The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-05-28
c rrespondencs Of the New York Tribune.
I0TH Army CoRPs, NEAR Cry PoIST, ,
May 20, T. N. !
TRIDAY : Battle

FRIDAY \ BATTLE.
Last night there was an alarm be-
tween IL and u, and another between
2 and 8, caused by picket firing. Both
times there was skir1nishing and charg-
ing, but our troops held their pit. The
moon shone, setting just after the Sc
cond alarm, and our old enemy, the fog,
was 80 thick that man could not be
distinguished at fifteen PAGES, even in a
camp where fires had been burning all
night What mischief the rebels might
prepare under its cover, no one knew
but it was thought they would try to
plant batteries in the woods on the
right Of the Hewlett House, on the
ground where is now our section Of the
ride-pit, and further alarm was looked
for later in the night, but none came.
At nine, or thereabout, the muskets
began lively crackle, and the guns
opened from the rebel position. Hur-
rying to the scene, / found the enemy
had advanced and been repulsed, yet
had the rihe-pit in their detested pos
session. The whole of the 9th Maine,
with portions of the 4th New Hamp-
shire, 55th Pennsylvania, and eth New
York, were occupying the riAe-pit, the
regiment first named being nearly in
center. The rebels charged upon them
with their peculiar short-lived enthusi-
asm and their veil, and were met firm
", and the position might have been
held without difficulty, had not the
9th Maine broken and fed TO the
woods, thus permitting the rebels to
enter the pit and flank the remaining
regiments, compelling them to retire.
Two lieutenants Of the 9th Maine, who
retired their men without orders, were
brought this afternoon before General
Aunes, and sent by him to Gen. Butler,
who summarily dismissed one of them
from the service. Both deserved severe
punishment, for this unfortunate affair
has cost hundreds of lives to-day, and
threatens us with severe battles as the
price of holding our position. The
rebels in the pit, and the woods which
stand next the Hewlett House are the
twin sources Of apprehension,
Our men once out of the pit and IN
retreat, the impetuous rebels pursued,
recklessly charging into full view in the
clearing. Then our guns, angry but
silent while they shelled away at us
yesterday, opened with spherical case,
and they tumbled back to their newly
acquired pit.
Now came a momentary lUll, snd
then the Sd Regular Battery, in the
left redoubt. the 'Sth New Jersey sd-
joining it on the right, both facing the
pit, and the 1st Connecticut in the ele-
waited redoubt further 10 the right,
pointing diagonally and partly across
II, opened fire, roaring without a mo-
ment's stop from l0s 20 ll3, using at
first mostly spherical case. The prac-
tice was mainly excellent, under the
personal direction OF Gen. Ames, most
of the shell bursting over the pit The
rebel guns returned the fire, but their
shots counted hardly more than fifth
of ours, and only an insignificant num-
Der were struck, while our own FIRE was
not in the least retarded Meanwhile
the 18th Indiana, Col Dobbs, made a
gallant, and, as il seemed, imprudent
charge upon the pit on the right but
were repulsed when within about a
hundred yards Of the work. During
this charge we took prisoner Major
General Walker, Of South Carolina,
who was here temporarily in com
mand of brigade. He had his foot
torn of by shell, and states that his
brigade ran off and left him on the
field.
The firing being over for the present,
our men could be seen huddled behind
apple trees and others in the clearing.
The lieutenant colonel of the ll5th
New York rode airiIy out upon an ele-
gantly caparisoned horse, against
warning, when down went the horse,
off went his rider on foot, and soon
after a man was seen TO crawl carefully
to the animal and remove the trap
pings, the rebels amusing themselves
with firing at him.
For rarity there was no rain, and
the day was oppressiyely hot. The hot
noon famed away, and at p o'clock
our guns again began 70 roar. Word
was brought that the left Of the pit was
empty, and soon the 9th Pennsylvania
was seen advancing against the left Of
the rifle pit, in the open clearing Their
ltaucf NaA LtltHtAhNcu OF not 4oll1HrA
precisely his orders, and the rebels had
come in, and suddenly they rose and
poured in upon the 9th a murderous
fire Of infantry snd grape, and they
seemed to fall in swaths
II was q sad sight, without help, but
they ran desperately forward, hesitated,
wayered and ran back, all in the space
Of a moment Of time. Meantime orr
guns were turned upon the spot, and
the FIRE Of the rebels rapidly diminish
ed. Thenceforward, for something like
an hour, it was possible with q fair
chance Of impunity to sit upon the par
apet and watch our shells, although for
a time rebel shot aewwiidly over Us,
and the trees few into splinters The
clearing was now nearly empty Of men,
bat about 4 o. clock word came that Col
Howells brigade was in the rife pit on
the right Five o o'clock, and musketry
cracked vigorously in the woods, SHOW
ing that Terry division was c0nsesting
there the right Of the pit. sud the guns
were turned in that direction They
tired without intermission until halt
past Eve, then came : luil, during which