Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1863-01-07
rspid picket firing admonished a. that soon

ed a wide open field south of the turnpike
the plain to our left by rebel Battery of
light Artillery, which was closely observing
our movements. The fire from this battery
was quickly replied to by Batteries, A and B
Penn'a ARTILLERY, and after an hour and half
the rebels were compelled to shift their posi-
tion, aud fall back towards the. hills. We
had now driven the enemy's right three
fourths of mile, and to dc more evidently
required additional and extraordinary exer-
ton. 1t was now p. m. Up to this time
our efforts had been directed against the ene-
my's skirmishers In trent of the hills, and his
flank, which stretched across the plain to-
wards the river. The former were driven in
side of their trenches aud the latter out of
reach of our guns.
/ The enemy's batteries on the hills in front
were concealed by thick growth of timber
and, notwithstanding heavy csnonade of shot
and shell, preserved an ominous silence. An
advance was now ordered towards the woods,
and the Reserves promptly led off, while two
other Divisions were ordered to move up
closely on the right. This move was quickly
observed by the enemy, and as our men were
only at short range from his guns, they were
met from the right and left by murderous
FIRE Of she'll and canister. The Reserves gal.
lantly pressed on, and though their ranks were
being rapidly decimated, they succeeded in
gaining the Rail Road, and from thence the
crest of the hill. They held their position
short time, but failing to receive their sup
port on tho right in proper time, and being
overwhelmed by vastly superior numbers,
were forced 10 fall back leaving many brave
man behind, who had sealed bis devotion to
his country's flag with his life. While this
scene was being enacted, the four Batteries
belonging to the Division, sought to divert
the attention Of those of the enemy, and in
doing so, were subjected to a most terrible
fire which told with fearful effect. Battery
A, being in very exposed position, received
more than its proportion uf the rebels FIRE.
After two or three unsuccessful attempts To
disiodge the enemy from his strongholds by
assault, the infantry were compelled to aban-
don the project and the fight was conducted
chiefly by Artillery-which at times, for in
tensty, has rever been surpassed in the an
mails of modern warfare. This was Kept up
till dark, when the firing gradually ceased,
and by O'Clock we were relieved and order
ed back to rest for the night. The order was
willingly obeyed, for during the day, the
brave sons of Pennsylvania had performed
prodigics in physical endurance with cour-
age as drm as the everlasting hills, and chal.
lengiug the admiration of the world No
more vile slauder was ever uttered, than that
from the correspondence OF the New York
Press, to the effect. that the Reserves at the
first onset were pAuic stricken and fell back,
disgracefully. in Confusion. Those no were
shsre and Witnessed the scene, know better;
and they also know that no body of men iu the
same situation could withstand such an emf.
ladng fire from both the right and the left as
that 10 which the Reserves were subjected
Their severe loss viii attes, their daring and
their courage,
will not attempt an estimate OF the losses
of the Division. The official papers will soon
be forthcoming wh ch will set at rest all spec
ulation in regard thereto. The loss to our
Battery exceeded that of any other engage
ment, SO far as men and horses were concern
ed. We had five killed or who have since
died, aud some seven or eight wounded. We
had also twelve horses killed, one gun axle
broken by solid shot, and one timber and
two wheels disabled.
During the 14th and 18th, the two armies
lay quietly side by side as feach were 10th to
attack. On the evening of The 10Th an armis-
tice was asked for by Gen. Franklin, and an
hour was granted in order that we might OBJ
tain the bodies of those who were lying on
neutral ground. They were all procured with
few exceptions within the time specified
and each army resumed its former hostile at
titude. About O'Clock the same evening
We were ordered to withdraw, silently and as
speedily as possible, to the left hank of the
river, and by O'Clock next morning the
whole army had safely recrossed the Kappa
hammock. Since that time we have been spec
ulating on the cause of the movement, and its
probable effect on the progress of the winter
campaign and the duration of the war, but, as
yet, the mass of the Army seem to have come
to no satisfactory conclusion. While some
disposed to censure Burnside for incom-
potency, others attribute the disaster to the
military Directors at W Washington-and in this
connection, Halleck comes in for large share
of denunciation. The men, so far as my OBJ
servstion extends, are in good spirits from
the proud conciousness that they, at least,
have done their duty, and if there has been a
mistake or blunder in the management of the
late fight, il devolves upon the leaders to