The New York herald., 1864-05-19
. strong so the day away without any results
ATTACKS OUR LINES.

20 either side.
mAuRnaARD ATTACKS Our IlwEs
Dayght was ushefed In this morning by tremendous
discharge artillery from the entire length Of the rebel
nes ana the shells into position in showers
rudey arosng the dreaming and tired soldiers By their
rapid and deafening explosions The mon were quickly
m their respective places, and the line formed in
moment. It was known that something about 70
take place, and that wss probable that the vigorous
shelng was 70 be followed up by assault upon our
jecture with any degree Of confidence the time was
peculiarly favorable for such an operation dense,
tho consending forces in is misty veil Me gray dawn
was made stu more dusky oy the fog and objects could
distant We knew little or nothing Of the topo0rapbv of
the country In 'front.' and comparatively little Of that
which laid about and behind The rebels familiar
with II, and knew how to move through the mist as
readily and surely under the suns rays This the
condition OF affairs when the rebels massipg their troops
struck right under General Hickman enveloped its
flank and took It In reverse.
v,s dealt with terrific fo,cs Gsns,, ,,o.s,
Of the Eighteenth corps holding the right doubles
and forced back the next brigade which was
thrown into confusion. Our men did not observe
the rebels until they had succeeded passing column
between Heckman's right and the river, and taking him
for time created some oonrusion General Hickman
made gallant night long he could; but the enemy
ing numbers that successful resistance quite
impossible In the darkness and confusion Some Of tho
brigade were captured. Perhaps the straggers who will
report will diminish the loss somewhat General Heck.
man s missing; but whether he is killed wounded or
prisoner has not been asccrtained.
After this operation having forced bnck the right.
heavy attack was made on the entire line Of the Eight
eenth corps with fsnts along the Tenth corps line and
the entire right was forced back some distance after
raj hours OF most and sangunary struggles The
battle ragged with unexamped fury until nearly twelve
oar lines. and finally forcing II back nearly
quarter OF mile. Our men fought stubborn
step, and repeatedly checked the rebel advance with
terrible slaughter but without loss side.
The enemy numbered no. less than fifteen thousand and
pushed into the murderous fire with reckleSsness and
seadinees that rarely Some prisoners took
evidently under the influence OF liquor which
dened them and made them Indifferent 10 death
In the attack on our right lost gun two and II
Ia said some light pieces-precsely how many is d
cult to ascertain. Probably four will the loss in
light pieces Captain Beger OF the First Rhode Island
artillery said to have been captured and his lieutenant
Finally after forcing the Eighteenth corps back from
i.s position and resanne portion Of their hrst line Of
rHK ATTACK on rBs rxSrH coRps
They frst hurled their column upon Turner's division,
teenth corps. They formed in a beautiful and
moved steadily on Bartons brigade, the right OF
Turner'S division advancing as upon parade and nos
good distance for effective range the brigade poured into
their lines such terrific fire that the line melted away.
and the thnnedand broken line after vany endeavorns
to advance against the storm Of bullets fed with terrible
los to the woods In their The voeys as con-
tnuous and heavy as the rnuskery OF brigade could
we'll be, and such living beings could stand against
The rebels were scattered like cha and broke for tho
woods In disorganized mass. Under their friendly
after great exertion the line Of attack again
formed, and again brigade advanced in splendid style
against our line Again did they receive tho terrible
hre and pushed steadily until fourth Of them laid
killed or wounded on the field, when they broke and
rushed quickly TO The cover OF the woods Our boys
which told upon them Being twice boodily repuseo At
this point they moved further to our left and buried
vsa upon .o,one brigade Of Gene,
manner, but received with rapid ard equally
as deadly fire a. that they treated to by Turner
The spencer repeating rifles In the hands OF tho seventh
Connecticut and the Springfield rifles 10 the hands Of the
rest OF the brigade. delivered nre hot and wtherng
that the rebels could not Withstand but broke and ran
for the woods accelerated their fight by the music OF
the Spencer bullets about them. They determined,
however, to break our line and force Il from he position
cost what u would. They again formed, and we're
strengthened by renforcemens, They charged again;
and after ton minutes het work they dsasrousy
repulsed and driven back at all points That ended any
serious effort their part force our position and,
leaving their dead and wounded, TO the number OF
upon Gen. Smiths front and attacked his left Gen. CHI
more Immediately ordered Gen TurAer 10 attack the en-
emy on their Hank and ordered Gen. Terry % support
him. Turner's attack hardly commenced before
Gen. Gilmore was ordered BY Gen. Butler to retire and
strengthen Gen. Smiths corps by forming in his rear
effort Of the rebels 10 quicken movements spd making
stand at every favorable position, until the eneny
ceased 10 follow and fell back TO their first line Of In
trepchnents Gen. Gilmore then drew OF bis corps, and
formed 70 support Gen. Smith.
The sh,ns which mad oesn going on with more r, Or
past wol and preparations were made 20 draw ea our
forces from the Geld and return 70 inirenchmenss
cover the rear guard The ambuanccs, loaded with
wounded and the supply trains despatched to the
rear and nnay the entire army fell back the enemy not
pursuing Thus ended this rebel attack our lines
General Beauregard commanded in person, Generals
Hoke and Ransom Commanding divisions. brigade
from Tennessee, undor RANSOM arrived last night ana
added TO Bsaurseards force considerably The rebels
fought with more than their usual dash and bravery
they seemed detcrmnsd 10 crush our army, a. the eny
way TO save Richmond They met with bloody failure.
Their losses in killed and wounded exceeded ours al
though the balance Of prisoners probably slightly 70
their favor. Our men fought spendidy, with fsw az
cep<ons ana the Tenth corps has established areputa
ton for nghtug qualities that will equal that OF any 70
the army 10 well disciplined, brave and efcens, and
ID an honor 10 the department
Major General Gilmore commanded the left throughout
and displayed as high qualities the ned 10 the handling
OF corps ~ he has 90 engineer oncer. he was
assisted every way by Byigsder General Robert 3.
Foster chief OF stan, whose abilities M commander,
and energy and ZEAL combine 70 make him an invaluable
ocev 10 any commander whether chief of stan or IN
the command q q brigade or division. No little OF our
euCcaaa due hN energy and ski. Generals Terry,