Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-09-29

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,anced, giving their fire to the enemy
Cor few seconds the cleaning lines OF
,ur bayonets vibrated before they enter
Il tho timber, and were lost TO view IN
,he shadow and smoke, The enemy, re-
,eiying severe and continual volley
along his entire front, gave back az hrst
a volley as severe, but were forced TO re-
tire slowly before the attack. The roar |
of the battle as the two lines fairly met |
became thunderous. The artillery open
ed simultaneously on either side. The |
hollow clang OF musketry in the forest |
was like the fierce clangor of the Will
derness, The bombs bursting in the air
and in the woods, dealt, in bursting, the
havoc and had in noise, the horror, OF
the fercest battle fought by General
Grant from the Rapidan to Petersburg.
The precision and quickness of the enc
mys cannonade was almost alarming
Their guns, posted at first in well .select-
ed overlooking positions, neverrAnew a
moments rest. | counted, during the
brief interval between our first advance
and the crisis which succeeded 1t, at
least forty shells per minute which fell
along every portion of our lines, and
sought, in some instances, the pike In
the rear, where q portion of the Nine
teenth Corps was still advancing to the
front, and where some of our cavalry
were lying in wait. Neither these nor
the masketry fire which met our infant
nv checked the ardor of our troops
Their fire remained unslackened for an
hour, during which we had driven the
enemy at some points back nearly half
a mile. The determination to win the
battle which seemed to inspire every
man among our army urged certain
parts of the line along somewhat too
hastily in advance. General Berge's
brigade, attached to Growers division
of the Nineteenth Corps, pushed forward
so impetuously in the charge as almost
to isolate itself from the division. The
enemy ere long perceived the advantage
and charged in turn, threatening the
gallant brigade on their flank, and it
was forced to retire. The rebels, still
coming on in overwhelming force at this
point, pushed back and confused an
other brigade of the division in support,
and the entire left Of the division sub
sequently gave way.
The enemy, from battery hitherto
uncovered, opened at this time on our
flying troops, following up their advan-
tage. Their shells, descending among
the broken columns OF Grover, democrat
lied and shattered them still more. The
entire infantry line of the enemy, recov-
ering it's courage at the sight, charged
in turn, pouring in severe and rapid vol
leys toward the point of breakage. Their
troops still advanced at a double, quick,
firing and filing past, and almost turn
ing the right flank of the Sixth Corps,
| led by General Ricketts, division, in
their pursuit of Growers infantry. The
moment was fearful one Such a sight
rarely occurs more than once in any
battle as was presented on the open
| space between two pieces of woodland,
| into which the cheering enemy poured
| in their eagerness. Their whole line,
| reckless of bullets, reckless even of the
| shells of our batteries, constantly ad-
| vanced Captain Stevens battery, post
ed Immediately in their front, poured
its fire unflinchingly into their columns
to the last. A staff officer, riding up
warned it to the rear to save it from
capture. Colonel Tompkins, in command
of the artillery of the Sixth Corps, sal
upon his horse with loaded revolver
close beside the battery, and ordered il
not to move. lit did not move. Thu
men of the battery, loading and firing
with the regularity and precision of 8
field day, kept it at work in the face O.
the foe, who advanced at least within
two hundred yards of the muzzles of the
guns. General Ricketts, division, press
ed heavily in flank, gradually broke anc
| commenced falling back. General Getty.
| division on the left partially fell bach
! likewise. The day, had such situation
been suffered to continue fifteen minute.
longer, would certainly have been los
| to us. ggr
Crisis of great battle Crisis met
and, thank God, conquered; though
with such asloss as, in the estimation O.
men highest and lowest in this army
can never be replaced.
| Gen. ricketts, saw the danger even be
fore the wavering of his columns, anG
sent a regiment to his right flank, which
formed at right angles of his main line
temporarily protecting it. Gen. Wright
! in command of the forces, acted with
prompt decision. Although it was in
deed early in the day to be forced to EN-
ploy the reserve of an army, he decided
to employ his reserves at once. The
first division of the Sixth corps under
General RUSSELL Immediately in the real
of our broken centre, was ordered in al
the double quick. Col. Edwards brig
ade advancing on the right of Gen
Ricketts,, sent his bullets crashing into
the enemys hordes, astonishing and
checking them. Gen. Russell, com.
handing the division, cheered on the
troops.ef his own and Gen. Ricketts,
command, galloping along the lines and
endeavoring to reform the columns
| which were broken. The lines were con-
structed with admirable quickness, and
the enemy were charged in turn. As
the revived troops moved slowly for
ward, giving ont their volleys, General
| Russell was struck in the side by bull
let. Strengthening himself up without
uttering word of pain, he called out
| to the command to ''meve on" and
| moved on with them into the FRAY. In
half moment more piece of bursted
| shell from one of the enemy's batteries
entered his breast, passing down thro'