The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-05-20
SAINT PAUL. FRIDAY MAY 20. 1864, q I

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These troops were at work entrenching when
fallen upon. The enemy came down like a
torrent, rolling and dashing in living waves,
and flooding up against the whole Sixth corps.
The main line stood like rock, but not so the
extreme right. That flank was instantly and
utterly turned. The rebel line was the longer
and surged around Seymours brigade, tided
bore away his right regiments. All this done
in less than ten minutes, perhaps not five. Sey-
mour's men, seeing their piclets running back
and hearing the shouts of the rebels, who
charged with all their chivalry, were smitten
with panic and standing on no order of going,
went at once, and in an incredibly short time
made their way through mile and half of
woods to the plank road in the rear. They
reported, in frantic manner usual with STAN.
peded men, the entire corps broken. Grant,
as in Hancock's case, didn't believe it. But
when three of Sedgkicks staff rode in to ar
my headquarters and stated how they had rid
den from Sedgwick's to keep Seymour's men
to their work, had been borne back by the
panic, and had last seen Sedgwick and Wright
hard to the front working like Trojans to hold
the wavering line, the situation appeared more
critical. No word came from Sedgwick 1t
began to be feared that he and Wright, dis
daining to fly, were prisoners.
tions to be prepared for the worst, and cool
heads felt that were the whole sixth corps
broken, the army, as an army, would still be
invincible. Warren's corps is instantly but in
perfect composure, disposed to meet the situa-
tiOn. Grant and Meade and Warren are in
Grants tent, to and from which officers come
and 60 with a certain earnest air that bespeaks
urgent and important cares. So during an
hour. No firing has been heard the last three
quarters of an hour. The rebels must have
ceased to advance but how far have they pen
etrated, and what is the present situation?
The 9th corps flag comes in. Where is the
9Th corps chieftain? My watch says 10 o'clock
wick safe. Wright safe. The 9th corps holds
strong line; only Seymour's and part of
Shaler's brigade have been broken. The enc.
my can do nothing more. The 9Th corps pro-
per has not lost its pristine glory. Compelled
to withdraw, under orders after the detection of
its right, it is still invincble-is now, and yer
shall be. Imay not refrain from mentioning
for gallantry, Sedgwick's staff and Wrights.
Riding in the thickest of the fight, with rare
presence of mind and rare judgment, they won
and deserved John Sedgwicks emphatic COM
mendation. Generals Seymour and Shaler were
captured. It should be stated that both are
awarded by their division commanders every
credit for doing oil men could to recover the If
troops from the panic communicated to the
latter's brigade, it not beginning there. a.
ARMY OF THE POToMAC, In "The Wilder
ness" Saturday morning, May with the
exception of the line occupied by the 9Th corps
yesterday, our original positions are held this
morning at o'clock. At o'clock last night,
a furious attack was made on Sedgwick's line
the main assault occurring on the right,
which was finally turned by the enemy, and
the corps forced to retire some distance to the
rear. gallant resistance was made by Sedg-
wick, and at 91a p. M. his line was re-establish-
ed in the position it now occupies sis & +,
Considerable confusion occurred in several
regiments on the right, but momentarily, how
ever, as through the personal efforts Of Gen.
soon rallied and placed in line of battle. Allis
quiet this morning, with the exception ofpick-
ct firing opposite our centre. A thick volume
OF smoke and fog envelops the battlefield ard
prevents the continuance ofyesterdayis conflict
The fight at intervals all day yesterday on our
left was of the fiercest description. But very
little artillery was brought into requisition,
owing to the nature of the battlefield, which is
covered with an almost impenetrable growth of
scrub oaks and underbrush The fight was al
together one of musketry, and although not
continuous, was one of the most determined
and desperate battles of the war;, ,l 9Is
Our loss in the I'd corps alone, cannot fall
short of three thousand in killed, wounded
and missing. Charges and counter charges
were made at short intervals during the day.
and ghastly forms of hundreds of the combat
ants lying this morning side by side in the vast
chapparel which formed the battle ground at
test the severity of the conflict
Brig. Gen. Barlow, commanding the First
division, occupied the extreme left of the Sec
ond corps; Motifs division and o portion of
Gen. Gibbons's division held the centre, while
Birney with his own division, Robinson's of
the Fifth, StevensOn's brigade of the Ninth,
and Carroll's and Owens brigades of the Sec.
ond corps was stationed on the right, his line
facing westward and extending across the
rim frDr Or-
ange Court House.
At precisely five A. III. an advance of the Sec
ond corps was ordered, and with cheers our
men charged through dense thicket, surpris-
ing the enemy while at breakfast, and driving
them in con usion from their temporary works,
literally strewiug the ground with the bodies
of their killed and wounded, and capturing
large number ofp-isoners.
The rebels, astOnished at the celerity of
HaneOcks movements, were unable to rally
until we had pursued them two and half
miles from the Brock roat, running in a north
westerly direction to Parker's store, when,
reinforced by Longstreet, who the night pre-.
vious had come up to within six miles of the
battlefield, stand was made, and terrific
musketry fight ensued, lasting until noon.
Charge at er charge was made by both sides
and as often repulsed up to that time, when,
owing to an accidental circumstance, our lines
were forced to fall back to the Brock road.
At about IL M. a fanking column of the
enemy charged on the doubie-quiek through
the interval between Gems. Motifs and Wards
commands, forcing back in some confusion
several regiments of the right of Motifs divi-
sion. simultaneously o desperate charge was
made 10 'front.' and our line, yielding at last to
the terrific onslaught, fell back, contesting the
ground to the Brock road, where the troops
were placed under the shelter of temporary
works, constructed of logs and abatis on the
day previous. As the position on the right of
the I'd corps was evidently the point which
the enemy specially coveted, Major General
Birneys command was made to consist of
nearly whole corps. Against his command
has been hurled all the morning the combined
forces of LOngstreet and Hill, In their persist
ent attempts to pierce our line.
Pen cannot convey an idea of the gallantry
which Qpr trQQpa exhibited in xesterdav,s an.