Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1863-05-13

thus indicating aU intention o. making an
attack Oh Us. lie therefore suspended
this preliminary attack AT once, which had
been arranged as prelude to important
operations elsewhere, and rightly surmised
that if the enemy did really mean to at
tack Us they would follow up our retire
meut.
Arp. NJ. he remarked. II think can
make HIM come out and fight me on my
own ground" In two hours the assertion
was proved. The enemy mstook our
voluntary retirement for check, and
| followed us rapidly as we fell back.
Gen. Sykes division had got in their
cd position, aud plckets thrown out,when
the enemy again appeared in force on the
ridge. at The foot of which We lay. Our
men had stacked arms and were at rest
The whole digIsion, save the Duryea Zou'
ayes, y ere lay ing AZ nearly right angles
with lheroad The Zouaves were paral-
lei with the road Quick as thought Gen.
Sykes brought his men into line, the Zou>
aves on the left half-wneeling into line Of
battle like Il machine. The rebels paused
a nioneat on the top of the ridge, and, to
nerve them for the onset, gave one OF
their scattering, oemouiac yells, and then
came dow or the doublequick shooting,
capturing and literally running over our
po,lr plckets, who scrambled behind all
sorts OF obstructions. But in an instant
more a terrible crash resounded from the
Zouave end of the line, and down the colH
umu rolled the most deafening roar of
musketry that in all my war experience
has ever met nv ears. 1t did not last,ap
parently, tNo minutes. but its work was
effective.
The attack was very fierce, and being SO
much nearer than the previous firing had
bean, created considerable commotion a
round the crossroads. 1t at once brought
Gen. Hooker into the saddle for the first
time during the day, and things we:e
susedily put in shape. This onslaught
was Tor the purpose of retGking this very
important point The first thing done
was the massing OF artillery near the roads
and in fifteen minutes twenty-five guns
we're sending shell into the woods, and the
roar Of artillery became ten timss more
deafening than that ot The musketry hao
been. The work was soon done. The
contest lasted three quarters Of an hour
AMI the enemy igIominiodsly retired.
Although this attack was so handsome
ly repulsed, it proved to be only prelimi
nary to still greater operations Az ~ T.
NJ. Col. Diven, who had cavalry skirmish
crs on the plank road, reported the enc
my advancing in force ana driving IN HI
pickets. He was soon discovered deploY'
ing to the right, and Gen. Slocum prompt
" met the mcve by sending in Genry'
division and Hampton's battery. The at
tack proved to be only feeler, however
and me next thing was a development
still further on our right, which was agar
checllmaied by Gen. Williams, who, will
three batteries of artillery and his owr
division, replied very effectively TO th'
enemys fire, which was sometimes brisk
but never heavy. Beyond this he did no
90. except TO occasionally shell Our ex
IRENE right, under Gen. Howard, bu. hi
troops were very placid, and the shells die
no damage
For while there Was a cessation OF The
desultory and spasmodic firing which had
been going on for two hours. Butat o.
clock desperate charge was made fol
our batteries commanding the plank road
The rebels advanced through the woods a
rapid pace, and got within point>blanE
canister range of our guns a column
also. came up the road wildly. Geary me
them with great promptness and wheeling
a regiment into the road, deadly volly
was poured into their advance. At the
same time Knapp and Hampton double
shotted their guns with canister, and fol
fifteen minutes there was another fiery
episode. Of course the enemy were severe
, ly repulsed, and with heavy loss. TheiI
. killed and wounded fell 10 the timber iel
. in front Of our batteries, aud leaves anf
brushes having been set on lire by oul
shells, the poor wretches are suffering
double death.
After this hour there we're n 0 more Wig
orors attempts on the part Of the enemy
For an hour or more a sharp shelling wa
, kent up arainst our extreme lett, occupied
BY Gen. Meade. Gen, Couch's force were
deployed early in the afternoon, and rem
deredeffeotive assstancei in supporting thu
centre. General Sickles's column acted q
a reserve.
The centre operations of DAY indicat
that the enemy was engaged mainly IL
feeling our lines, endavoring to find
weak point, and to ascertain the strength
of our position and forces, but he was re
/.
pnlsed at every point, particularly in hi
attempts to retake ChancellorVille, and II
the insane charge upon our batteries 81,
Every thing goes to show that Lee Wil
open the attack early this morning. 1t
J now 3 o'clock q. IN. May 2. Our troop
have been at work all night, and the wood
resound,wi the ring ofaxes. Both partle
, are busy building earthworks and abattis
: Certain changes are being made in ou
. lines. and we shall be fully ready for an!
, emergency.
} Our losses yesterday are notyet known
, We had about one hundred killed anC
. wounded in Gen. Sykes fight early in th'
5 afternoon. Capt Marsh; of the Seven
teenth regulars, was killed. Capt. Over
) ton, Of Sen. Sykes's staff was wounded
not dangerously Lieut.. Col. Walker, as
sistant Adiutant General TO Gen. Couch
; was wounded by q piece OF Shell in tn
arm-not seriously.
The troops acted msgniioently, No
csss Of nisbshsvior has come to N,