The Portland daily press., 1863-05-19

fell back some distance in rear of the white
house and lay down. We were however soon
ordered back to the support of the batteries,
and lay down with our right resting on the
hill in rear of the batteries, the house being
about twenty rods to the right of us and in the
prolongation of our regimental line. Here
for nearly two hours we were exposed to ter
rifle fire of SHE'LL which killed and wounded
considerable number of our men. Under
tree, near the woods just at the left of our line
Lieut.. Houghton, of Co. A, on Col Hayman's
staff, had his horse killed under MIN by a shell,
and at the same point the brigade bugler had
his horse killed by round shot, which struck
his rump and passed out at his breast.
When ordered TO leave this position, which
we did in perfect order, we marched along by
the side OF the woods toward the Chancellor
House, but soon halted, aud were ordered 10
charge up to the white house, to the position
lately occupied by our batteries. In this
charge, which was led by our gallant General
Birney in person, We were accompanied by the
Sd Michigan, capital regiment, as are indeed
all the Michigan regiments. The object of
this charge, as nearly as | can tell, was to
check the advance Of the rebels, snl give Cor
liss' Zouaves, who were retiring, All opportu-
nifty to escape. 1t was in this charge that we
sustained our greatest loss. We Immediately
retired from this position, slowly aud in order,
and halted next near the Chancellor House.
WHICH our eitiny hdu just lnen commenced 10
shell, though our hospital flag was flying from
its root. In two or three cases during this
campaign they have been guilty OF the same
Internal oarbarity of shelling hospitals, knowing
them to be such, in one case killing and wound
ing considerable number of their own men
who were prisoners.
While we with a remnant Of Corliss' Zou-
aves were supporting a battery, the last upon
the field, as we were the last infantry,
cheers. lie looked the lion that he is, cool
and undaunted, though the enemys shells and
bullets whistled around him, and his troops
had been retiring from the field His eye
flashed, as he replied to an officer near him,
who thonght we were whipped, mo, sir, the
enemy is whipped. He is losing ten to our
one" His presence acted like charm, and
the confidence of the somewhat disheartened
troops was restored. About this time our
gallant and much loved Gen. Berry led
charge of his division, and was shot from his
horse; but the advance OF the rebels was
checked, and il became evident that we could
hold our ground, which was essentially that
occupied by the main body the Sd corps
(ours) having been extricated from its unp.eas-
ant and dangerous position OF the night be-
fore.
From the Chancellor house we were order
ed TO the right, down the turnpike, and the
open field about the house abandoned to the
enemy. Our falling back for the day was
done, however, for Gen. Hooker expressed
his determination to hold the line We then oc-
cupied, and he did. Put your brigade there,
sir" said he to brigadier general, whose name
did not know, "and hold that position. Ii
other means fail, resort to the bdyonet." Our
brigade fell back into the woods a short dis
tance, to rest and eat, having had no opportu-
nifty TO do either since morning, nor indeed
since the preceding morning. We were soon,
however, ordered to the front again, and some
intrenchments having been hastily thrown up
by the 10th Indiana, we were ordered to fix
bayonets and lie down in front of them. The
The batteries were on line about fifteen pa
ces in front of us. We were ordered not to
fire, but to lie quiet until the artillerists had
retired from their guns, and the infantry be-
hind the intrenchments had fired over our
heads, and had been ordered TO cease firing
Then we were TO make bayonet charge upon
the enemy. They did not attack with sutli-
cient force TO render it necessary.
Monday morning showed line of strong
earthworks in front of thebatteres. the 10Th
Indiana were ordered forward to the front line
of breastworks, and we were ordered behind
the second line. The enemy made one or two
attacks upon us, but were repnlsed by our ar
tiery, which was splendidly handled, with but
little or no loss on our side.
Tuesday was quiet, with heavy shower,
terminating In storm toward night. AT "a
bout p. M, the order to be ready to move
came to us, and for two hours we stood in the
rain waiting for the order to move. Instead of
| 1t came an order to pitch shelters and make
| ourselves as comfortable as possible. and we
lay down in wet blankets to shiver or to sleep
| About a. IN. Wednesday morning we fell
| in again, and at about 4, as the pickets came
| into the intrenchments, we moved towards the
| river. Though our march was rapid there was