, and The enemy suddenly opened