The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-05-06
Ole Dallp freeman.
EVENING EDITION
MONTPELIER, VT
WEDNESDAY MAY 6, 1868.


the following account of the battle OF Sunday
at Chancel orville ..
Now come to Sunday. 1t was perfectly evil
dent, from the position of affairs on Saturday
night, that there must be change of our lines,
which would throw the enemy out OF our rear
and into our front again. 1t will be seen by what
skllful generaship the enemy was fought and
checked on front, and flank, and rear, while this
was being done.
Gen. Reynolds First Army Corps arrived at
United States Ford on Saturday afternoon. 1t
was Immediately put into position ON our right,
which was Withdrawn from the plank road to the
Ely's Ford turnpike. This line was Immediately
formed by Gems. Reynolds and Meade, the atterS
position, on the left having been relieved by Gen.
Howard's Eleventh Corps, which, Notwithstanding
its dsorganized condition was so far recognized
during the night as to be fit for duty again this
morning. They were assigned the position on the
left, where it was probable there would be little
or no fighting, and were protected by the strong
works built the day before by Gen. Meade's corps.
Our new line now assumed the shape of triangle,
prolonged at the apex, the RICH of the line beng
somewhat longer than the left. AS the portion
of the line on the right was new, time was neces-
sary to forfy and intrench it, and the work was
carried on vigorously by the Fifth and First army
corps.
1t was very evident at daylight this morning
that the day would bring forth terrific battle.
We knew that the enemy had been re'entorclnS
his line all night, at the expense, undoubtedly OF
the strength of his force on our left. His inten-
ton was, evidently, to fight for the possession of
the plank road, which it was perfectly apparent he
must have, as that portion of it which we then
held was subject to the enemy's assaults in front
and on both TANKS.
But the possession of this road was not obtain
ed by the enemy save at our own time, at his Sc
verest cost, and after one of the most desperate,
tenacious and bloody conflicts, for its short dura'
ton, of the whole war. At o'clock A. M. the
rebels could be plainly seen up the plank road
about mile and half from the Chancellor House
which Gen. Hooker still retained as his headquar'
tiers, though shell had gone through 1t the eve
ming before, and another had cut down tree d.
rectly in front OF it.
Our line of battle was formed with Gen. Berry's
gallant division on the right, Gen. Blrney next on
the left, Gen. Whipple and Gen. Williams sup
porting. At IL A. NJ. the advance became en-.
gagged in the ravine, just beyond the ridge where
Capt. Best's guns had made their terrific onslaught
the night before and where they still frowned
upon the enemy and threatened his destruction
The rattle Of musketry soon became long con
tinued crash, and in few moments, as battalion
after battalion became engaged, the roar surpass
ed all conception, and indicated that the hgh
would be one of the most terrible nature. Gen
Berry's division, which had checked the enemy
advance the night before, engaged him again, ant
if it were possible for them to add more laurel
to their fame, then they did it thrice over again
The enemy advanced his infantry in overwhelm
ing numbers ane seemed determined to crush GU
R,t hab AZ III an6S
who fought their columns with desperate gallan,
nv, held the rebels in check and inf cted dread
full slaughter among them. Gen. French's div
sion was sent in on the right flank of our line a
about A. NJ, and in short time a horde c
ragged streaming rebels running down the roat
Indicated that that portion of the enemys line ha
been crushed. AT 5 O'Clock A. NJ, Gen. Frenc
sent bis compliments to Gen. Hooker, with the II
formation that he had charged the enemy and wa
driving him before him.
Srckles maintained the attack upon his line wit
great endurance. The enemy seemed determlt
ed to crush him with the immensely of his force
and, as subsequently shown from the statement
of prisoners five whole divisions of the reb
army w.re preci plated upon this portion of tn
line, for from these five divisions we took durn
the day an aggregate OF over two thousand pris
oneis.
the exploits of our gallant troops in those dar
tangled, gloomy woods, may never be brought
lght out they would fill hundred volumes.
was deliberate, desperate band-to-hand confi(
and the carnage was perfectly ffightful. Cool c
ticers say that the dead and wounded of the en-,
my covered the ground In heaps, aud that the re
els seemed u terry regardless of their lives, an
literally threw them selves upon the muzz.es of OF
guns Many desperate charges were made du
ing the fight, particularly by Berry's divisio
Mott's brigade made fifteen distinct charges, ar
captured seusn stands of coors, the Seventh Ne