Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-05-21


the line into their breastworks, from which
they poured into his ranks an incessant fire
of she'll and ball, across valleys, up hills,
through gorges and ravines they were
driven, until they gained their first line Of
rifle pits. Cox soon dislodged them and
sent them bowling to their more formidable
breastworks. At this moment Cox found
that he was out of ammunition, and by some
stupid blunder on the part of somebody,
the trains were too far in the rear from
which to replenish his cartridge-boxes.
Yet he was determined not to be foiled, ana
gathering together all his strength, he ad-
Vanced his line. A cheer went up from his
boys, and resounded through the hills as
his serried line advanced upon the enemy 9
works, which they carried at the point OF
the bayonet in splendid style; but not with
out the loss of many brave men.
WHAT PALMER's l4TH CORPS ACCOMPLISHED.
The heaviest fighting of the day was on
the center. Palmers corps on the right OF
Newton's division, had heavy skirmishing
along the whole line, lasting from half-past
II until O'clock, when Carlins brigade, OF
Johnston's division, advanced down slope
of q hill, and drove the enemy into their
breastworks on the south side of the hill,
rising out of the valley on the south. An
assault on the breastworks was not ordered.
The brigade at once sought cover in ditch,
formed by dried up stream, and until night
covered them, acted as sharp-shooters and
did good execution in silencing batteries,
engaged in enfllading Judah and Newton.
Mitchell's brigade of Davis division, got
into similar position and picked off every
rebel whose head protruded above the
breastworks.
Turchin's brigade of Baird's division,
Joined Judah on the left of Palmer's corps
and fought desperately, but were compelled
to fall back with Judah's division. The
loss in the corps, outside of Turchin's
brigade. was light. Captain Mcdowell, u
promising young officer of the 10th Ken
lucky, was killed during the engagement.
Captain Sheridan, of the 9th Ohio, we'll
known in Cincinnati as an actor of some
ability, is among the wounded, and Will
probably be compelled to submit to the
amputation of his right arm.
WOODS DIVISION, 4TH CORPS.
The 4th corps, under command of Major
General Howard, the lone armed veteran" "
as he is styled in the corps, played very
acted to-day. All the corps, with the eX-
ception of Beatty's fighting brigade, for
which room could not be found, as the cir
Gle was gradually compressed as we ad-
vanced, was engaged and covered itself
with imperishable glory. Woods division
was ordered into position on the right of
General Stanley just before noon, and was
soon hotly engaged with HaZen's and Will
lich's brigades driving the enemy. For
some time destructive infantry and artil-
lery fire was kept up, and ere long his main
line advanced in overwhelming strength
upon the enemy, who fled, at his approach,
to his rifie-pits, from, which the energetic
| Wood soon dislodged him and compelled
him to seek shelter under cover of their
breastworks, from which he was driven
later i'm the day. HaZen and Willich's losses
were severe, but nothing in comparison
with those in the 23d corps, which, to-day,
bore the brunt of the battle.
| After three o'clock the resistance offered
by the enemy on the center, through which
! he had vainly striven to force a passage,
grew more lax, and very little firing other
than skirmishing was heard.
SUNDAY, MAY 10.
During last night quiet reigned along the
whole line, the enemy being very quiet and
rarely firing a shot. The falling of trees
| and the sound of aXmen, however, con-
vinced our commanders that the rebels were
erecting stronger Notifications upon the in
Vulnerable hills that rise out of the valley.
At half-past seven in the morning our skir-
mishers opened fire upon the rebel line,
which was as vigorously returned upon the
left and left-center. The enemy, however,
did not seem disposed to attack WIN their
main line, after the fearful slaughter and
repulse that Hooker administered to them
last night. 1t was not until nine or ten
in the morning that the 10th corps arrived
from the right, and got into position on
/ Cto,,Io,,,e laff Tho OQd oOrpc w itnnn6i-
ately withdrawn from the right Of the line
and thrown in on the left. As our line was
nearly fourteen miles long, these necessary
changes occupied nearly the entire morn
ing SO that midday arrived ere we were
ready to make the assault on the enemy's
works.
The losses in Hookers corps were very
heavy, especially in the repeated charges
upon the enemy's works. Butterfield lost
about 500; Geary 100, and Williams divis-
ion about $50, making Hooker's loss abo1t
| 750 in the battle of the afternoon. The 23d
Corps, which was moved around from the
right, as a support for Hooker, lost slightly.
DESPERATE NIGHT BATTLE.
About ten P. NJ, Hooker's command com
menced throwing up breastworks. to
strengthen their position, and to cover their
movements, it was found necessary to adj
vance their skirmish line. In doing so the
skirmishers ran against the rebel line. I'M
mediately heavy artillery and musketry
fire opened from both contestants, which
lasted until two o'clock in the morning.
The night.battle was desperate and losses on
both sides heavy, probably three hundred
killed and wounded. At two the rebels
were repulsed along the whole line; deaf
ening cheer rang out on the night air, and
all was still save the piteous means of the
dying, who lay upon the bloody field, await
ing with anxiety the early dawn, when they
were gathered into the hospitals.
| -sfer MONDAY, MAY 16. --. o. - q
The morning was very bright, but the
whole valley was filled with smoke and fog
! At daylight not gun was heard. Newton
Immediately advanced to feel the enemy,
and discovered that they had disappeared
Our total losses are estimated at from
four thousand to five thousand, of whom
fully two thousand are so slightly wounded
in the hands and feet that they will be fiji
for duty in two or three weeks. The killed
will amount to about eight hundred, among
whom are many brave officers, who left be-
hind them brilliant records. Ohio has los
her full proportion. Indiana, too, will mourn
the loss of many of her brave sons.
The enemy's losses are fully as large a.
ours, if not larger. In every assault upol
our lines, their loss was very heavy, anC
they were driven back, leaving hundreds O
their killed and wounded in our hands
| coh