Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1864-06-01
tinuousI have ever heard for so long time

"
10 O'CLOCK, whea the din end uproar were at
the highest, an angry storm-cloud swept egel
tie field, and thus to the thunderS OF battle
was added ",he dread artillery of the ssies.
It was now manifest that Grants real assault
IS Gen. Lee had bsleved, would be launched
against our right wing, and TO that point the
onposing forces gravitated from all parts Of
tie field, Just as when . cloud surcharged
with electricity forms in the heavens, al! the
lesser clouds and racks drift to it, ard ara
swallowed UP in the swelling, angry mass.
Grant grove hard to hold US tootlcr parts
of the field. and prevent this concentration
ociorco, and for that purpose he engsged, An
devson on our LEFT, and Early, who had been
scatto the extreme light. He made three sep
arate assaults against the former, but was re.
pulsed each time with frightfni loss BY FIELDS
Division, formerly Hoods. Earl y, at INC
Head of IIil!'s Corps, hurled him baSk, as
mad bull would an incautious magti:f csusht
pe,a his horns, as oG.n Is lie advanced upon
him.
,Ba: 1t was against Ewsll, who held the
right of the original line, that Grant expend-
cd his greatest efforts and made his most des-
pera,e assaults. Having gained foothcld IN
The anqlc.or centre of Ewells position, he
brought up iine after line and hurled it with
tremendous violence, at one time agalnst
Rhodes. at another against Gordon, and then
against both. Wilcox was brought up and
placed on Gordon's left, and WoiioId and
Humphreys. Of Kerghaw's Division, and Jen-
kins' Brigade, Of Fields, Andersons Corps,
we've sent to the assistance OF hhoces. Add
t;onal batteries wcre sent in tie same dlrec-
ton. Heth went to the right and all of An.
derson's old division but Wright followed
him. And thus the whirling, rsmorseless
maelsaom drew everythinginto its angry vor-
tex: The enemy exhibited a courage and
resolution worthy Of u better cause; Grant
seemed to have breathed into his. troops some
what of his own spirit and indouiitablc eaeF-
o.. But if the Fcderals fought well, tie Con.
fedcrates ftugbt better. From early dawn
until far in the afternoon, with steady hands
and uab?anched checks, they faced the lead
en- hail that was rained upon them without
intcyn.issica. At some points, the two armies
foue h on opposite sides OF the cn.renchatcn!s
the distance between them not being more
than the length OF their liinskets. Again and
arain would Gran. marshal his men ior the
orzet, and right valiantly did they respond;
bat rs often as they returned to the assault
so often were they rtpuls:d, as il they had
rushed against wall of iron. Atno9 point OF
the line. and at no tins during the long and
terrible aud exhausting conflict, did the he
roc children of the South falter Or Waiver for
ors moment. Each man knew that he was
fighting The battle fer the possession Of Rich
u,oad-thc battle, indeed, for the indspen-
dsuee of the Confederate Siates-and the
thought Of yielding TO the foe never once en-.
tered his mind.
During one OF the s>aults. Gordon intilted
very heavy less upon the enemy by moving
around aud striking the sssaultius column IN
flank. Tue enemy vas thrown into great
confusion, aud reli,el rapidly 10 the rear,
leaving many. dead and wounded ON the
ground.
The mos. ianporGaa- movemen: against the
enemys naak. however, was executed by Ma
hcEes and Lanes brgas:ca on the eZtceine
right. under the direction OF Gar. Early. The
expcdition was Intended los operate, not
a.a;rst The flank Of the assau'ing column,
but assinst the flank Of tic Federal arlnT,
ard t!.ns alio:,! ,.licl 10 cur centre and lr!t
wing. both Of which were hNFd pressed. The
two b,isadcs were placed under command ct
MaEone, wlo passed around to the Feeder
icksburg Road, and VS. about to engage the
enemy, when he II" :he latter coni':G out,
probably to take US in flank. IN engagement
ensucd immediately, and resulted II, the de-
feat af the enemy, who retired back to The
main army. where considerable com'no:on
was rryduccd ag tie fresh dargef with hich
il ras thrcat.rsd. : division operating agalliSt
our left. supposed 10 bcomg to Hurnside'S
ccrns, was Withdrawn and double quckcd
across the field 70 check Maho2e. Jnst tc
fore i, reached the scene OF action, it came
within full view Of Poguc's end Pegrain's
guns. a..d not more than 1000 yards distant!
Twelve pieces were Lruaght TO bear upon it
in less time'tAau it required t4- describe this
brilliant episode in the battle. The enemy
sto,d their ground for moment, then stag
eered' back, and finally broke in the widest
disorder. What with Mahones i:vc in front
and the artillery ploaghing great gaps III
their ranks, their loss wasseyere. Tins move
ment afforded instantaneous relet to our lett,
and from this time laesas.aults of the cneny
grey more snd more feeble slons the WHOLE
iiae, and inally tAey ceased altogether, at
= r. IN. 49,,
enemy when he was repul.ed, bat Gen. Lees
pla:, was 10 act on the defensivc and not to
strike Until the right time came. The Fed
eral army far exceeded his in nnlfbers, they
had entrencted themselves as lis 4sd done,
and common sense, as we'll as military science,
would teach the proprety OF ofpatiently wait
ing rather Aas rasn!y making the attack
T6o result has Shown lhewisdom of the policy
adopted. Grant he's already well nigh ex-
ha,isled himself, whilst Lcc's army remains
almost intact ready to assume tho offensive
or to continue to act on the defensive, as oc-
cas:on may require. =,
Our loss in the rark aud file is remarkably
small, TIC men being we'll protected by ths
ep,raachment5. TIE casualties, however, have
been unusually heavy among field officers,
who were unprotected, and had to move fro
ouently from one point to another, under the
terrible infantry and artillery fire OF the enc
my, which swept every -psrt Of the field in
rear of our entrenckhents. The ground is
torA and ploughed up by the direct and cross
frc of TIE Federal guns as if it had been
ere parod by the farmer Tor the reception OF
sprIpg seed. Three assistant surgeons were
=, ~ ,:lorr, sior their 8ntv on the.