The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-05-15
SAINT PAUL. FRIDAY. MAY rs. 1863,

- GMDiGm !h9 ,ya.-...f jJ-i a.lI : .'-ia.
But it being now quite dark, and as we
never regained entire possession of the
woods, where the enemy were the thick
est, we have no means of knowing how
great the slaughter was. 1t was sufficient
TO know the enemy was held in check, and
Sickles' gallant corps had an opportunity
to rally from the disastrous effects of the
shameful stampede of the 18th corps.
-. o1;t-.fr END OF THE PANIC. ,-e-r
) Let me here finish with the 18th corps.
They did not all fly across Sickles' line.
They dispersed and ran in all directions,
regardless of the order of their going.
They all seemed possessed with an istinc-
tive idea of the shortest and most direct
line from the point whence they started
to the United States Ford, and the major
ity of them did not stop until they had
reached the ford. Many Of them, on
reaching the river, dashed in and swan to
the north side, and are supposed to be
running yet. As soon as Gen. Hooker
heard of the panic lie established a line of
guards across the roads and stopped all
who were to be seen upon the highways /;
but by far the greater portion never
thought of the roads, but dashed on
through the woods until they reached the
river. 1t was no worse with privates
than with officers. The fugitives were
picked up the next day, wherever found,
and the corps was reformed, but has not
since been taken into action.
. --.- I'D BIRNEY SAFE. ,|
In the midst the confusion incident to
this panic the brave Birney and his gallant
division have been forgotten. Almost
simulta neously with the reception of the
information sent him by Gen. Sickles of
the route of his supports on the right, he
began to have practical evidence Of it by
the flight Of the demoralized Germans
across his lines, and before he could pre-
pare to retire his force he found his line of
retreat cut off by the repossession by the
rebels of the road by which he had advan-
ced. In this dilemma he had no other re-
course but to make road out. His COL
umn was therefore ordered to leave the
lane and move quietly down into the raw
inc. This was successfully accomplished.
Even the battery that had been taken up
to the foundry being brought down the
hill. In the ravine he had slight skirm-
ish with portion of the rebels who had
been pursuing Whipple, putting them to
flight, and then moved his column out
through the ravine in the most perfect
order.
wHIPPLE SAFE.
Gen. Whipple, when attacked in his rear
by the rebels and on his flank by the de-
moralized and frantic men of the 18th, was
in the utmost danger of losing his entire
command. have never yet ascertained
how he saved it; but | do know that he
brought them off in comparatively good
order, and bivouacked that night, !, ith
Birney and Pleasanton, on the little farm
in the woods.
THE BATTLE ON SUNDAY.
After the disaster to our right wing of
Saturday and the manifestation the rebels
made of their position and intentions, Gen.
Hooker determined upon a radical change
of front Hitherto his line faced east,
south and west. 1t was now certain that
the main body of the enemy had got around
to our right, or on the west Of us, and that
but small bodies Ofthem remained between
US and Fredericksburg. Acting upon this
supposition, and with the full confidence
that he would be powerfully assailed the
next morning on his right, the command
ing General determined at midnight of
Sunday to form powerful line of battle,
facing directly to the right.
INTENDED LINE OF BATTLE, SUNDAY MORN
ING
The organization OF this line gave Rey-
nolds the extreme right, with his right
flank resting on the river, Slocum the CEN
tire, and Sickles the left, his left flank rest
ing at Scott's Greek. Couch and Meade
were left to look after the front towards
Fredericksburg, while the remnant of the
18th was to be used, if it could be reor-
ganized, wherever it could be made the
most effective. In the formatin of this
line 1 have given particular attention to
those forces that were most actively engag-
ed. On the previous night, during the
confusion Of the stampede, Gen. Berry,
of Sickles' corps, had moved up the plank
road and taken a position just at the edge
of the woods, where he met the enemy as
they were advancing to complete the dis
comfture of the right wing, and had
hurled them back most effectually. He
was then ordered to retain the ground he
had thus defended, which was on either
side, of the plank road, which would give
him the left of our right wing. .ltao ~.
During the night Of Saturday, Birney
having been annoyed by the sharpshooters
of the enemy lying in the woods about the
cleared field in which he ibiyouacked for
the night, ordered out his division, and
the plank road efectually clearing it of all
bodies of rebels. He then fell back again
into the field with Wbipple. ag. % Il o.,I it1' F! ,
I At day light on Sunday morning the ef-
fort was making to Withdraw both Whip,
pie and Birney from this field and put
them in position on the left Of our new
line, half mile back, Whipple to have
the extreme left, Birney the centre, will