The New York herald., 1863-05-07


1t of all bodies of rebels He then fell back again into the
nsld with whpps. 49,.
THE GRAND FIGHT.
AT daylight on Sunday morning the cfor. was making
TO withdraw both whpple and Bncy from this hed and
put them in position The lett Of our new line,
half q mile back, whippe to have the extreme
left Birney the centre, with his right on Berry's
left flank This line had been provided
for during the night by the construction OF breaswors
aud rife pits along entire 'front.' and throwing up Geld
works for the artillery in the rear.
A little before SUNRISE while General SickIes
moving his two divisions from the little farm that have
had TO refer TO, the enemy fell upon him
great orce the attack coming from the woods on the
northwest Of the field The bulk OF tho corps had been
Withdrawn from the Aeld and already in position at
the designated point single brigade, each OF Brneys
and Whippes corps remained and these set their faces
bravey towards the enemy and returned the nre that
unceremoniOusly poured upon them.
Simultaneously with this attack the rebels pushed on
the plank road fell upon Berrys division at the
edge Of the woods and then upon French lying Ber
ry's right flank and almost in moment tho fighting be
general and intensely hot along the entire left wing
OF the army The position In which the divisions Of
6ckes corps placed far in advance Of the rest
OF the army and with breastworks to shelter them
was delicate In the extreme. The enemy, for the first
tme brought up several pieces Of field artillery, with
which they opened upon that little body Of brave
with, o vgor that threatened their annhila
tiooi But there no soldiers In the corps
t6xr ever. submit 10 defeat. Il b Hooker's old
command, and is distinguished from the others by
the Commanding General the "Od Guard" 1t ID one
Of the finest bodies Of soldiers the world has ever
duced--veterans Of dozen bard fought campaigns
scarred ragged trusty and that have
been known quail under however nre they
might be paceddoing and daring In every emergency
though always or the that has hitherto
invariably rewarded their ebrts such body Of men
deserve distinguished poston and always feel badly
used when not permitted to occupy the 'front.' ranks in
time Of battle. ss.d 0.ai qaigt~ as ~ gf9.a sl
Hero ID the famous division or Shields whose OK
plos In the Shenandoah valley gave them that
will be glorious. And here, too the magnificent
division Of tho lamented Kearpy-men who never fa
tered under any hre however CALLING And here aso
the veteran column led by Hooker through the psninsu
lar campaign and with which he established his reputa
tion - fighting general. Such mater al may be
equaed in the ranks Of American soldiers the world
has never and produce their superior. The
'Old Guard" Is appropriate title given them and
the distinction 10 emnently meritorious.
On the occasion OF this Sunday morning attack the
colors Of the corps s upon the neld a. the
corps commander Their brigade coors also there
and he s but poor soldier who deserts his flag when
is In danger There danger They assaled
by not less than twenty thousand OF the enemy against
whom they could oppose scarcely than Eve thousand
men In both brigades combined. Fortunately there
were one or two batteries yet remaining the field,
which were so efficiently worked to check the ad-
Of the rebes Calamity they fought, those two
brigades many OF their number falling upon the Geld
under the merciless nre Of the sheltered foe
but they would not rum however that nre might
be. (But impossible that they could stand long
against such odds assailed them here For half an
hour they hold their ground and then fell back good
order to tho shelter Of the wall that divides this
field from the Charlottesville opening dragging their
after them And here they made another glorious
stand II Of their numbers left upon the upper
ned ten times the number OF the oe who advanced
from his shelter and occupied the ground they had
vacated, we're laid there to keep them company. The
position changed now. Tho weaker party
had the shelter while the stronger we're forced to
fight 10 the open field. And coming into this
field the rebels also exposed themselves to q
most rakog from several field batteries planted
the other side OF the neck close by the position
whipple's division was truly astonishing how lavish
they OF human life and blood. Regiment after regi
ment completely swept away by our musketry and
the grape and canister Of artillery yet fresh reg
ments often pushed forward their places
Al last gang possession Of the woods the right OF the
stone WALL they got an enadipg Gre upon little band
of heroes who compelled abandon their position
Bat II the enemy had driven them back II had cos,
him dearly. That little Geld strewn all over
with the manged corpscs Of the slain rebels telling the
silent story Of the desperation Of the struggle
GENERAL FIGHT
Tho determined obstinacy OF this little band OF two
small brigades, In holding the rebels for than an
hour check had given General Hooker opportunity to
perfect the formation OF his main line OF bate on the
limo he had intended to take, and with the exception OF
these two brigadss who were too much exhausted to
renew the immediately, the line formed pre-
csely desired. The two brgades that had thus far
done the lighting fell back the rear leaving tho
ncd open for the enemy TO advance up rife pits
rosIoN
By glance the diagram that heads tho account Of
this days proceedings II will be that along the
OF the Inns Of infantry had large number OF Geld bat
teries planted. Those protected by earthworks
that had been thrown up during the previous evening
and night. Our front limo Of battle formed In riae
pits and behind breastworu Of timber and brush, hastily
throws up, but afbrding shelter the men. The
secad OF reserve line, lay upon the open nsd and was
Intended 70 advance 70 the breastworks when the rss
| line should become exhausted. The line was formed
upon either side Of the plank road leading 10 Orange
| Court Houss, and close up TO the woods. We had
. section Of Dimm'cts famous battery planted
directly In This sosd on . line with our 70.
serves which swept We road 10 prevent the enemy
advaneius down H. But the enemy had also brought
around quantity q Geld artillery, with which they
opsnsd upon Captain Dimmick with great sarnessnsss.
The duel fought between these batteries was hard oue
The brave DmmicE fell during s progress and many Of
his gunue were carried to the rear longer useful as
warriors. tn
Sm nrskErRr.
Blu, the enemy had advanced through the woods Gloss
up to our lines. and attaching In great forcs de-
spite artillery. We nsd the woods with she'll cross
Ing Ores all directions but s the Of the ensmy
crowded II seemed they dsnss mob, thoss Ia