Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-05-28

was ordered. No adequate distractions
were PLACED III the way of the advancing
hosts. The artillery all remained in its
former position, ready to repel only afront
attack--the front and flank skirmishers had
not even line Of communication with each
otheri Such was the position of affairs
with the First Division occupying the exs
treme right. No wonder the fear .beeams
and painfully evident TO every subordinate
officer that our flank was being turned
At 6 p. NJ. the attack commenced without
premonition No mounted sentinel came
galloping up with the news; but very little
picket firing heralded it. The first note of
,warnipg that the shock had come was the
shock ITSELF A tremendous volley of
musketry, Immediately followed by deluge
Of grape and canister, and the Rebels were
upon us in overwhelming numbers in three
cOnoentric columns. One was moving down
the turnpike, one down Brooks road. and
the other further to the left, and, as their
prisoners stated, in full brigade line and
forty deep, while a section Of their artillery
was brought up to a position 10 the road
commanding our line, which it swept.
What could 1000 men do with 10000?
Their flank and rear being entirely exposed
to its foes, and their position en6laded at
that. But now surely, alter this surprise
in the rear, they will change front com
mon sense demands that, and military
science may well blush in shame If it be not
instantly done. The commander of the 55th
Ohio, his eye upon the right, detects It ccul
plctely hanked. Putting spurs to his horse,
he hastens to the division commander and
shouts, Our right is turned. may change
frontp NO. is the reply. In moment
he is with his regiment again, and seeing
his right giving way, he flies to his General
second time. ''The right is breaking, and
no enemy in front Of US may Inot change
front and at them in our rear r. No.
was the gruf reply; and thus soldiers who
never yet had failed to do their duty, and
whom Napoleon would have deemed worthy
place in the "Old Guard" were left in
the trenches under an en6lading fire Of grape
and canister, and unable to discharge a
tmusket directly or obliquely at their foes,
who were sweeping them down. When
called of at last, without command Of any
general officer, they broke by files and com.
panies, but reformed behind the 25th Ohio.
cite the 55th, not that they did better
than others, but to show the consummats
skill with which the division was handled.
The 18th and 25th Ohio Regiments acquit
ted themselves like men who had country
and honor to defend, while the 18th Con
necticut, although under fire for the frs,
time, equaled the most veteran in splendid
conduct. The loss in McI,ean's brigade il
very great, both in the ranks and in feld
officers The noble Riley 10 dead The
heroic Richardson is dangerously wounded
The brave and undaunted Noble, faint from
loss Of blood, leaves the field TO his gallan
Lieutenant. Colonel, Walter, who gave uI
his life in the very act of entreating his mer
to stand fast by the flag of the country o
his adoption and Of his love. u5't0
1t was surprise Who doubts it ant
that in the broad daylight There is no
an officer in the corps, aside from the guilty
who will not affirm it. No troops in The
world could have stood, placed as were tn,
right Of the llth Army Corps. Far noble
would it be for the guilty to frankly &C
knowledge their errors than to skulk benin,
voiceless privates, with charge of cowardic
and staining the memory of the heroic den,
with detection, or rObbing the bereaved o
the consultations that their loved ones dice
with their soldiers honor bright. u
1t is far easier to fatter and praise thar
to ocnsure but the memory Of the nobl'
men gone to their graves, and now languish
ing in HOSPITALS, is entitled to this plain
\ unvarnished statement Of facts have givel
you; and If it may serve the purpose o
melting greater diligence and watchfulnes
in the future, every motive and object
desire will be fully realized. If Sigel hat
been in command Of his old corps, none be
heve that such surprise conld have hap
pened yet who can doubt that the respon
sibility rests upon him who was thrice noti
fed Of the danger which finally robbed IL
OF complete victory? Complete victory
l say for claim that such fight ant
such results as Hooker there achieved can
not be denoninated defeat, and the prid'
and indignation of every true soldier of tn,
Potomac Army is touched if it be intimated
Even as write, our returned surgeons state
as the admission of all the Rebel officer
they met on the other side, that they hav'
received no such terrible punishment sinc'
the war CONNIE need, and that if this il
Joe Hooker's'' style of fighting, the!
want no more of it. SoALPEL.