Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-06-10
FROM our OWN OoRREsPozDEEr.

scenes-eVents. croWdlng unto one an
other with bewildering rspidity-I have
only time to chronicle the most important
parts of the great drama, leaving the rest
for historic pencils.
DATTLE OF COLD HARBoE.
: The 6th corps, which occupied our right
in the line at Psmunky river, was quietly
Withdrawn at midnight Of May 31st and
moved with alacrity directly to the left,
passing around Lees extreme left flank
without exciting suspicion. The roads
being sandy, the artillery moved go
noiselessly that pickets thirty rods distant
were slipped by without being alarmed
and the column marched down the old
church road to within eight miles Of the
doomed city before the enemy could
succeed in getting an opposing force
in our front sufficient TO check
the victorious advance. One mile
south Of Coal Hsrbor extends ridge that
forms the Chickshominy. This had been
fortified by the rebels during McClellsn's
campaign. and now afforded them an sd-
mirable position to stay our forces until
Lee could accomplish his retreat.
General Beauregsrd had moved his force
up from Richmond and formed his lines
along the hills, and Ewell was coming
with all possible speed to his support.
General Russelrs division Of the 9th Corps,
being the advance, formeI at once on the
right and left of the road, thousand yards
from the rebel position. Notwithstanding
| the fact that for the two nj, hts preceding
| the men had been marching through deep
ssnd-hsd been forty-5ight hours without
sleep, " ,re on short rations, and literal y
worn out-they responded with patriots
hearty will to once again bars their breasts
to the bullets Of hidden foe. Neils di-
vision was sent to the right and Ricketts,
to the left Of Russell as soon ss the ar
rived. 1t now being P. N. General Wright
concluded to assault; the works Of the
enemy, and, if possible, obtain possession
Of the hill before Lees main army could
arrive. Our line was along dense cedar
thicket, with q single clearing in which
our artillery was msssed. The enemy's
|
ysrds from ours, and hundred in front
of another woods, along the border Of which
extended their second line. The inter-
vening space was clear field with no un-
dulstion, no shrubbery, nothing to shield
the hearts Of the brave fellows from the
balls that were hurled with fatal &C.
curaoy down that smooth inclined
plain. l saw the charges at Perry
~. -
ga, and l Witnessed with feelings Of
awe the scaling Of Lookout and Mission
Ridge, but never before saw men mar
shal and move on to an assault with such
fixed, unaltersble determination where
seemingly inevitable death glared them
in ahe face as it did these Victory was
plainly depleted in their eyes, victory in
their steady onward movement, and
victory they won. Now after being full
hoar exposed to the murdsrous discharge
Of the enemy's numerous csnnon-the
! shell which made the sir redolent Of sui
/ pher, black with dust and smoke, and the
muskets which tell yet more fesIfully in
the rsnks,-one long weary hour Of re-
sistiDg the impetuous rushes Of desperate
| foe, Of surging against the band of steel
and terrible destructive FIRE, and the first
1 line Of works WAS ours, with six hundred
Of its former occupants. The General con-
cluded that the works beyond were too
strong, and would require too great sac
rifoe of men to charge, and SO commenced
| at once to render his present position in
vulnerable against any attempt that might
be made to Tetake it.
THE NIGHT WoRK-EooTUREAL CHARGES,
At dusk the sky became overcast with
black clouds, and the harsh grumbling of
thunder portended tempestuous night
Of utter blackness. From eight to nine
o'clock there was lull, solitary stiffness
ofiusiure, an omin Gus quiet OF the enemy,
VINO were silently gathering their clans
now stung and driven to desperation by
repeated defeats, to make joint effort to
recover the lost ground. At ten the sim.
ultsneous discharge Of the entire artillery
was a signal for the onslaught
Down hey came perspicuously impressed
with the idea that one fell swoop Of their
fiery breath suddenly breathed in our
braves faces would nonplus and wipe
them from existence, but they were not
unnerved By fierce screams nor fsrcer bull !
let's. The scene was brilliantly illumined
by the fsshes continuously streaming
/
~ for nearly ten minutes, when the charge |
was repulsed with an appalling loss to
the enemy, who was driven back into the |
impenetrable gloom, again humbled and |
disappointed, there 10 ponder on their |
days work and chew, the cud Of sweet |
and bitter f0ncies. From where 1 sit this /
moment can see the scene Of last nights |
carnage, which is strewn with rebel bodies.
UNION LossEs-EIGHTH OHIO IEFAErRY.
Last nights successes were not achieved
without heavy loss, both In valuable Of
fsers and true men. The Medical Director
informed me thatin the afternoons assault
our loss was over two thousand Battery
d, lst Ohio Artillery, were the only troops
engagsd from Ohio. They, occupying a
position, were subjected to a
scourging FIRE Of artillery and small arms,
losing Two as gallant and talented aficers
as ever went to battle, both being severely
wounded First Lieutenant Albert Nor
rell, cannon shot in the foot; Eirst Lieu
tenant Frank B. Richard, shell, in the
arm. They are nov doing well. Lieu.
tenant Richard belongs to Edgarton's bat
terry, and asked when ordered to his COM
pany to be allowed to remain until the
campaign was ended, which request was
granted.
Next to the 7Ih, the glorious Sth ranks
as the best fighting regiment from North
ern Ohio, consequently retains deeper
hold on the peoples heart than any other,
and it may be source Of some gratifca-
lion to those dear friends at home to know
hat the conduct Of their gallant sons is
pointed to by general officers here as a !
model for other troops. Among others in ,
he regiment have heard many speak in {
he highest terms Of commendation, par {
iculsrly Of Lieutenant Abbot and Lieu |
ensnt DePuy, as having behaved as only {
heroes can behave, during this entire cam {