Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1863-05-14

cient to resist his approach, and finding
that he was himself assailed in the rear,
be would turn about and retreat to escape
captDe.
But, to the disgrace Of the Eleventh
corps be it said, the division of General
Schurz, which was the first assailed, al
most instantly gave way. The enemy
pressed his advantage. The brigades of
Coils. Bushbeck and Mclean only re.
mained fighting, and maintained them
selves nobly as long as possible. But
they too gave way, though in good order,
before vastly superior numbers.
General Hooker now sent to the aid
of Gen. Howard the choicest division of
his army, the creation of his oyn hand,
the famous second division of the Third
corps, commanded by Maj, Gen. Berry.
Captain Best soon moved his batteries on
ridge running across the road and after
a short but sanguinary contest the further
advance of the enemy was stayed.
"Of course this disaster compelled the
recall of Sickles and Slocum who had been
pursuing their work with remarkable Wig
or. Gen. Williams division returned on
ly to find portion of theig works filled
with the enemy. Sickles' division could
not communicate with the rest of the ar.
my at all by the way they advanced, and
ouly at a great risk by any other route.
This was the position at dark, and it
did not look very promising. But our
energetic commander was more than equal
to the emergency. New dispositions to
repair this disaster were at once resolved
upon. Communication was at once had
with Gen. Birney and Whipple, and a
night attack ordered, to restore the con-
nection of the lines. Wards brigade, Of
Birney's division, made the attack at | |
at night, aided by Capt. Bests guns, mas
sed on the ridge in front of the enemy.
Birney's position was on the extreme left
of his new line of battle, but Wards ter
rife attack was entirely successful, COM
munication was restored, and in charge
made by the brigade, a portion of the ar
tillery lost by Howard was galantlly re-
taken by Gen, Ward.
This night attack was the most grand
and terrific thing of the war. Malvern
Hill was skirmish compared with this
save in the degree Of slaughter. But il
was successful the enemy were driven
back nearly half mile, and our tired
men once more slept on their arms. That
nights work was ended.
"Now l come to Sunday. 1t was per.
fectly evident, from the position of affairs
on Saturday night, that there must be q
change Of our lines, which would throw
+ the enemy out of our rear and into oul
front again.
Reynolds first army corps arrived al
United States ford on Saturday afternoon
1t was Immediately put into position or
our right, which was withdrawn from tht
, plank road to The fy's Ford turnpike
This line was immediately formed by
Reynolds and Meade, the latter's position
on the left having been relieved by How
ards Eleventh corps which, notwithstand
ing its disorganized condition was SO far
! reorganized during the night as to be fl
for duty again this morning. They were
g. assigned the position on the left, where il
was probable there would be little or nc
fighting, and were protected by the strong
works built the day before by Mead''
corps. Our new line now assumed the
shape Of a triangle, prolonged at the.apex
the right of the line being somewhat lon.
ger than the left. AS the portion of thu
line on the right was new, time was nee
5 esary to fortify and intrcnch it, and the
| work was carried on vigorously by the 9th
and LIST army corps.
ut was very evident at daylight this
morning that the day would bring forth
a terrible battle. We knew that the en-
cmy had been reinforcing his line all nigh
at the expense, undoubtedly Of th'
: strength Of his force on our left His in
| tention was evidently to fight for the pos