Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1863-05-14

1.-The famous Second Division Of the
Third Corps. commanded By Major
Gen. Berry. ospt. Best soon moved
bis batteries os ridge running across
hhe road. and after short. but saa-
Culinary contest the further advance Of
The enemy was stsyed.
or course this Disaster conpelled the
recall Of Siekles aud Slocum. who had
been pursuing their work with remark
bic vigor. Gen. Williams division re.
turned only to fnd q portion Of their
works filed with the enemy. Siekles'
division could not communicate with
the rest Of the army At al by the way
they advanced. and only .. great risk
by any other route.
This was the position at dark, and
it did not lock very promising. But
our energetic commander was more
than equal to the emergency. New
dispositions to repair this disaster were
at once resolved upon. Concentration
was at once had with Generals Birney
and Whipple. and q night attack or
dered, TO restore the connection Of the
lines. General Wards brigade. Of
Gen. Birney's division. made the at
tack at IL at night. aided by Capt.
Best's guns. msssed on the right in
front Of the enemy. Birney's position
was on the extreme left Of the new line
Of battle, but Wards terrific attack
was entirely successful. munication
was restored. and in a charge made BY
the brigade, Q portion Of the artillery
lost by Howard was gallsntly resaken
by Gen. Hobart Ward.
This night attack was the most grand
and terrific thing Of the war. The
moon shons bright. and the enemy
could be seen at good musket range
The air was very still. ana the roar and
reverberstions OF the musketry and ar
tillery past sll conception. Malvern
Hill was skirmish compared with this,
save in the degree Of slaughter. But
it was successful,-the enemy we're
driven back nearly half mile, and our
tired men once more slept on their
arms. That nights york WAS ended.
Now l come to Sunday. 1t was per-
fectly evident from the position Of af-
fairs on Saturday night, that there must
be change in our lines, which would
throw the enemy out Of our rear snd
into our front again. It will be seen
BY what skilHul generalship the enemy
was fought and checked on front. snd
flank, and rear, while this was being
done.
Gen. Reynolds first army corps ar
rived at United States Ford on Satur-
day afternoon. II was Immediately put
into position on our right. which was
Withdrawn from the plank road 10 the
Ev's Ford turnpike. This line was i'm.
medi4tely formed by Generals Reynolds
and Meade. the l,tter's position on the
left having been relieved bv General
Howsrd's eleventh corps. which. not.
withstsnding its disorganiz,d condition.
was so Ear reorganiEed during the night
as to be fit Tor duty again this morning.
They were assigned the position on the
left. whore il was probable there would
be little or no fighting. and were pro.
tscted by che strong works built the day |
before bv General Meadr's corUs.-I
Our new line now assumed the shape |
of triangle. prolonged at the apex.
the right of the line being somewnar
longer than the left. As the position
of the line was new, time was necessa-
ry to fortify and intrench it, and the
work was carried on vigorously by the
fifth and first army corps.
Ii was very evident at daylight this
morning that the day would bring forth
a terrific bHitle. We knew that the en-
emy had been re enforcing his line all
night. at the expense, undoubtedly Of
Che strength of his force on ou left
His intention was. eVidrntIy, 10 fight for
the possession OF the plank road. which
It was perfectly apparent he must have,
as that portion OF il which we then
held, was subject to the enemy's as
sauits on front and on both fanks.
But the possession Of this road was
not obtained BY the enemy save at our
own time. at the severest cost, and af-
ter one OF the most desperate. tenacious
and bloody conflicts, Tor its short dur.
alton. Of the whole war. At 8 O'Clock,
A. NJ. the rebels could be plainly sren
up the plank road. about a mile and
half from the Chancellor house. which
Gen. Hooker still retained as bis head
quarters, though a shell had gone
it the evening before. and an
other had cut down q tree directly in
front OF il.
Our line Of battle was formed with
Sen. Berry's gallant division on the
right. Gen. Birney next on the left,
Gen. whipple and Gen. Williams sup
porting. At 81 A. NJ. the advance
became engaged in the ravine. inst be-
yond the ridge where Capt. Best's guns
had made their terrific onslaught the
night before, and where they still
Irowned upon the enemy and threat
rn+d his destruction.
The rattle OF mussetry soon became
a long continued crash. and in few
as battalion alter battalion
became engaged, the roar surpassed all
and indicated that the 6ght
xould be one OF the most terrible ma.
ure. Gen. Berrv's division. which |
rad checked the enemy's advance the I
night before, engaged him again, and (