The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1863-05-13

---El MEllE On nc 4CtNf
division Of Neade's corps holding the extreme
OF the left. Working parties have been en-
pleyed during the whole night in throwing up
breastworks. snd the woods have resOunded
with the strokes OF 3 thousand sx-nen telling
trees for the purpose Of constructing abattis.-
We hear the rebels, net half mile distant, al
work with the same view, and in the morning
both armies are well ehtrenehed. IL ~iil now
Be who will come out and give battle. Hooker
is determined 70 put forth al the resources Oi
The craft OF which he i : cOns1mmstr master,
20 tempt them out.
The day coatinuea 10 pass in 1 very dull
manner for a day OF battle, and onls here and
there was there anything more even than desul-
tory skirmshing and picket firing.
About O'Clock the pickets on ils right OF
Gen. Slocams front reported that from certain
position wagons had been seen moyiag in
westerly direction nearly al DAY. Il vas at
once surnised that this might BE = retres,. but
subsequent events proved that il was part on
an affair OF altogether another nature To as
certain however, what il really was Gen. Sick
les. who was sill in reserve, was ordered To
make a reconnaissance in heavy force IL that
direction This vas done with great prompt
ness. and the divisions Of Gems. Birney and
Whipple. with Gen. BarlOE's brigade, from
Howard's corps, were pushed Ous TO the 'front.'
Berdsn's brigade Of sharpshooters having the
advance, and supporting Randolph's battery
0ur troops moved rapidly aud soon BECAME
more or less engaged, especially with the artil
ierv and the sharpshoOters d. skirmishers.
Berdan soon sent in some sixty prisoners be
longing 10 the Twentv-thrd Georgia, including
one MAJOR, TWO Captains and three Lieutenants.
Being upon the ground, examined these pris-
4 tb.rr Il. sraf ~
which We had seen moving during the day
vas composed mainly Of ordnance wagons and
smbulauces, and that Stonewsll Jackson and
Staff were at the head Of column Of troops
which the wagons followed.
Nothing more was needed 10 cOnyice ne that
this daring opponent was executing another OF
his sudden movements, and it was at Or &c re-
solved 70 checkmate him. Gen. Scklc- was
ordered to push on, and Gen. Williams dys
ion Of Slocum- column was ordered 70 cooper
ate Bilney pushed ahead with great vgor,
and with Randolph's battery soon cent 10 the
rear a. prisoners Of war the entire Temuast OF
the Twentv-third Georgia regiment numbering
over four hundred officers and men The col.
unn OF the enemy which had been moving 40
this road was Low literally cut in two, and Gen.
Williams bad commenced a flank movement on
the enemy's right. which promised the most
suspicious result.
But a. ) O'Clock terrific crash of musketry
on our extreme right, announced that Jackson
had commenced his operations This had been
anticipated but it was supposed that after bic
column was cut, the corps Of Gen. Howard,
formerly Gen Sigers,) with its supports, would
Dc sufficient to resist his approach AMI finding
that IL was hiusolt assaiied ia the rear, ae
would turn about and retreat to escape capture.
But to the disgrace Of the Eleventh Corps be
IL said. that the division of Gen. Schurz, which
was the first asssiled, almost instantly gave wav.
Threats, entreaties and orders OF command ers
we're OF no avail. Thousands of these towards
threw down their guns and soon sfreamed down
the road towards headquarters The enemy
pressed bis advantage. Gen. Devens division
disaifected 10y the decentralization of the forces
in front of him, soon followed salt, ard the
brave General Was for the second time severed,
wounded in the foot, while endeavoring To rail-,
Is men. Gen Howard, with an his daring and
solution aud yigor, could not stem the tide OF
the retreating aud eowardly pOltroOBs The
bfigades Of Co.'s Bushbech and Mclean only
remained fighting, and maintained themselves
noby as long a. possible But thew loo. gave
way, though in good order, beior7 vastly supe-
fiOr numbers.
Gen. Hooker DOW sent to the aid OF Gen
II fNAfu tlF tHOft-t GlNlribil- OF MS army. the
creation al his own hand-the famoss Secoad
Division of the Third Corps, commanded by
Major Gen Berry Capt Best soon moved his
batteries on ridge running across the road.
ard after q short but sauguinary contest the
fertilizer advance of the enemy was stayed.
OF course this Disaster compelled the recall OF
Scsles and SiocuH, Who had been pursuing
their work with remarkable vig0r Gen VII
ams division returned only TO ind d portion OF
their work tiled with the enemy Sckles' d.
yisien could not communicate with the rest Of
the army at all by the way they advanced, AID
only at great risk by any other route
This was the position at dark, aud il dd no.
,-0A very promising. But our energetic com
mander was more than equal TO the emergenc,
New dispositions 10 repair this disaster were At
once resolved upon Communication was Mt
once had with Gems. Birney and Whipple. aud
a night attack ordered, TO restore the connection
Of the lines. Gen. Wards brigade of Gen
Bruey division, made the attack AZ at night
aided by Capt Best's guns, massed on the ridge
in front Of the enemy. Birney's position was
on the extreme left of this new line Of battle
but Wards terrific attack Was entirely success
tul, communication was restored, and IN a charge
made by the brigade, portion # the artillery
lost by Howard vas CALAMITY retaken by Gen
Hobart V ard
This night attack was the mos, grand and ter
rife thing Of the war. The moon shore bright.
and an enemy could be seen at good masket
range. The air was very still, and the roar and
reverberatiOn OF the musketTy and artillery
past all conception. Malvern Hi was a Skin
mish compared With this, save in the degree of
slaughter. Bat 10 was successful enemv
we're driven back nearly halt mile, sud our
tired men once more slept on their arms That
nights work was ended.
THE GREAT BATTLE or SUNDAY.
Nov J come TO Sunday. II was perfectly e.
dent from the position of affairs on SATURDAY,
gbt. that there must be q change Of our lines
which would throw the enemy out of our rear
and into our front again. Ii will be seen hv
what skillful generalship the enemy was fought
and checked on front and flank and rear. while
this was being done
Gen. Reynolds First Army Corps arrived al
United States Ford on Saturday afternoon
10 was Immediately put into position on our
right. when vas Withdrawn from the plank
road to the Ey's Ford turnpike. This line
was Immediately formed by Gems. Reynolds
and Meade. the latteIs position. Oh the left.
having been relieved by Gen. Howard Elev-
anth Corps which. Notwithstanding It's disor
yanzed condition was 30 far re0rgauzed du
ing the night as 10 b. fit for duty again this
morning. They were assigned the position ou
he eft, where il was probable there would b.
little or no fighting. and We're projected by tLc
strong works built the day before by General
Aead's corps Our new lire now assumed the
hape of a triangle. prolonged at The apex The
light Of the line being somewhat longer than
he left. A the portion Of the line on the
'frht was new time was necessary IN flrfifv +