Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1864-06-08


main road from FrederIeksbu gave the enemy secs
to the rear OF thai wing OF eur army The bridre ,
which had crossed the river on cur march from Il
wilderness lay tho line Of the detour that thus Ia
Field open to serious danger Some cavalry hayir
been said to be threatening that crossing of the strear
the bFigades Of Harris and Of Psrrin-both Of Ande
Sons diVision-were sent back with orders 70 hold
against ali comerR They arrived there O'Clock
| the evening Night hsd nearly come on and the
knew nothing Of the position or force OF the enenal
After consultation with Major-Gen w H. Lee Of u
eavary-son Of the commander inchef OF the army G
Northern Firgina-the enemy being present in forct
piekets were thrown out bus q short distance in se
vance Of the bridge and regiment placed for thei
support On hill to the left Of It's immediate rear. IN
| bnesdes OF Perry Wright Perrin and Hsrris-alI 0
Anders0ns digision-drew up in favorable position
er resisting any direct attempt Of the enemy TO obta
/ possession Of the bridge.
Malone had just made bis dispositions when masse
OF men we're heard moving down to the opposite bsni
oil the 20 thunderng cheer from the midnight dark
ness which reigned reyssed that the Uonfede
rates this side Of that river lay IN tie presence Of
host Of armed men. Picket firing opened immediately
IN 'front.' OF the bridge but after while suosiding ths
thousands that stood on that part Of the field confront
ing each other in deadly array lay down night
OF peace in the sleep of the battle bivou2e.
MsssiDg OF the enemy his front appeared 10 threat
Field tbs morning Of the IOJh with serious attae <
Gordon, who lay reserve in the the p corpa
was ordered up soon after sunrise that officers sun
port heavy oannonsde from both sides appeared "a
be the regular prefsce advances and was foIlovv
BY the appearance OF the enemy coming forward in
heavy column OF nTe or * nnes deep. That mighty
mass came sweeping steadily en- and absorbing lis
line OF skisEaisherS appeared of volume sufficient 70
overcome all resistance Fields shsrpahootsr insertNd
death in hundred laeisiors through is solid front and
the lightning flash Of his artillery cut throueh ia v-
ing material in gGshsH broad and deep Hstinz within
two hundred yards Of the works il rstreased leaving
many wretch behind In mortal agony or in The merei
fai reposs Of death Again and sgaia during the dsy
the same demonstration was repeated; and on each
casion, with The result.
MAss1 Of The enemy appeared collecting rapidly in
the siteFnyOn, he front Of General RJdes Gordon
ordered back to his support from the resr
D deFU a cglu nf bfr5r
ccas moved through the Forest asd hurled its treen.
dous weight against Doles brigade and RodeE dvision
Dropping is living sad dead offai al SIDES under
we'll directed FIRE rife gun it still kept on its way;
and by the heavy pressure from its rear burgt living
torrent over the works held by Dole Be srng, like
mighty river everything before H. II swept Eurging to
the OF the Confederate position for several hun
dred yards when il struck, with heavy reeo against
Nrock-hke solidity Of Gordols front. He hsd tnst
Q u3 from the LETT and, charging, cheering AZ he
hurled back the heavy masses In a terror as great
the flash Of hs bAyO1ets were the deadly lshs Of
he GOrgens eye. His fire reserved until the enemy
broke hs poured into him. ~ be ned vOlsy after v0ey
with ard rap idity truly murdeTods. Twenty
minutes having finished this work and restored
the line in its original position, that valuable otcer re-
tired from the immediate front 70 mis- posonin reserve
The movements upon Fields line during the morning
Of the lOth, designed, doubtless employ our st
tentOn during the operations against his resr The o
follows couT5e generally parallel with the line taken
up during the night OF Ssh, by the division updsr
Malone. Sweeping back, however around that flank
ef hert distance below his left il erposed him from
taking him even somewhat in reverse. Crossing the
works they had thrown up durng the night to protect
insr front HE troops sought Ehster from the missiles of
hal battery by orOuehing on the outer slope. Under
cover Of the eannonaee, the enemy not daring an at.
tempt 10 force hs bridge crossed the river lower dFa
10 iul exposure 3 well directed hre from sore field
pieces that had been planted on the Confederate left
Having driven in the skrmishers Of Wrghts brissde
OF GeoEgiEns, the Federal column began form in e
on this side; snd for the moment seemed sbOat to
subject to another trial the well proved metal Of Aader
sons division.
General EARLY had in the mssutims, creased the Po
81 bridge lower dJwn than that In the front Of the
division OF Andenon. With Heth's division and Ma
homes superb brigade be eontinu ed his march on the
opposite bank up stream, until striking the ASnk of the
Federal hsnkers he Grove them before him without
aDy resistance The laundering Of his guns the shout
ng In wild triumph Of his troops came near and still
nearer to Andsrsons felows they stood ready for
mortal struggle; and those welcome sounds, they
Weed up from the woods, heraided the arrival of 3
t officer who, having dashed into the stream rode up in
ull speed his horses TANKS still dripping with water
% announce to Malone that the enemy was withdraw
ng fgom the bridge in fail retreat.
The Federal masses by Mshone's srtille
ltneE side OF the Po. Shot ard shell hurled imms
aielg into them they rushed back hurriedly from
1Eriys crushing advance. The division moved down
nee 70 the bridge; AMI having crossed formed the
opposite eide in line of bsttls parallel with tbs road by
Thich the enemy had eOms-thst from Shady grove.
Nnshts GaOTg,srs, drawn up Fields left, rested
otir right the river; Perrins Alsbamsns came
hea PerTys FloH6iSna. Harris Aizsitsippans and Ma
ones Nir- inisnL Heths men, they came up with
Early took position the left. The enemy had Termed
me OF Dalue half m1e OF. His front, covered by
TeAstForks was further protected by four mprovised
edOubtS The losses ef his hurried retreat had been
efousi and would probably have been even much more
hAd ne not embarrassed the pursuit by ting hre
ebnd him to the lsafy woods 10 which he had dropped
le dead and wounded Ia his flight. The two armies lay
n the ground they had juss taken; and continued 10
13k at each other during what yet remained Of the day
i'hou Demonstration or attack only Ihs extent
Z occasional shslliag.
Fooled by Esrly in fsnking the right of our position
irsnt attempted 20 break it by direct attack. Night
sd almost set In when the heavy column that had |
threatened the left so often during the day burst uPen
> at last, in terrible eArnestness Covering the whole
ont OF the division, that tremendous attack
er TIE fire Of the brigade the left OF McLaWs- |
NOiore GeorgianS. Gen. G. 7. Anderson's brigade |
seeVed the shock IN terrible force but could be
rom the position Of Major Gen. r. II. Anderson aud
taior Gen Field hold is ground as steadily as If It
1eIe on dress parads. Rapidly and regularly l. |
lreW up clO1o sitter cloud Of smoke and the hash Of
le nre burst along its front every few minutes in /
hresdhke flashes.
An angle in the line Of the Confederate array--s sa-
ent as Il IS termed by engneers-presented ths We ak
oint Of the defense. The breadth Of its re
lily contracted and its sides exp gssd TO orfade that
art of the Confederate line was held by Greg9s br
aae OF Texans. Uncovered by trSnsverS0s, his mer,
fter ths atia0king column had swept up within short
istADee of their works, encountered fire from both
ront and hauk and hnsily, the rave Of the on /
sugt suTged over headong Into their defences,
0reed to fa back belore It's rresstibls weight That
ley old not yield IA any lsebisness OF spirit at
ssed - they retired with their faces 70 the foe, by
syera Of their eomrsces who lay II the trenches dad
+ dying under thrusts OF tAe stera bsysnet StUng
nth humiliation by their repuse, the gallant fellows
2used In their retrcgresEion and sprngng faTiousy
drove the enemy, just as he began 10 quail
ae out Of Their work. fI 9ssaFg osnsr erts ~ ie
h-ir unerring rides for qusrterOf mile. Ths losses
Grant ia that repass, Of the 10th, must have been
cry ssvsre.
Two brgades Of the right wing had been sent duripg
be day 20 support Eel In anticipation Of the attack
epei6d 30 sPlendidy by GoFdJn- The sun had almost
et when that wing Of ths Confederate array became
sslf subject of less serious threatening Two
mes Of battle emerged from the woods ia front Of \
Wilcox, but were net by ths tire OF heavy line Of
kirmshers. and by laundering canuonads from bat
cries pcstsd sdYaatsEeOusy In that officers mmediste
Having Contributed its victims the carnage of
be hed, that threatening advance broke into
The attack Field driven back about the same
ine, night closed upon the two armies reposs that
vas unDTOken outside the lines, by the venOmons
'hirling Of bullets from the Eeepless shkrpshooters
The morning Of the lIth broke, unheTElded by the
hook Of arms feeble demonstration against our LEFT
nd another against center deepensd for brief time
he volume Of the Ekrmish-hre During the weak show
attack made thus on Ewers left, the country lost
or lime the services Of thss gallant fellow Brig Gen
lays. He received wound which, though not At all
dangerous, appeared, when him. to be very pain
III With the exception Of some threAteningE the battle
are that, during the psuses Of the heavier collisions,
aged: apparently without intermission, outside the
opposing lines
On the 18th Of May the battle field lay before dawn
If that day the hostile lines burst under the sudden
bidding OF electric wire into feTcs csnnepsde. An
ANeAlOA N leA hAuueuhea EGkou tAe AAhA
nent Of is opening in the full depth OF its fury. Tbs
netac peal Of the solid shot, the EhSrp clap and the nat
rash Of the shell from Eds 20 side with rapidly
they seemed to shake the very earth with their hun'
iers. That terrific storm, while undiminihed 10 depth
mmedistely after its first bathurst ehangs
character; for the sharper peSls Of shot and shell
were succeeded in q moment by the duer thuds thsl
luring forward grsps and canister, told Of struggle
teepeRsd into the sternness Of close quarters.
The suddsnness of tbs tnundsFs with which the hftn
cry rent the not greater than that which tho
1saienng storm burst from the infantry. Tbs musket
" that followed Immediately after the very hrEt gum
great In volume from its opening that 1t bespoke
slearY the presence of large masses OF men R1mg IN
. deep roll one and unbroksn is blended ringing de-
cl ed that the hostile thousands from whom IL sWele
up must have in conflict hand TO hand The peals
quick succession of the artillery, did not drown It's
voice; but it went distinctly, a flowing roar that
rose Heaven, ks the constant cutlery OF rushing
river. Dvinstion not necessary with all those eV
denees to tell me, rose from my blanket In the rear
that in th9 Of conflict at Inkerman, al
attack preparsd with deiberston In close proximity