Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1863-05-13

bers.
Gen, Hooker now sent to the aid Of Gen.
IIowardthe choicest division OF his army,
the creation of his own hand--the famous
Second Division of the Third Corps, com
mandedby Major Gen. Berry. Captain
Best sooi moved his batteries on ridge
lrunniHg across the road, and after short
but sangiinary contest the further ads
vance ofthe enemy was stayed
OF course this disaster compelled the
recall 81 Sickles aud Slocum, who had
been pursuing their work with remarka-
bic vigor' General Williams's division
returned only to find a portion of their
works filled with the enemy. SiCllles's
division could not communicate with the
rest of the army at all by the way they
advanced, and only at great risk by any
other route,
This was the position at dark, and il did
not look very promising But our enero
getic commander was more than equal to
the emergency. New dispositions to re-
pair this disaster were at once resolved
upon. Communication was at once had
with Gems, Birney and Whipple, and q
night attack ordered to restore the con-
nection of the linef. Gen. Wards brigade
of Gen. Birney's division, made the attack
at II at night, aided by Captain Bests
guns, massed on the ridge in front Of the
enemy. Brney's position was en- the exN
treme left of this new line Of battle, but
Wards terrific attack was entirely sucN
cessful communication was restored, and
/ in charge made by the brigade, a por-
, ton of the artillery lost by Howard was
gallantly retaken by General Hobart
, Ward.
This night attack was the most grand
{ and terrific thing of the war. The moon
, shone bright, and an enemy could be seen
, at good muskeL range. The air was very
, still, and the roar and reverberatlon OF
. the musketry and artillery past all con
q ception. Malvern Hill was sklrmlsh
compared with this, save in the degree OF
= slaughter. But il was successful, the
, enemy were driven back nearly half
r mile, and our tired men once more slept
t on their arms. That nights work was
/ ended.
I Now come to Sunday. 1t was per
, fectly evident, from the position OF affairs
on Saturday night, that there must be
t change Of our lines, which would throw
the enemy out of our rear and into ouI
Y front again. 1t will be seen by what skill
! ful generalship the enemy was fought anC
a checked on front, and flank, and rear
:, while this was being doue.
Gen. Reynolds First Army Corps arr
a we'd at United States Ford on SatuTda.
4 afternoon. 1t was Immediately put int
n position on our tight, which was with
). drawn from the plank road to the Ely
t Ford turnpike. This line was immediate
{ ly formed by Generals Reynolds and
r Meade, the latter's position, en- the lett
. having been relieved 10y General Howard
!, Eleventh Corps, which, Notwithstanding
, its dsorganized condition was so far reor
v ganized during the night as to be tit fol
Q duty again this morning. They were as
S signed the position on the lett, where i
was probable there would be little or M
J, fghting,and were protected by the strong
q works built the day before by Genera
, Meades corps. Our new line now assum
:. ed the shape of triangle, prolonged at the
y, apex, the right of the line being some
h what longer than the left. AS the por
: ton of the line on the right was new, time
v was necessary to fortify and intrenoh 1t
1 and the work was carried on vigorousl!
= by the Fifth and First army corps.
n 1t was very evident at daylight thi
!, morning that the day would bring forth {
y terrific Battle. We knew that the enemy
y had been reinforcing his line all night, al
S the expense, undoubtedly, Of the strength
:. of his force on our left. His intention
was, evidently, to 6gLt for the possession
: of the plank road, which it was per
fectly apparent he must have as that por
g ton of it which we then held, was subject
!, to the enemy's assaults in front and OF
, both fanlls.
e But the possession of this road was moi
h detained by the enemy save at our owr
S time, at his severest cost, and after ore o
. the mcst desperate, tenacious and bloody
d conflicts, for lis short duration, of the
G whole war. At O'Clock A. NJ. The rebel.
= could be plainly seen up the plank road
= about mile and a half from the Chancel
lor House, which General Hooker still re
y tanned as his headquarters, though shell
S had gone through it the evening before
: and another had cut q tree directly ii
/ front OF it.
e Our line OF battle was formed with Gen
Barry's gallant division on the right, Gen
II Brney next on the left, Gen. Whipple
: and Gen. Williams supporting. At 81 A.
, NJ the advance became engaged in thC
/ ravine, just beyond the ridge where Capt
S Best's guns had made their terrific on
= slaught the night before, and where they
d still frowned upon the enemy and threat
4 ened his destruction.
g The rattle of musketry soon became 6
o long continued crash, and IN few mos
ments, as battalion after battalion te'
b came engaged, the roar surpassed oil con
!. ception, and indicated that the fight
/, would be one of the most terrible nature
f, Gen. Berry's division, which had checked
e the enemy's advance the night before, en-
S gagged him again, and if it were possible
!, for them to add more laurels to their fame
= then they did 1t thrice over again. TIL,
!. enemy advanced his infantry in over
= whelming numbers and seemed determine
q ed to crush our forces. But the brave
i men of Sickles and Slocum, who fought
e their columns with desperate gallantry
!. held the rebels in check, and inflicted
T. dres dful slaughter among them. Gen
- ty,. il l. Il 4