The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1863-07-17

ceue DelOre Tue tempest. DuC Cnelr oul-
GERS, who could be seen through the
smoke of the conflict galloping and
swinging their swords along the lines,
rallied them anew, and the next instant
the whole line sprang forward as if to
break through our own oy mere weight
of numbers. A division from the
Twelfth corps on the extreme right
reached the scene at this instant, and
at the same time Sedgwick up with
the Sixth corps, having finished march
of nearly thirty.six consecutive hours,
To what rescue they came, their officers
saw and told them. Weary, as they
were, bare.footed, hungry, fit to drop
for Slumber as they were, the wish for
victory was so blended with the thought
Of exhaustion that they cast themselves
in turn en- maSSe into line of battle, and
went down on the enemy with death in
their weapons and cheers on their lips.
The rebel camel's back was broken by
this feather" His line staggered,
reeled, and drifted slowly back, while
the shouts of our soldiers lifted up amid
the roar Of musketry over the bodies of
the dead and wounded, proclaimed the
completeness of their victory.
THE BATTLE OF FRIDAY.
AS one who stands in o tower and
looks down upon lengthy pageant
marching thoroughfare, finds it impos"
Sible at the close to recall in order the
appeances and the incidents of the scene
so |, who sits this evening on camp
stool beside the ruins Of the monument
against which leaned listening to the
robin of yesterday, find it impossible to
recall with distinctness the details Of the
unparalleled battle just closed. The con
1ict ragged by 100000 men, which was
occupied with scarce an interval of rest
the entire day, from 4 A. NJ. until 6
o'clock this evening, contains so much,
so near, and such voluminous matter Of
interest as one mind cannot grasp with
out time for reflection.
This last engagement has been the ferc-
est and most Sanguinary Of the war
1t was begun at daylight by Gen. Slo'
cum, whose troops, maddened by the
loss of many comrades, and eager to re.
trive the position lost by them the pre-.
ceding evening, advanced and delivered
destructive fire against the rebels un-
der Ewell. That Generals entire force
responded with charge that is memoir
able even beyond those made by them
yesterday. 1t was desperation against
courage! The fire of the enemy was
mingled with yells, pitched even above
its clangor. They came on, and on,
and on, while the national troops, splen.
didly handled and well posted, stood nm.
shaken to receive them. The lire which
they did receive was so rapid and
so thick as to envelope tho ranks CT its
delivers with pail that shut them from
sight during the battle which ragged
thonceforward for six dreary hours.
Out of this pail no straggler came to
the rear, The line scarcely finched
from its position during the entire con-
flict. Huge masses of rebel infantry
threw themselves into it again in vain
Back, as q ball hurled against a rock,
these masses recoiled, and were reform
ed to be hurled anew against it with q
fierceness unfruitful of success-fruitful
Of carnage, as before. The strong po.
sition occupied by General Geary, and
that held by General Birney, met the
first and hardest assaults, but only fell
back short distance before fearful odds
to re advance, to resume and to hold
their places in company with Sykes d.
vision ofthe Fifth corps and Humphreys
(Berry's olddivision ofthe Third, when
judiciously reinforced with artillery, they
renewed and continued the contest until
its close. Itseemed as if the gray>uni-
fromed troops, who were advanced aud
readvanced by their officers up to the
very edge of the line of smoke in front
of our infantry, were impelled by some
terror in their rear, which they were as
unable to withstand as they were tc
make headway against the fire in theil
front. 1t was hard to believe sncl
desperation voluntary. 1t was harder
to believe that the courage which with
stood and defeated it was mortal.
The enemy gradually drew forward
his whole line until in many places O
hand to hand conflict ragged for minutes
His artillery, answered by ours, played
upon our columns with frightful result
yet they did not waver. The battle was
in this way evenly contested for time
but at a moment when it seemed pro
blematical which side would gain thu
victory, q reinforcement arrived, anC
were formed in line Mt such a position
as to enflade the enemy, and teach hin
at last the futility of his efforts. Disor
dered, routed and confused, his whole
force retreated and at IL o'clock thu
battle ceased and the Astillness of deatt
ensued. This silence continued until
P. M. AT this moment the rebel ar
tillery from all points, in circle radiat
ing around our own, began terrific anc
concentrated fire on Cemetery Hill
which was held, as have previously
stated, by the eleventh and second corps
The flock of pigeons which not ten min
y utes previous had darkened the SIX,
above, were scarcely thicker than tn
horrible missiles that now, instead o
sailing harmlessly above, decended up
on our position. The atmosphere wa
thick with shot and shell. The stora
broke upon us SO suddenly that officer
and soldiers who laaned az IL heoan