Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-05-14
THE GREAT BATTLE OF SUNDAY

! HEADQUARTERS IN TIE FIELD, NEAR CANCEL ],
LOUISVILLE, Va, Sunday, May 8, 1856 P NJ {
| Another bloody day has been added to
| the calendar of this rebellion. Another
terrible battle has been tonight, and more
fields crirnsonediwith human blood. A few
more such days as this will find no armies
left on either side to fight battles.
My last letter brought up the situation
to Saturday morning. 1t was then Ger
tainly expected that the enemy would be
gin the attack as soon as it was day, and
our dispositions were made accordingly.
| But the attack did not begin. Events
proved that the enemy did design to at
tack, but he chose to make that attack in
manner and at point different from
what was generally anticipated by Us on
Saturday morning. Dayii. h. grew broa9-
er and yet no guns. Finally, about six
O'Clock, brass Napoleon, looking down
| the plank road in front of the Chancellor
House, saw regiment come into the road
in column and attempt to deploy. One.or
two doses of canister caused them to de-
ploy rather irregulsrly, and more like
sklrmlshers on the retreat.
Soon after. Gen. Hooker and staff be-
gan an inspection of our lines, which &C.
cupied full two hours. Every portion was
visited, and the work of the night was
closely inspected. On the extreme lett
new lines were chosen, and the engineer
officers soon marked out the line and char
acter OF the detepces to be erected When
the Inspection closed, the intrenchments
were pronounced to be of the very best
character, especially those on the right,
,rh ar th.,o s IT
ARD were posted.
There had been only slight disturbances
during the night, as both forces had been
busy With their axes rather than their
muskets. From Ger. HowARD's front
came report that the enemy was engaged
all night In cutting a road past his picket
liae to the right. How much attention
was paid to this fact at the time I do not
know, but subsequent events proved that
1t was very significant.
The day continued to pass in a very
dull manner for day of battle, and only
here and there was there anything more
even than desultory skirmishing and
picket firing.
About o'clock the plckets on the right
OF zen. Slocum's front reported that from
certain position wagons had been seen
moving in westerly direction nearly all
DAY. It was at once surmised that this
might be retreat, but subsequent events
proved that it was part OF an affair of
altogether another nature. To ascertain,
however, what it really was, Gen. Sckles,
who was still in reserve, was ordered to
make reconnaissance in heavy force in
that direction. This was done with great
promptness, and the divisions of Gems.
Birney and Whipple, with Gen. Barlow
brigade, from Towards corps, were sent
out to the front, Berdan's bri gade of sharp.
shooters having the advance and support
ing Randolph's battery. Our men moved
rapidly and soon became more or less en-.
gagged, especially the artillery and sharp
shooters as skirmshers. Berdan soon
sent IN some sixty prisoners, belonging to
the Twenty'third Georgia, including one
Major, two Captains and three Lieuten.
ants. Being upon the ground, I examined
these prisoners, and seoD found that the
wagon train" which we had seen moving
during the day was composed mainly of
ordnance wagons and ambulances, and
that Stonewall Jackson and staff were at
the head of column of troops which the
wagons followed.
Nothing more was needed to convince
us that this daring opponent was execut-
ing another of his sudden movements, and
it was at once resolved to checkmate him.
Gen. Sickles was ordered to push Oh. and
Gen. Williams division Of SLOGAN col
umn was ordered to cooperate. Berdan
pushed ahead with great vigor, and with
Randolph's battery soon sent to the re ar
as prisoners of war the entire remnant of
the Twenty.third Georgia regiment, num-
berlDg over four hundred officers and men.
The column of the enemy which had been
moving up this road was now literally cut
| in two, and Gen. Williams had commenced
flank movement on the enemy's right,
which promised the most auspicious re>
| suits
But at o'clock terrific crash of mus
kerry On our extreme right, announced
that Jackson had commenced his opera
tons. This had been anticipated, but it
was supposed that after his column was
cut, the corps of Gen. Howard, 0ormerly
Gen. Sigel's0 with its supports, would be
sufficient to resist his approach, and find
ing that he was himself assaulted in the
rear, he would turn about and retreat to
escape capture.
But TO the disgrace of the Eleventh
Corps be it said, that the division of Gen.
Schurz which was the first assailed, almost
Instantly gave way. Threats, entreaties
and orders of commanders were of no
avail. Thousands of these towards threw
down their guns and soon streamed down
the road toward headquarters. The enc.
my pressed his advantage. Gen. DeveEs'
division, dlsatfected by the demoraliza ton
OF the forces IN front of him, soon followed
suit, and the brave General was for the
second tine severely wounded in the foot.
while endeavoring to rally his men. Gen.
Howard, with all his daring and resolution
and vigor, could not stem the tide of the
retreating and cowardly poltroons The
| brlgades of Coils. Bushbeck and Mclean
only remained fighting, and maintained
themselves nobly as long as possible. But
they too, gave way, though in good order,
before vastly superior numbers.
Gen. Hooker now sent to the aid of
Gen. Howard the choicest division of his
army, the creation OF his own hand-the
famous Second Division of the Third Corps
commanded by Maj. Gen. Berry. Capt.
Best soon moved his batteries on ridge
running across the road, and after short
but sanguinary contest the further advance
OF the enemy was stayed.
Of course this disaster compelled the re-
call of Slckles and Slocum. who had been
pursuing their work with remarkable
vigor. Gen. Williams division returned
only to find portion of their works filled
with the enemy. Sickles' division could
not communicate with tie rest of the ar