The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-01-16

der to give, as they thought, the coup de
grace to the fleeing enemy.
+ About five miles from Darbytown nthe
Newmarket road, the enemy became vlsl-
BILE, but he was posted in an extremely IA
vorable position. The plain was covered
with pines, and the ground broken, so that
our cavalry had to remain inactive. Gen.
Mcclellan had taken position near Fra
zier's farm, where his centre was. Here
he had nineteen heavy guns, and, with
his best troops, firmly and coolly awaited
our attack. We had to push the enemy
from our capital or perish in the attempt.
There was no other choice. But Gen. Nc
Clellan, too, knew only too well the diff
culties Of his position. BY the non-arrival
of Gen. Mcdowell, the conduct of the Sc
cretary of War, Stanton, and the Comman-
n-Chief, Halleck, who was in Wash
ington,* Mcclellan was exposed to sure de-
struction. Many another General, under
such circumstances, would have sought
death in battle. Yet he, the old, brave
soldier, Notwithstanding the immense
losses of the four days engagements, did
not hesitate 4 moment to try the fortune
of battle once more.
BY the four days Strengthening, our
troops were transformed into wild animals.
No sooner did they see the enemy than
they rushed on them with horrible howl
ing, yet these behave as if they were on
the drilling ground. The batteries in our
centre discharged their deadly contents in
our lines, and caused great disorder. Gen.
Lee sent all disposable troops to this place
but Mcclellan received all our new Storm
ing columns with such an Internal fire that
even the coolest lost their composure.
Whole rows of our men were feled. The
thunder of cannon, the noise of one hun
dred thousand muskets, together with the
cries of the wounded and dying, was awful.
Already for seven hours the battle was
raging in small place, and still no foot Of
ground was won. All our reserves were
under fire-the brigade of Wilcox was an
initiated.
Night came on and made an end to the
carnage. Exhausted to death, almost, the
soldiers sank down; they did not inquire
after their friends; they were seeking for
water, but the barren ground refused even
that. Happy those who fell to sleep. Gen.
Lee and his staff rode silently and in sad
mood through the camping-groundso of the
shattered regiments. With dry and
hoarse voice, he gives orders for the COM
ing of the divisions of Magruder and Wise,
and for the burial of the dead. In short
terms, he assigns to Gen. Longstreet the
position for the next morning, and then
hastens with his aides to other brigades.
With the gray Of the morning the thun-
der of cannon commenced again. A bat
terry brought nearer to the enemy's lines
during the night by Gen. Anderson, was
observed Immediately, and suffered great
loss from the rihed guns of the enemy.
Every shot hit its mark-already five of
the twelve cannon were dismounted-yet
the commanding officer stood his ground.
Our columns are formed without having
anything to eat or drink. Exhausted from
the exertions Of the previous day, they
move about like ghosts; yet every one
takes his place. When the sun rose higher
| saw the enemy's ranks were fuller than
on the previous day; that Mcclellan had
got reintorcements, and could, therefore,
withdraw his exhausted troops from the
front ranks, and make fresh troops fight
our worn-Out soldiers.
Gen. Lee, convinced of the dangerous
state of things, Immediately gave orders
to Stonewall Jackson to prepare for cover
ing the retreat in case of necessary. Then
he ordered the divisions of Hill II, Long
street, Anderson, Cobb and Withecomb
to form storming columns.
YET ANOTHER CONFEDERATE DEFEAT.
Again one of the most terrible conflicts
of any war took place Our loss is awful.
Mcclellan, observing what destruction his
guns cause in our ranks, orders some divi-
sions of his reserve to the scene of the
conflict, and overwhelms us with musketry
| fire. His masses press forward, step by
step; some OF our companies throw away
their arms and flee. Mcclellan uses the
moment for a flank movement of his cav
airy. Quickly Anderson places himself at
the head Of our cavalry, and leads three
regiments to the attack. The charge was
brilliant Our Texans penetrate the hos
tile ranks with loud hurrah. These
turned their backs without giving us occa-
sion for the use Of our swords; but we,
too, had to return quickly on account of
the destructive fire from the rifle guns.
The enemy, seeing our confusion, adj
vance under the cry "On to Richmond!"
All the enemy's front the cry is, "On to
Richmond" Many an old soldier who
had fought on the plains of Missouri and
Arkansas wept like child. Of what use
was now our six days fighting, our endur-
ance of our sufferings, the shedding of our
blood All seemed to be over, and dis
may spread over the army. Batteries
were galloping back, transports of all
kinds were fastening back, all left the
field in wild confusion, and caused disor-
der among our troops. In vain are all the
exertions, exposure, and sacrifice of our
staff officers. The troops waver, the Con-
federacy is done for!
In this desperate state OF things Gen.
Hill appears with some regiments, collected
in haste, but the enemy is pressing on har-
der; nearer and more distinctly comes the
cry, "On to Richmond" Cavalry officers
dismount and enter the ranks Of infantry
regiments which had lost their officers.
Gen. Hill SEXES the colors of the Fourth
North Carolina Regiment, which he for
merly commanded, and shouts to the SOL
diers, eff you will not follow me l shall
die alone Some officers step forward to