Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1864-05-18
WAR NEWS,

The Battles of Thursday and Friday,
may and 8, on tho Rapid Ann,
From the Now York Horaldl
THE BATTLE ON THURSDAY, MAYS.
At one o'clock on Thursday We were in
line OF battle with the best corps on the
extreme right-the Sixth-the Fifth with
the Second forming our extreme left
The cavalry had been skirmishing in the
meantime with newly discovered body
OF Stuart's men ne8r ChanCellorsville-
These were soon found to have augment
cd, and the skirmisL speedily swelod in
to the proportions Of q battle. Gen. Will
son, with portion of his command, was
cut oil from the main body, but joined
them later in the day.
The fighting here established the great
superiority Of cur cavalry to Sruart's IA
nous pGrtisans. Tho latter were badly
worstod in the days engagement, and re-
tired towards Fredericksburg, to Join Gen.
Fitlhugh Lee, Of whose command StuarLs
is a part.
On taking the different positions assign
ed them each corps began the hasty con-
struction Of field breastworks in front Of
its first line Of battle, and soon had them
capable Of formidable resistance. The
/ face Of the country and the character of
/ its growing timber was found the most
untavoToDlc imaginable for offensive Oper-
ations. The roads were narrow generally,
! tedious and bounded on either side with
q dense growth Of young pines, chinCa-
pins and scrubby oak, with an under
growth of hazel in many places that rem
= 0eTCd the forest almost impcnetrable.-
4 the pines were low limJod and scraggy,
and the chincapius the stiffest and bristli-
est Of their species. An advance in line
/ Of battle was almost impossible. Artil-
/ lory could not bo brought into action at
/ all. A few places on The immediate lire
/ OF the road and in an occasional break in
/ the forest on either side, were the only
positions possible for planting batteries.
over three hundred pieces lay idle dur
ing tho whole Of the first days fight.
ing.
The position was admirable for defence
and WAS selected by Gen. Lee instantly
ON learning that Gen. Grant had out-ma
.uUuycrcd him and gained O CrCssiugw with
out battle, Many Of the rGyinea were
deep aud imIassiJlc, but moio";,,s -.
.... ~ on account or prccpltOus deCllVit
les. The main obstacle We had 10 con
tend against was the thick growth o
scrubby timber that prevented the proper
handling OF he troops and concealed the
encmys presence and disposition of hi
forces.
Oar grand line of battle formed by al
tie corps was fully five miles in length
| from northwest to southeast, with The
centre thrown forward, giving it a CONVEX
! form. The rebel line was OF equal if not
greater lergth, as was proven by THEN
maintaining their positions in our front,
and on one or two occasions temporarily
turning our ilauks.
This much it seems necessary TO say, fol
a proper appreciation Of what is to fol
low.
AT one O'Clock p. m. on Thursday, Gen
. Warrcn's corps began battle by advancing
along the line Of the turnpike in line O
battle or both sides. The fighting WI.
sharp and vigorous on both sides, with oc
casional intervals till dark, with in
different success to either. Our first dash
from the centre of Wauen's corps was
met with a deadly yollcy that threw THEN
line into momeutary confusion. The reb.
els took advantage of this and made q
! bayonet charge on Battery D, First New
! York artillery, capturing two of their
brass Napoleons, or l2-pounders, The
battery seems to have been imprudCntly
exposed and indifIercntly supported
Sharpshootors had previously shot down
the horses and many of the men. The
captain was wounded carly in the fight
These were the only two guns we lost in
the battle.
At dark Warren nom;nally held posi-
ton half mile in advance Of his breast
works.
Gen. Scdgwicli may possibly have been
feeling the enemy earlier than Warren,
but was not hotiy engaged till afternoon.
Tho fighting in his front was terrific for O
considerable period, and the losses neces
larily heavy on both sides. At night he
q seemed to have gained a decided advant.
q age, and at one time il seemed probable
that Lee was Withdrawing troops from
q that point and concentrating on our left
/ Subsequent events contradictcd this theo
| ry, and the Sixth corps was compelled tC
, meet one of the most violent assaults o.
this or any other war.
ten, IANCOCk OpeuCu Oh tuG tGOel
= from the left of our line at halfpast fou,
, on Thursday afternoon, and fought furi
ously until night. lie found himself con
fronted with veteran troops, who resistoc
e. his impotuous assaults with the coolnes
- of we'll trained soldiers, and when forced
. back always retired in better order thar
would be possible for fresh recruits. From
l the moment Of attack until dark, thu
crash Of musketry was incessant and dca
fleming. The rebels were finally driver
fully mile.
G Gen Hancock was severely pressed al
one time in the evening, and two brig
aides we're thrown into the gap between hi
right and Warrens left. The fighting
: here was Of the most obstinate CD haracto
possible.
As the sun sunk below the horizon, th'
G grand conflict Of the day lulled into irreg
D ular musketry firing, and finally ceased
altogether
General Burnsido's corps was not On
gagged through the day but was held IN
position to support tie Sixth.