The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1863-07-21
/ V
THE BATTLE OF FRIDAY.

! lV.
THE BATTLE OF FRIDAY.
As one who stands in a tower ard look
down upon lengthy pageant marching
through thoroughfare, finds it impossible a.
the close to recall in order the appearance
and incidents Of the scene, so I, who sit tb
evening on camp stool beside the ruins o.
the monument against which leaned listen
ing to the robin of yesterday, find it impossi.
ble to recall with dis,inctness the details Of
the unparalleled battle just closed. The con.
tlict, waged by 100000 men, which bas oc.
cupled with scarce an interval Of rest the en-.
tire day, from A. NJ. until this evening
contains so much, so near and such volumin.
Gus matter of interest as one mind cannot
grasp without time for reflection.
This last engagement has been the fercest
ADD most sanguinary Of tho war. 1t was be-
gun at daylight by Gen. Slocum, whose troops,
maddened by the loss Of many comrades, and
eager to retrieve the position lost by them on
the preceding evening, advanced and deliver
ed destructive fire against the rebels under
Ewell. That Generals entire force responded
with charge that is memorable even beyond
those made by them yesterday. II was des.
peration against courage! The fire of the
enemy was mingled with yells, pitched even
above its clangor. They came on, and on,
while the national troops, splendidy handled
and well posted, stood unshaken to receive
them. The fire with which they did receive
them was SO rapid and so thick as to envelope
The ranks of its deliverers with pail that shut
them from sight during the battle which ragged
itenceforward for six dreary hours. Out Of
this pail no straggler came to the rear. The
line scarcely flinched from its position during
the entire conflict Huge masses of rebel in-
fantry threw themselves into it again and
again in vain. Back, as ball hurled against
a rock, these masses recoiled, aud were re-
formed TO be hurled anew against il with a
fierceness unfrutfol Of success-fruitful of car
mage, as before. The strong position occu.
pied by Gen. Geary, and that held by Gen.
Birney, met the first and hardest assaults, but
only fell back short distance before fearful
odds, to re advance, TO re-assume and 10 hold
their PAGES in company with Sykes division
of the 5lh Corps and Humphreys (Bery's
old division) Of the Sd, when, judiciously re
inforced with artillery, they renewed and con
inued the contest until its close. II seemed
as if the gray uniformed troops who were ad
vanced and re advanced by their officers up
to the very edge Of the line of smoke in front
Of our infantry, were impeled by some terror
in their rear, which they were as unable TO
withstand as they were to make headway
against the fire in their front. 1t was hard
to believe such desperation voluntary. II was
harder to believe that the courage which with
stood aud defeated il was mortal.
The enemy gradually drew forward his
whole line until iu many places hand con
flict ragged for minutes. His artillery, answer.
ed by ours, played upon our columns with
erightfnl result, yet they did not wover The
battle was in this way evenly contested for a
time, but at moment when il seemed prob
lcmatical which side would gain the victory,
reinforcement arrived and were formed in line
at such position as to enilade the enemy
and teach him at last the futiliiy Of his efforts
Disordered, routed and confused, his whole
force retreated, and al ii o'clock the battle
ceased and the stiffness of death ensued. This
science continued until p. M. AT this mo
ment the rebel artillery from all points, in
circle radating around our own, began ter
rife and concentrated fire on Cemetery Hill,
which was h,ld, as have previously stated,
by the Eleventh and Second corps. The flock
Of pigeons, which not ten minutes previous
had darkened the sky above, were scarcely
thicker than the flock Of horrible missiles that
now, instead Of sailing harmlessy above, des-
cended upon our position. The atmosphere
was thick with shot and shell. The storm
broke upon us 80 suddenly that soldiers and
officers-who leaped, as it began, from their
tents, or from lazy sestas on the grass-were
stricken Ia their rising with mortal wounds
and died, some with cigars between their teeth,
some with pieces Of food in their fingers, and
one at least-a pale young German, from
Pennsylvania--with a miniature Of his sister
in bis hands, that seemed moro meet to grasp
an artists pencil than a musket. Horses fell,
shriekipg such awful cries as Cooper told Of,
and writhipg themselves about in hopeless
agony. The boards Of feucee, scattered by
explosion, flew in splinters through tho air.
The earth, torn up in clouds, blinded the eyes
Of hurrying men; and through the branches Of
the trees and among the gravesiones Of the
Cemetery shower Of destruction crashed
ceaselcssly. As, with hundreds Of others,
CROPPED through this tempest Of death for the
shelter Of the bluff, an old man, a private in
company belonging to the Twenty fourth
Michigan, was struck scarcely ten feet away
by cannon ball, which tore through him,
extorting such low, intense cry Of mortal
pain as l pray God l may never again hear.
The hill, which seemed alone devoted 10 this
rain of death. wac clear in nearly oil its un
sheltered places within five minutes after the
fro hogan.
Our batteries responded Immediately. :
Three hours Of capnonading ensued, exceed
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