Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-05-24
rnEBArrLE ON WEDNESDAY.
j. F. MCKINNEY,
GEO. Bliss.

THEBATHhE ON w WHSDNkTSDAn n.
sN1NTH ARMY CoRps, NEAR SPoTTsYLvA-)
MA, May lS-l0 p. NJ.
While the severest portion of to-day's
fighting has been borne by other corps, the
Ninth has participated to no small extent,
as loss of several hundred in killed and
wounded will amply testify. In days of
yore when fight embraced a loss of only
one or two hundred, it was gazetted at
once as great battle; but now days en-
gagement possesses little importance un-
less it entails loss of many thousands.
The severity, the hardships, the losses
in fact the magnitude-of the present cam
paign, may be comprehended to some de-
gree by consideration of the fact that an
engagement of few hours to-day, one of
many, has been attended witha loss along
the whole line of over one thousand men.
THE OPENING OF THE ATTACK.
While the rest of the army moved in
force upon the enemys line, our corps,
holding the right was to make demon
stration on the enemy's left. The troops
were disposed in line of battle, with Pot
ter's division holding the extreme right
Crittenden's division the centre, and VIII
coxs division the left, in contiguity with
the right of Warren's corps.
THREE COLUMNS OF ATTACK.
|
umn of attack, with the intention of as
saulting the enemy's line at three different
points. The regiments of each division
| were massed, in some cases three, and in
others four regiments forming the front
| lines. The artillery was intrenched behind
works hastily constructed of timber hewn
from the neighboring woods and covered
with earth.
| AS the infantry advanced our guns opened
| to cover the movement, aud in moment
| the whole line of our front was musical
with the roar of our PARROTS and brass
pieces. The rebel line was distinctly in
view. and sheltered by woods which rem
dered our fire considerably uncertain as to
results. However, our gunners blazed away
with the utmost ardor, and tornadoes of
shell and shrapnel tore through the oppo-
! site woods.
Roemer's battery opened the ball between
| four and five o'clock A. NJ, with six ten
inch PARROTS, supported by Thomas Second
! Maine battery, the Eleventh Massachusetts
and two pieces of the Seventh Maine on the
right. The rebels were not slow in respond
| ing from their side, and the interchange of
cannon shots soon became quite lively.
NARROW ESCAPE OF GENERAL BURNSIDE.
| General Burnside at this time occupied
| little knoll in the rear of Roemer's battery
as corps headquarters. The very first shots
from the rebel guns flew over the brow of
the hill and lodged in the midst of the Gen
eral and his staff, who were Just rising from
their couches, if can apply term so sug-
| yestive of civilization to the rustic resting
| places of these officers, where cedars formed
a canopy and the ground bedstead. One
| shell burst Immediately over the Generals
head, wounding Captain Hutton in the side
and breaking his revolver. The fragment
entered the earth in close proximity to
General Burnside and Colonel Richmond.
Another shell, or, to use the technical term,
spherical case shot, exploded near Major
Cutting, tie sulphur with which the bullets
were soldered striking him in the face and
severely burning him. The rest of the staff
escaped unharmed, though fragments OF
the bursting shell struck in every direction
about them. An immediate change of base
was the consequence, and temporary refuge
was sought on the side of neighboring
hill. During the shelling one of the order
lies was wounded in the leg and had his
horse killed.
The infantry in the meantime gallantly
dashed across the intervening open ground,
only to encounter an impervious barrier OF
abattis, which seemed as much an obstacle
to the advance of the rebels as it was to our
men. 1t betrayed at once the character OF
the enemy's tactics in their present posi-
tion. Exit was impossible as entrance, and
hence the natural conclusion that Lees
strategy just now is that of defense en-
tirely.
OUR ADVANCE.
The advance was made through severe
fire from the enemy's artillery. Our line
however, continued its progress to the abat-
tis. and there remained until later in the
day, when it was ordered back to the origi-
nal position, no advantage being gained on
either side, and affaiIs remaining at night
fall as they were at daylight.
The Fourth division, colored troops, un.
der-General Ferrero, were in the rear, and
did not participate in the engagement to-
day. They have, however, been very etfi-
cient in guarding our trains against on
| slaughts from the rebel cavalry, who take
| every occasion to make a dash upon that
very important portion of the column.
| Among other details must not omit to
mention the gallantry of private Sherwin
of the Fifty-seventh Massachusetts,, who
took up an advanced position, and from be-
hind a tree annoyed the rebel artillerists
| He selected one place In particular, and
sdroye the rebels from 1t several times by
the skilfullness of his Workmanship and
only left his position when severely wound
| cd In the right arm bya rebel sharpshooter;
who contriyed to outfank him.
SUSPICIOUS CHARACTER.
During lull in the firing a man, dressed
lin the uniform of Union soldier, advanced
from our lines and sailed towards the reb-
els. It was supposed that he was going in
search of wounded comrade, and many
encomiums were passed upon the strength
Of an affection which would take him into
SO much danger to aid his friend. The
rebels rose along their line and brought
| their muskets to bear upon him; but, fol
some inexplicahle reason, did not fire' but