The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-05-21

u.
sion. Hickman made gallant fight ~
long as he could, but the enemy came upon
him so suddenly and in such overwhelm'
ing numbers that successful resistance was
quite impossible. In the darkness. and
confusion some Of our brigade WAS ,captur'
ed. After this operation Of forcing back
the right was performed. the enemy made
an attack along the entire line OF the. ISL
corps, with feints along the 10th corps line
and the entire right was forced back some
distance after several hours Of mos, severe
and sanguinary lighting. The battle ragged
with unexampled fury until nearly twelve
o'clock, the rebels throwing heavy masses
upon our line, and finally forcing it back
nearly quarter of q mile. Our men fought
stubbornly with few exceptions, and re-
peatedly checked the rebel advance, with
great slaughter, but not without some con-
siderable loss on our side. The enemy
numbered not less than 1900 men, and
pushed them into the murderous fire with
y recklessness and steadiness rarely seen.
In the attack on our right we lost gun
or two, and it is said some light pieces,
how many it is difficult to ascertain, prob
ably four will cover the loss Of the light
pieces. Finally, after forcing the 18th
Corps back from its position and regaining
they massed their forces on the 10th Corps
to drive it back. They first hurled the col
umn upon the division which held the
right Of the Corps line joining the 18th
Corps. They formed in beautiful manner
and moved steadily on Barton's Brigade,
on the right of Turner's Division, advanc-
ing IS on parade aud not firing single
shot. Waiting until they had reached q
good distance within effective range, the
Brigade poured into their lines such q ter
rife fire that the line melted, thinned aud
broke. After vainly endeavoring to
advance against the storm Of bullets, they
fled, with terrible loss. to the woods. Their
rear vOlleys were continuous and heavy
as the musketry Of the Brigade could well
be, and such as nothing could stand
against. The rebels were scattered like
chaff and broke for the woods in q disor-
ganized mass under their friendly cover.
After great exertion the line OF attack was
again formed, and again the brigade adj
vanced in splendid style against our line.
Again did they receive u terrible FIRE and
pushed steadily on until one-fourth Of them
laid killed or wounded on the field, when
they broke and rushed quickly to the COW
hearty cheers and sent volley after them
which told on them. After being twice
bloodily repulsed ut this point they moved
further to our LETT, and hurled column
upon column on Hawley's Brigade
Gen. Terry's Division then came up in the
same steady and confident manner, but
were received by rapid and deadly fire.
rated in flight by the music Of bullets about
them. They were determined, however,
to break our line aud force it from its posi-
ton, cost what it would. Being strength
ened by endorsements they again charged,
and after ten minutes hard work were dis.
astrously repulsed and driven back ut all
points. That ended any serious effort on
fbNsaeu - EN~-,
their dead and wounded to the number Of
1000 on the field, before our line. They
again massed upon Gen. Smiths front,
and attacked his left.
Gilmore Immediately ordered Glen. Turn
er to attack the enemy flank, and ordered
Terry to support him. Turner's attack
hardly commenced before Gilmore was or
dered by Butler to retire and strengthen
Smiths corps, by forming in his rear. Our
troops fell back slowly aud in order, re-
pulsing every effort OF the rebels to quicken
their movements, and making stand at
every favorable position until the enemy
crossed the Fxllow and fell back to their
first line of entertainments. Gilmore then
drew of his corps and formed to support
Smith.
The fighting which had been going on
with more or less violence along the entire
line, ceased at half-past two, and prepara-
tons made to draw of our forces from the
neld, and return to our entrenChments.-
All the artillery was sent to the rear except
one section to cover the rear guard and the
ambulMnces with the wounded. The sun
ply trains were also ordered to the rear.
and finally the entire army fell back, -the
enemy not pursuing.
The same correspondent says Of Kantz' S
raid: He tore up several miles OF track.
destroyed the rails and ties, blew up an
iron bridge over the Appamatox river at
Mattox station.
Another Herald correspondent saws.
Buffers forces are safely in their entrech-
ments, and able to withstand an attack
from all the forces the rebels can bring
against them.
The object Of Butler in making an ad-
vance from City Point to Bermuda, was to
create diversion in order to favor Grant,
and was successful.