The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-05-20

AFTERNOON DISPATCHES.
Dsaursgard's Attack - Dutasr.
~ New Ypak. Nav 10


The Herald . correspondent With Butler
gives detailed account Of Besasegard's
concentrated attack on our forces 1t Pal
mer's Creek, on the 10th.
The entire length of the rebel lines
opened With artillery, and shelis poured
upon our position in showers A dense
fog enveloped the country At tho time,
and both forces were wrapped in misty
veil. This vas the condition Of affairs
when the rebels. massisg their tsoops. q.
tackled our right under Gen. Hickman,
enveloped its flank and took it By ssr-
prise. The frat blow VS. dealt With ter
rife force. Gen. Hsskmaa's brigade. 18Th
corps, holding the right. was doubled up
and forced back on the next brigade,
which VS. also thrown into some confu-
sion.
Oar men did not observe the rebels m
til they had succeeded in passing column
between Heckman's right and she river,
and then taking him in front and in The
rear, crushed him betveen the columns
and for . time created some coafusioc
Hickman made gallant 6ght ~ long n
be could, but the enemy came on him %
suddenly and in such overwhelming num-
berS that successful resistaDcs Wss quito
Am possible. La the darkaess aad d6nfu-
sion some Of the brigade we're captured.
After this operation, having forced
back the right, heavy attack was made
on the entire line Of the 18th corps, With
leints along the lOth corps line, and the
entire right was forced back some distance
after several hours OF most severe and
sanguinary struggles. The battle raged
with unexsmplsd fury till nearly II
o'clock, the rebsls throwing heavy mssses
upon our lines, and finally forcing II back
nearly quarter Of mile.
| Our men fought stubbornly with few
exceptions, and repeatedly checked the
rebel advance with terrible slaaghter, bat
not without some loss On oar aides. q.
| The enemy numbered not less than
$4,000, and pushed into our murderohs
ere with recklessness and readiness rare.
" seen.
In the attack GU our right W lo4t I
gun aud some light pieces. how many y i
difhcuit TO Ascertain probably four viii
cover our loss ofiighs pisces.s
Finally, after forcing the 18th corps
back from It's positiea and Isgaining .
portion of the first limo Of fentrenchmruts.
the enemy massed their foress on tAs lOth
corps 70 drive il back. They 6rst hurled
the coluno upon ths division which held
the right Of the corps line joining the lSsh
corps. They formed into : beautiful man.
ner and moved steadily ON Burton's brig
sde on the right, Tarses's diynion ID
vsnced as on pasads, end not firing I
single shot, waiting until the rebels had
reacted COED distance and afeetivl
range, the brigade poured iats their lissl
Isuch ! tsfrific ere that their line melted
awsy, and thinned and broksn, after vain
4 II endcavoring to Andvsrca in tho storE
of bullets, fed with terrible loss TO shs
woods. % their rear the volleys we're !,
continuous and heavy - The nuskstsy .
of brigade could we'll be, and such =
oething could stand sgsiast. The febel
~sss ssattsssd like chAH and bfoke f. thi
| woods in 4 disergsnssd nass. Usdsx 81
friendly covsr, afisr great sxcrtion ,suotbs
lias of astaok - sgsis formed snd sski'
the brigade advanced il splsndid cyl
against our line. As6ia did tAsy feesiv'
! fa TERRIBLE fre, bus they poshed sseadil,
oa TN : forrth of then ny killed o
wounded on he 6sld, whee the4 bsek,
sud rushed quiskly . ne eover of "a
: .oods- Oar Aoyss vs shsA beess.