Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1863-05-14

severe raking from several several field
batteries planted on the other side Of the
neck close by the position of Whipple's
division. 1t was truly astonishing how "
lavish they were Of human life and blood. =, =,
Regiment after regiment were completely -
swept away by our musketry and the 81
grape and caculster of our artiler"
vet fresh res -ments we're -. 80 on.p :, and
forward to take their places. pushed
gaining possession of the We "A. an The
right of the stone wall, they vot aS emf
lading fire upon our little s - haroas
who We're compelled to ? . oSn~ tha;r No,
sition. But if the er .oah haJ a,.;rsn I'm
back, it had cost hi my, pS' 9 That little
nor M - of Tho 81. Al over with the mangled
storv Of tho IN rebels, telling the silent
' w .esperaton of the struggle,
far GENERAL FIGHT
hand determined obstinacy Of this little
for Oh two brigades, in holding the rebels
G more than an hour in check, had gwen
zen. Hooker opportunity to perfect the
formation of his main line of battle on the
line he had intended it to take, with the
exception Of these two brigades, who were
J 700 much exhausted to renew the action
: Immediately the linewas formed precisely
as desired. The two brigades THAI had
) thus far dnoe the severe fighting fell back
to the roar, leaving the field opeA TO the
I enemy TO advancesup to our rihe PITS
THE POSITION.
I, Our front line OF battle was formed in
rife pits and behind breastworks Of timber
9 and brush, hastily thrown up, but afford
+ Ing some shelter to the men. The second
CT reserve line, lay upon the open field,
e ~ I'd was intended to advance to the breast
IL works when the first line should become
exhausted. The line was formed upon
either side of the plank road leading to
Orange Court House, and close up to the
b. woods We had section of Dimmlck's
o famous battery planted directly IN this
,at road on line with our reserves which
ae, swept the road to prevent the enemy adj
sx- vancing down It, But the enemy had alst
his brought around a quantity Of field artllle
inc nv, with which they opened upon Capt
by Dimmick with great earnestness Th'
iAe duel fought between these batteries was
ing hard one The brave Dimmick fell dur
,ar. ing its progress. and many of his gunner
were carried to the rear, no longer usefu
,ral as warriors.
OnS THE MUsKETRY.
s on But the enemy had advanced throug
.oA the woods close up to our lines, and wer
-. attacking as in great force, despite gu
'no artillery. We filled the woods with shell
'oon crossing fires in all directions, but still tn
Nuy masses of the enemy crowded on.
n n,n seemed as if they were dense mob, thos
pm in the rear being ignorant of the carnag
no.i going on in front, crowding their compal
~ ions on to sure destruction. They al
''E peared in front of our lines for at least
~. mile, along the front of the entire Thin
.n1 and Second corps, coming up in den
a masses, climbing over the heaps OF tt
~. fallen, firing heavy volleys, and goir
yms down among the slain as the respon
= q broke from our ranks. 1t was frightful
anu contemplate the slaughter to which the
"a men were forced. Whole brigades Wou
'"o be swept away in the determined effort
:, % force our lines, and still other brigad
CIV would spring up to take their places. Al
wac so they fought us, and SO we continued
III fight, until the cartridge boxes of our M
2 u began to grow light, and their powers
!, up endurance began to flag under the consta
w !" exertion
n In this frightfvl life and death struge
'has the whole plain of Charlottesville W
> > u swept by the missiles of one or the 9th
'ion' party and heartsick and weary of witne'
erai' ing such sacrifices of human life, turn
40 u my horses head away and moved doN
ever che road toward the ford. And here 9th
usns scenes equally affecting met my eye. Lo
anu trains of ambulances were constantly co
'o"h ing down the road, depositing their load
'hoy suffering, mangled men at.impromptu h
eyr pitfalls hastily fitted up beneath the shell
70 oi Of the woods, where large gangs of 81
re- geons were occupied to the utmost limit
,ie" their ability in dressing the wounds.
- al, road swarmed with those not suficien
'i.eou wounded to necessltate carriage IN an a
a '.' bulanCe, yet for whose sufferings as IL
', n' went hobblng and groaning along
any stoutest heart must bleed.
slori. And still the carnage went on. 1t v
Acoh' nine o'clock. Since five o'clock that de
iio" ening, horrible roar of musketry h
'"os known no cessation, and the loud boom
so'ssn ola hundred cannon sent the sound o.
emu to greater distance without adding to
, ,a.aJ volume. And yet our men held their
'le, -. sition. Could human endurance sta
! .n9 more? They, too, were suffering;
" .u.I slain so lavishly as the enemy, beca
'hel' sheltered but Their ranks were sensil
"a e thinning Halfpast nine O'clock
q 'ho column is growing weak, 10 O'clock
work of death still goes on. Ten th'
rnhg sand brave men have closed their eyes
~ Oh death during the past five hours. 7
ef'- thousand an hour slain! Ten thousa
anu more have been mangled and crippled
his life. The ratio Of deaths to the SIM
uah wounded, was never equalled in war. {
iess TO one We moved the enemy down
envy, brigades they wounded us by dozens a
rceiy scores. Could we endure the exert
pom l,ng enough2 Even though they did
.ne'o greatly outnumber us we should Tina
ming ia troy them But our men were