Santa Fe gazette. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1859-1864, 1863-06-06

Howard's front camea report that the enemy was
engaged all night in cuttng rcad pust his picket
line to the right. How much attention was paid
to this fact at the tinlv do not know, but sub
sequent events proved that il was very significant.
The day continued to li,. in a very dull mau-
ner for day oil battle, aud only here and there
was there anything more even than desultory
skirmishipg and picket firing.
About . O'clock the pckets on tho right Of
Gen, Slocums front reported that from certain
position wagons had been seen moving in q ives
terly direction nearly all day, 1t was at once
surmised that this might be u retreat, but subse-
quenty events proved that 1t was u part Of an
affair Of altogether another nature. To ascertain,
howeveriwhat il really was, Gen. Sckles who
was still 10 reserve, was ordered to make recon-
noissance in heavy force in that direction, This
was done with great promptness, and tho divisions
of Gems. Birney and Whipplc, with Gen. Barlows
brigade, from lloNards corps, were pushed out To
the front, Berdans brigade Of sharpshooters hay-
ing the advance, and supporting Randolphs bat
terry. Our troops mcved rapidly and soon bccane
more or less engaged, especially with tho artillery
and the sharpshoOters rs skirmsbers. Bertan
soon sent in some sixty prisoners belonging to
the Twenty third Georgia, including one mgor,
two captains and three lleutenauts. Being upon
the ground, | examined these prisoners, and loon
found that the wagon train" which wo bad seen
moving during the day was composed mainly Of
ordnance wagons and umbulances and thai
Stonewall Jackson and staff were at the head Of q
column Of troops which the wagons followed.
Nothing more was needed to convince US that
this daring opponent was executing another oil his
sudden movements, and il was at once resolved Il
checkmate him. Gen. Sickos was ordered tC
push on, and Gen, Williams division of SloCuln''
column yas ordered to cooperate. Brney push.
cd ahead with great vigor, and with Randolph
battery soon sent to the rear as prisoners Of wa
the entire remnant Of the Twenty third Georgli
regiment numbering over four hundred oliceH
and men. Tho column Of the enemy which ha(
been moving up this road was now literally cut il
two, and General Williams had commenced aanl
movement on the cnemys right which promises
the most auspiciOus results. ........ ...
But at 5 o'clock terrible crash Of muskelr.
on our extreme right, announced thot jackson hal
commenced his operations, This had been antici
pated, but it was supposed that after his column
was cut, the corps Of Gen. Howard (rormerl
Gen. Slgel'sl, with its supports, would bc sufli
cient to resist bis approach, and finding that b
was himself assailed in tho rear, he would tur
about and retreat TO escape capture.
But to the disgrace Of tho Eleventh Corps b
it said that the division Of Gen, Schurz, whic
was the first assailed, almost instantly gave way
Threats, entreatles and orders Of commander
were CT no avail. Thousands of those coward
threw down their guns and soon streamed ldow
the road toward headquarters. The enemy presi
ed bis advantage. Gen, Dovons' division, disa
fected by the decentralization of the forces in from
OF him, soon followed suit and the brave Geners
was for the second time severely wounded in III
foot, while endeayoring to rallv his men. Gen
Howard, with all his daring and resolution ant
ygor, could not stem the tide Of the retreatinG
aud cowardly poltroous. The brigades Of Cds
Bushbeck and Mclean only remained fighting
aud maintained themselves nobly as long as pcs
sible. But they, too gave way, though in good
order, before vastly superior numbers.
Gen, Hooker now sent to the aid of Gen. How
ard tho choicest division Of his army the creation
Of bis own hand--the famous Second Division o
the Third Corps, commanded by Major Gen
Berry. Capt. Best soon moved his batteries on
ridge running across the road, and alter sAort
but sangunary contest, the further advance Of the
cnenmy was stayed.
M oouroa thia d;sootar cop,nolloJ thn .on.li a
Sickles and Slocum, who had been pursuing tbeil
work with remarkable yigor, General Williams
division returned only to fnda portion Of the
works filed with the enemy. Sickles division
could not communicate with tho rest Of tho arml
nt all by tie way they advanced, and only at erea
risk by any other route.
This was the position at dark md ii did MOI
look very promising. But our energetic com
mander was more than equal to the emergency
New dispositions to repair this disaster were a
once resolved upon. Communication was at ono
had with Generals Birney and Whipple, and
night attack ordered to restore the connection 0
the lines, Gen. Wards brigade, Of Gen. Brney'
division, made the attack at II at night, aided b
Captain Bests guns masscd on the ridge in from
Of the enemy. BurneyS position was on the ex
treme left OF this new line Of battle, but Ward
terrific attack was entirely successful, commun
cation was restored, and in charge made by th
brigade, portion ofthe artillery lost by Howar
was gallantly retaken by Gen. Hobart Ward.
This nightattack was the most grand and ter
rife thing Of the war. The moon shone brigh
and an enemy could be seen at good musket rang
The Dir was very STILL and the roar and reyerberi
ton ofthe musketry and artillery past all conceI
ton. Malvern Hill was skirmish compared wit
this, save in the degree ofsAughter But IL We
succesalul-the enemy were driven back nearl
halfa milo, and our tired men once more slept 0
their arms. That nights work was ended.
Now come to Sunday. TWAS perfectly ev
dent, from the position Of affairs on Saturda
night, that there must be change Of our line
which would throw the enemy out ofour rear an
into our front again. twill be seen by whi
skillfal genenlship the enemy was fought an
checked on front, and hank and rear, while th
was being done. I, ...-... ....Y
Gen Reynolds's First Army Corps arrived
United States Ford on Saturday afternoon
was Immediately put into position on our righ
! which was withdrawn from the plank road to I'll
Ely's Ford turnpike. This line was immediate
formed by Gems. Reynolds and Meade, the lattel
position, on the LETT, having been relieved by &c
Howards Eleventh Corps, which, notwithstan
iug It's disorganized condition was so far reorga
, lied during the night as to be 6t for duty aga
| 81 ..a1 Ia. az.