Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-06-09
Accounts from Buffers Army-Cowartics OF His
hnft ,sd

Accounts from Cutters -Cowardios OF His
Elem Admitted.
The New York Tribune he's number of letters CIV
ing accounts of the operations OF Buffers army on the
Southslde The Tribune hardly let's out any thing
that is the least unfavorable to the Yankee cause but
in this instance it owns up to the rank cowardice of
Buffers men, and the repulse they met with in
the battles of last week. One correspondent of the
Tribune writes under date of the 2Oth
There has been to day fierce and sanguinary battle
on the spot which mentioned in my ast-the front of
the Sd division OF this corps, under Gen. Ames. The
rebels had come up in front of the clearing, having fol-
lowed US down from Fort Darling and had posted their
first guns in the yard Of the Hewlett house. The house
ia behind fall in the ground, and at several points
along the line they have posted light batteries-
The clearing is wholly work. and is ia ult7 On
y in not having been done to greater extent;
Ga Wednesday night our pickets dug rife pit in
front of the rebel position, and about eight hundred
yards from our line extending quarter of mile into
the woods on our right, which yet stand 1t evil
dent that this pit is Invaluable to Its possessors and
accordingly the rebels drove US cut OF 1t TINS morning
and the struggle of today has been an attempt to re
gain it, which is so far unsuccessful although we nave
retaken the right Of 1T.
Another correspondent describing the assault of our
men on the life pits, says
The "Rsbs" came down upon these rife pits to-day
in force and succeeded in driving skirmishers out
after desperate fight One of the officers command
ing portion of the line, far forgot bis duty as
soldier as to withdraw himself and f)rc3 without firing
shot. General Butler, who was arxioualy watching
the fight from the parapet, imme lately ordered the Of
fcer before him. and, telling him that it would cost ten
Ewes for every one to retake what he might have Eeld
dismissed him from the service. In an attempt to re-
take the rifle pits the Ninety seventh Pennsylvania ard
Thirteenth Illinois regiments were ORDERED 70 move
through the woods to cooperate with movement made
by another portion of Gilmores forces Misundrsand
ing the ORDER the troops moved by the flank along
the skirt of the woods Marching seadiIy along, they
Unexpectedly upon rebel battery which opened
a murderous cross fire. literally moving them down
appeared to the locker though the entire force
melted away before this terrific rain OF grape and
lister.
Now came rhomentary ull, and then the Third reg
uar battery in the left redoubt the Fourth New Jer
sey adjoining it the right both facing the pit, and
the First Connecticut in the elevated redoubt further
to the right pointing diagonaly and partly across it,
opened fire. roaring without moments stop from lO1a
to IL 4, using at first mostly spherical case Mean
while the Thirteenth Indiana, Colonel Dobbs, made a
gallant and it seeemed, imprudent charge upon the
pit the right but repulsed when within about
q hundred yards of the work
Another account of the battle admits the cowardce
of the men more plainly even than the above. The
writer says:
At nine, thereabous, the muskets began lively
crackle, and the guns opened from the rebel posi-
ton. Hurrying to the scene, found the enemy had
advanced and been repuIsed, yet had the rjepit in
their detested possession. The whoie of the Ninth
Maine with portions of the Fourth New Hampshire,
Fifty fifth Pennsylvania and Ninety-seventh New
York. were occupying the rife pit, the regiment first
named beirg nearly in the centre The rebels charged
upon them with their peculiar ehort-fived enthusiasm
AID their yell, met fm7, and the stion might
have been held without difficulty, bad not the Ninth
Maine broken and fled 10 the woods thus permitting
the rebels to enter the pit and flank the remaining regi
ments compelling them to re;ira Two Lieute nlnts of
the Ninth Maine who retired their without orders,
were brought this afternoon before General Ames and
by him sent to General Butler, who summary dis
mi sed of them from the service. Be tn deserve
vele punishment, for this unfortunate affair has cost
hundreds OF lives today, and threatens Us with severe
battles as the price OF holding our position. The
rebels in the pitt and the woods which yet stand next
the Hewlett House, the twin of apprehen-
Word brought that the left of the pit empty
ard soon the Nipeiy-seveDtb Pennsylvania was seen
advancing against the lett Oh the rf9 pitt in the open
clearing. Their leader had mistaken Or not followed
precisely his orders and the rebels had come, aud sud
denly they aud poured upon the Nnety-seventh
murd erous fire OF Infantry and grape and they seemed
to fell in sgatbs It sad sight.
Our losses today cannot now be estimated. Ia in
@antry fire they heavy and probably exceed thai Of
the enemy.
Some Shells of the Third artillery failed to explode
this afternoon. One Or two were examined and found
to be filed with harmless plaster.
The following orders have been issued by General
E. Kirby Smith to the soldiers under his command:
HDQ'Rs TRANS MISS. DEPARTMENT,
Camden, Ark, May Sd, 1864.
Soldiers of the Trans Missassippi DEPARTMENT:
Once in the hour Of victory we are called upon
to mourn the heroic dead.
Generals w. r. Scurry and Horace Randall have
fallen upon he field OF tonor At Jenkrss Ferry they
offered themselves up precious victims on the altar of
liberty.
Mouton and Green are gone, Scurry and Randall
have followed on the glorious path. Be it ours to
emulate their virtues and vaor, and to act not
unworthy to associate with such heroes.
The coors Of their respective brigades will he draped
in mourning for thirty days.
e. KIRBY SMITH,
General Commanding.
HD'QRs TRANS MISS. DEPARTMENT,
Camden, Ark, May Sd, 1864.
Soldiers of the Trans Mas s;ssippi Department:
success.
Victorious at CloutterVilIe, we have captured gun
boat and transports. and driven the enemy demoralzd
and retreaDg wtho tie shelter of his entertainments
at Alexandria.
No need OF praise is too great for that gallant little
army and its skiul and energetic Chief. To his gle.
rious victories at Mansfield and Pleasant Hill, under
Providence is the of this campaign il great
measure due.
E. KIRBY SMITH, General
The annexed address of Gen Smith to his army sums
up the victories to the 4th instant:
HEAD'Rs Trans Miss. DEPT,
Camden Ark, May 4, 1864.
Soldiers of the Trans Mississippi Department: