The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-05-15
The Battles near Fredericksburg.
GREAT BATTLE ON SUNDAY.

!
GREAT BATTLE on SUNDAY.
1t was perfectly evident, from the position
of affairs on Saturday night, that there must
be change of our lines, which would throw
the enemy out Of our rear and into our front
again. Gen Reynolds lst army corps arrived
at United States Ford on Saturday afternoon
1t was Immediately put in position on our
right, which was Withdrawn from the plank
road to the Ely's Ford turnpike. This line
was Immediately formed by Gems Reynolds
and Meade, the latter's position, on the left,
having been relieved by Gen Howard's llth
corps, which notwithstanding its disOrganized
condition, was so far reorgauized daring the
night as to be fit for duty again in the morn
ing. They were assigned the position on the
left, where it was probable there would be
little or no fighting, aid we're protected by
the strong works built the day before by Gen
Meade's corps.
At ) o'clock A. NJ the rebels could be
plainly seen up the plank road, about mile
and half from the Chancellor House, which
Gen Hooker still retained as his headquarters,
though shell had gone through it the ever
ing 5efore and another had cut down tree
directly in front of it. Our line of battle
was formed with G,n Berry gallant division
on the right, Gen Birney next on the left,
Gen Whipple and Gen Williams supporting.
At 81 A. NJ. the advance became engaged in
the ravine, just beyond the ridge where Capt
Best's guns had made their terrific onslaught
the night BEFORE and where they still frownsd
upon the enemy and threatened his destruc-
ton.
The rattle of musketry soon became a
long continued crash, and in few moments,
as battalion after battalion became engaged,
the roar surpassed all conception, and ind-
Gated that the fight would be one of the most
terrible nature. Gen Berry's division, which
had checked the enemy's advance the night
before, engaged him again, and if it were
possible for them to add more laurels to
their fame, then they did it thrice over again.
The enemy advanced on his infantry in over
whelming numbers, and seemed determined
to crush our forces. But the brave men Of
Sickles and Slocum, who fought their columns
with desperate gailantry, held the rebels in
check, and inflicted dreadful slaughter among
them. Gen French's division was sent in on
the right flank of our line at a5ou. : a. NJ,
and in a short time a horde of ragged,
streaming rebels running down the road indi-
Gated that portion of the enemys line had
been crushed. At 5 o'clock A. NJ, Gen
French sent his compliments to Gen Hooker,
with the information that he had charged the
enemy and was driving him before him.
Sickles maintained the attack upon his
line with great endurance. The enemy SEEM
ed determined to crush him with the immensi
ty of his forces, and, as subsequently shown
from the statements of prisoners, five whole
divisions of the rebel army were preciptated
upon this portion of the line, for from these
five divisions we took during the day an
aggregate of over two thousand priso-
ners.
The exploits of our gallant troops in those
dark, tangled, gloomy woods may never be
brought to light; but they would fill hun
dred volumes. 1t was a deliberate desperate
hand hand conflict, and the carnage was
perfectly frishtful. Cool officers say that the
dead and wounded of the enemy covered the
ground in heaps, and that the rebels seemed
utterly regardless of their lives, and literally
threw themselves upon the muzzies of oul
guns. Many desperate charges we're made
during the fight, particularly by Berry
division. Motifs brigade made fifteen dis
tinct charges, and captured seven stands o
colors, the 7th New Jersey, Col Francinp
alone capturing four Stands of colors and 5O'
prisoners. Gen COUGHS % army corps
though only in part present, did excellen
work. 1t was Gen French who charged ant
drove the enemy on the flank, and it Was tn
indomitable Hancock who gallantly went t.
the relief of the hard-pressed Sickles. Tn
engagement lasted without the slightest il
termiss;on from 5I A. NJ. to S.45 A. NJ, wheI
there was temporary cessation on our part
| occasioued by getting out OF ammunition
5 We held our position for nearly an hour wit
the bayonet, and then, being re-supphed, a
/ order was given to fall back 70 the vlclnlt
7 of the Chancellor House, which We did i
: good order. Here the contest was maintain
ed for an hour or more, not so severely a
} before, but with great havoc to the enemy