The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1864-05-26


Before the rebels had time to recover
from the first shock Of the attack thor-
sands of them were prisoners and the
remainder fed panic-stricken. Those
who were captured threw down their
arms at the word of command, and
were marched to the rear to swell the
list of captures of the grand army
The artillery which had been careful
ly located, in expectation OF the i'm
pending battle, was taken before it
was possible to attach the horses to
the pieces, and the greater proportion
was brought off the field unspiked and
uninjured. The remaining pieces were
left from necessity upon the field, and
remained subjects of hotly contested
dispute during the balance of the day.
The quarters Of the General (Johnson)
were surrounded, and he and his Of
GERS, were taken prisoners while par
taking of their breakfast. The results
of the surprise were one Major-General
(E. Johnson,) and two Brigadiers,
about seven thousand prisoners, and
over forty guns; but little more than
half the latter, however, were brought
away.
-, e1 THE ARTILLERY DUEL.
The line of rife-pits carried in this
charge commanded a most important
position of the enemy's works, and was
tenaciously held after the assault by
Gen. Birney's division. 1t was nine
o'clock. The artillery began to play
upon the rebel lines from almost innu-
merable batteries, which had been
carefully planted during the night,
and resulted in great havoc. General
Wright, with the Sixth Corps, now ad-
vanced to the support of Gen. Han
cocks second corps, then far in ad-
vance of thelin of the previous night,
and was also sustained by General
Warren's Fifth Corps. The battle at
this time became terrific in its nature.
But it was mainly one of artillery
Lees infantry held their position we'll,
while the death-dealing missiles were
shrieking and whistling above their
heads. The effect of the bombardment
could be distinctly perceived in the 81.
, lencing Of battery after battery of the
rebels, and the retirement of whole
columns of rebel infantry, who sped
, forward with desperation in the en-
\ deavor to regain the lost position O
} the morning. The musketry played
its part in the awful din, and its crack
ling was clearly discernible in thu
f brief intervals of the booming of heavy
: ordinance. The noise was truly appal
ling. 1t was almost unceasing, ant
: amidst the dreadful sounds of the car
: mage could be distinctly heard tn,
shrieks of the wounded, and occasion
: ally the bugle sounding forth the or
8 der for new movement.
THE REBEL POSITION.
Thus fiercely did the battle rage al
( day, The enemy had no concealmen
like that of the Wilderness. No op
:, portunity was afforded to successful.
mask his guns, for, as often as tn
!, masked position became disclosed, hun
: dreds ofmissiles would be directed to
, ward it, in order that the batterie
: might bo rendered harmless. 1t wa
9 practically on an open field, and a.
9 most every movement Of the enem
i could be clearly distinguished an
y guarded against Here Lees tactic
: were at fault. His whole line wa
open to our observation, and no skill
u full massing of troops for an assaul
u upon any particular portion of our dt
"a voted band could be made available.
:, THE REBEL CHARGE.
"a About noon the rebels made an a
le tempt to regain the rifle pits wreste
A. from them by Hancock in the morr
,e ing, and which, at this time, q porto
Q. of General Wright's Sixth Corps hell
A. The assault was met with the firmne'
D. ola rock, and, bruised and bleeding
If the living wavo was dashed back, Ii
er orally moved down by the fire
" musketry, and the terrible cross-fre
q artillery which had been brought
as bear upon the plain over which the a
of tacking column was compelled to q
le vance. Again and again the assau
A. was made with similar result, and Il
be piles of the dead and wounded attest
to the dogged determination of the robe
Id while it exhibited the stern resistan
es, with which they were met by o
ad troops. The enemy advanced to the
re charges in solid column with demoni
N. yells, and the undoubted determin
on ton to drive our forces before the
d. The artillery plougbod through th'
ranks literally ctttting swaths Of m
as grass falls before the scytho. st
the dreadful gaps closed up, and Q
DC ward they came again. Musketry lie
no its apparently feeble aid to the me
VI ponderous missiles, and q carefully !
~, served, but terribly directed fire, d,
ler mated the rebel ranks, and again tn
he fell back in confusion. Atlasti it see
ay cd as if further attempts to carry
em lost position were abandoned, and
di' enemy retired discomftted, and aim
bis panic stricken from tho effort. s.
lof CHARGE BY THE FIFTH CORPS.
he While the cannonading was in p
eb. gress, and while the captured riae.E
he and intrenchments were being so fir
ed. ly held, the remainder of the arl
led was not silent OF passive observe
he The Fifth and Sixth corps were mo,
de into position early in the morni