Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-05-12

W." ohiup tiScSi tnlCh as one sees
shoots from the same root. In a few
minutes urgent requests came back for
reinlorcements. The enemy was repeat
ing his tactics at Charlottesville of
falling with tremendous force and super
human vim upon one wing. This time
he was not repulsed, but toiled. The bat
tie ragged three hours precisely where 1t
began along line of more than half a
mile. Fast as our men came up they
were sent in-still no ground gained
none lost II was all musketry, roll
surging upon roll-not the least cessa-
tion. We were fighting 10000 men, and
such was the nature of the country but
two guns could be planted bearing upon
the enemy. Hayes Brigade of Birney's
Division became warmly engaged soon
after the ball opened. A little while
and he asked for reinforcements. Han
cock sends back word II will send
brigade within twenty minutes. Tell
Gen Alex. Hayes TO hold his ground. He
can do it, know him to be powerful
man" Within that time Gen. Hayes was
killed, and his body brought to the rear.
The work was at close range. No
room in that jungle for maneuvering;
no possibility of bayonet charge; no
help from artillery, no help from caval-
ry; nothing but close, square, severe,
face TO face volleys of fatal musketry.--
The wounded stream out and fresh
troops pour in, stretchers pass out with
ghastly burdens, and go back reeking
with blood for more. I 5
Word is brought that the ammunition
is falling. Sixty rounds fired in one
steady stand-up fight, and that fight not
fought out. Boxes of cartridges are
placed on the returning stretchers, and
the struggle shall not cease for want of
ball and powder Do the volleys grow
nearer, or do our fears make them seem
so? II must be so, for second line is
rapidly formed just where we stand, and
the bullets slip singing by as they have
not done before, while now and then
limb drops from the tree-tops The bull
lets are flying high. Gen. Hancock rides
along the new line, is recognized by the
men, and cheered with will and tiger.
But we stay them. The I'd Corps is all
up, and it must be that troops will come
up from Warren or Sedgwick, or else
they will divert the enemy's attention
by an attack upon another quarter. Yes,
we hold them. ride back to General
Headquarters, and learn that an advance
has been ordered an hour ago along the
whole line. Gen. Meade is in front with
Warren, and Grant is even now listening
for Wadsworth's division or Warrens
corps to open on Hills flank, for it is
Hills corps that is battling with Han
cock. The latter reports that he shall
be able to maintain his ground. The
severe fighting for the day is over, and
it is sunset.
| write now at 10 p. m. Since dark
there has been brisk firing at intervals
at different points along the lire. The
enemy has been splendidly foiled to-day
in his intention of bearing us before we
should be ready to fight Tomorrow we
shall be altogether ready. Our line to-
night extends, perhaps, six miles from
northeast to south west, the right being
little advanced
Gen. Brrnside has come up 25,OOO
strong and will probably be the reserve
tomorrow. Our loss to-day may be es-
timated at 5000 to 1000. The main
battle, probably decisive one, must be
tomorrow. To-day we have fought be-
cause the enemy chose that we should
Tomorrow because we chose that we
shall.
Another letter dated Thursday night
says m s.f
The movements Of Lee this morning
soon revealed his real design--an at
tempt to cut our lines by desperate at
tack. On discovering his intentions
Gen. Warren was directed 10 attack him
at once, which he did at about IL a. m.
A determined musketry fight of an hour
and a half ensued, in which Warren
handsomely drove him from his position
with the inflction of great loss. Grif-
fms division of the Fifth corps led the
attack and suffered severely, its loss be-
ing nearly 1000 in Killed, wounded and
missing
Finding his efforts to break our center
futile, the enemy next attempted to in
terp0se an overwhelming force between
Warren and Hancock, the latter of whom,
in accordance with orders, was march
ing his corps rapidly to form junction
WIFI lne IOItutT. fortunately, MS a0-
vance, consisting of Birny's division,
came up not moment too soon, and
just in time to ciroumvent the rebel gen.
eral, who at half past two p. m. COM
menced a terrific onslaught on the di-
visions of Birny, Gibbon and Getty, the
latter of whom had been temporarily de-
tached to form the extreme right of
Hancock's command. The fight ragged
hotly until some time after dark and re-
suited in the complete repulse of the en-
emy at all points. Our loss in this en-
gagement does not probably exceed one
thousand men.
Scarcely any artillery was brought
into requisition, the character of the
ground rendering it useless. 3s+.s.r
The battle field is covered with a thick
growth of underbrush and medium-sized
oak trees, and it is owing to that fact
that our losses are comparatively light.
THE RATTV n nK EnunAV