The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1863-05-15

" tug 0SatAANasAA. GNuoluA ~ ltuo OIU
Guard Isis Que Of the 6nest bodIel
Of soldiers the world han ever produced
-Vsterans Of . dozen hard fought can.
paigns-scaFred, ragged. tFnsty and
brave--men that have never been known
to quail under however 90 severe Q nrS
they might be plAced-dOlng and dar.
ing 10 every emergency a. though always
sure Of the success that has hitherto 10.
variably rewarded their Efforts. Such q
body Of men deserve . distinguished
position, and always feel badly used
when not permitted to occupy the front
ranks in time Of battle.
Here Is tie famous division Of Shields
whose exploits 10 the Shenandoah val.
ley gave them name that will ever be
glorious. And here, too, is the magni.
6cent division Of the lamented Kearny-
men who never faltered under any FIRE,
however galliRg. Aud here, also, is the
veteran column led by Hooker through
the peniusular campaign, aud with which
be established his reputation as fight
ing general. Such material may be
equalled In the ranks Uf American sol.
dierS, but the world has never, and never
can produce their superiors. The Old
Guard is an appropriate title to give
them, and the distinction is emineDtly
meritorious.
On the occasion Of this Sunday morn.
ing attack the colors Of the corps we're
still upon the 6eid, as also the corps
commander. Their brigade colors we're.
also there, and he is but poor soldier
who deserts bis Gag when it is in danger.
There was danger now. They we're as.
sailed by not less than twenty thousand
of the enemy. against whom they could
oppose scarcely more than Eve thousand
men in both brigades combined. For.
tunately there were one or two batteries
yet remaining on the field, which were
so efficiently worked as to check the ad.
vance of the rebels. Gallantly they
fought, those two brigades, many Of
their number falling upon the field IN.
der the merciless Ere Of the sheltered
foe but they would not run, however
severe that FIRE might be. But It was
impossible that they could stand long
against such odds as assailed them here.
For half an hour they held their ground,
and then fell back in good order to the
shelter Of the stone wall that divides
this field from the Chancellorsville open.
ing, dragging their cannon after them
And here they made another glorious
stand. If some Of their numbers were
left upon the upper feld, ten times the
number Of the foe, who now advanced
from bis shelter and occupied the ground
they had vacated, were laid there to
keep them company. The position was
changed now. The weaker party had
the shelter while the stronger were fore,
ed to fight in the open field. And com.
ing into this field the rebels also expos.
ed themselves to most severe raking
from several 6eld batteries planted on
the other side Of the neck close by the
position Of Whipple's division Ii was
truly astonishing how lavish they were
Of human life and blood Regiment az.
ter erregiment were completely swept away
by our musketry aud the grape and can.
lister Of our artillery. aud yet fresh reRi.
ments were as often pushed forward to
take their places AT last. gaining pos.
session Of the woods on tue right Of tn,
stone wall, they got an en6lsding fire
upon our little band Of heroes, who were
compelled to abandon their position -
But it the enemy had driven them bacl
it had cost hun dearly That little 6elC
was strewn oil over with the mangleC
corpses of the slain rebels, telling th,
silent story of the desperation Of thu
struggle,
The General Fight.
The determined obstinacy of this littlt
band of two small brigades, in holding
the rebels for wore than an hour in check
had given General Hooker opportunit,
to perfect the formation of bis main lin
Of battle on the line he had intended i
to take, and with the exception of thes,
two brigades, who were too much ex
hausted to renew the action immediate
y, the line was formed precisely as de
sired. The two brigades that had thu
far done the severe fighting fell back tt
the rear, leaving the field open for tn,
euemy 10 advance up to our rife pits.
The Position.
Along the rear OF the line of inlautr,
we had large number of field batterie
planted These were protected by earth
works that had been thrown up durin.
the previous evening and night. On
front line of battle was formed in ria
pits aud behind breastwOrks of timbe
and brush, hastily thrown up. but afford
lug some shelter to the men. The sec
ond, or reverse line, lay upon the opel
field, and was intended to advance I,
the breastwork9 when the frst line shoult
become exhausted. The line was form
ed upon either side Of the plank roa,
leading to Orange Court House, an,
close up to the woods. We had sec
tion Of Dimmick's famous battery plant
ed directly in this road on o line wit
our reserves which swept the road +
prevent the enemy advancing down Il
But the enemy has also brought arouul
9 quantity Of field artillery. with whic
they opened upon Captain DimmicI
with great earnestnsss. The duel tough
between these batteries was hard one
The brave Dimmick fell during its pro
gress, and many Of bis guDnsra wev
carried to the rear, no longer useful a
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