Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-07-20


where it crossed the Plank road, that th
letter has to deal. The incident | recall
ana record may at first thought. perhaps
seem trivial. in view of the magnitude o
tho contest of which it was part, bu
tufles no greater than this. and valor ne
more signally displayed. have decided
the final result oil many battle since
history began.
From the hour the Second Co, ps reach
ed the field, Col. Connor's regiment was
in the front. In the morning it was de.
tached from its brigade to prolong the
line OF the assaulting column that pushed
the enemy a long way backward. When
the rebound OF the enemy which succeed.
ed this attack was at length stayed. Col.
Connor'S command was again detached,
this time being assigned position
north OF the plank road. close TO and n,
nearly right angle with it; it filed q
gap between Bunside's lett and the
Plank road. In this position during the
engagement that followed, the murder.
Gus musketry OF the enemy struck down
from It's ranks more than one hundred
and fifty in about rs mtny seconds. At
last. exhausted aud out of ammunition.
The line at lis right not acting entirely in
concert, the regiment paused in its efforts
to advance. and details were sent back
10 fetch cartridges.
II was now near mid day; the conflict
had been incessAnt since day began
both armies had >urgcd luiiously TO and
no, each htl been driven by the cher.
At this moment the rebels were at bay al
along the line. o. the LET, OF tho road
the Federal Column had Tor The nj on
Il ird lime, neatly reached the enemy ;
works, AMI IL ptuscd invo'uuiaiiIy Tor u
moment, as ii tn take breath and gather
strength ioI a iinal. desperate attempt TO
penetrate them.
it did mol bring defeat to the Union army.
let Us be thankful
The enemy. quick to take advantage OF
a weakness. suddenly. in a column. struck
obliquely our lett flank. and with mus
kerry poured directly from their front,
throw into CONSERVATION and disorder the
Federal column which comprised nearly
an en,iie division. The decentralization
Was complete; Lee himself could not
have wished il more 50. Six thousand OF
more panic stricken men cndeayored TO
rush back pell nell. through the dense.
bullel.Scarred forest thicset. budding In
great groups like terrified shoep. flags
aud banners trailing or abandoned. repre-
sentaliyes of flty regiments in sipgle
squad. conscious of naught save help.
lessness Officers. and many of them ol
national reputation. in the delirium OF
despair at the luliiiiY OF their efforts TO
restore order and power of resistance
from chaos!
Back. say. pell mell.-as useless lor
instant battle As flock OF sheep-towards
The Brock road and the open air, through
the difficult debris and bullet. Topped
,rees-lain toto the plank road, only the
rebel cannon make that an uucomiorlab,
bowling alley. just now,-bacS toward
the breaslworks got together last night,
back toward the batteries, toward any
thing or anywhere. if so they can be got
out OF the Pandemonium, back per-
chance, TO the Rlpidan For the rebels
are pressing the bleeding. helpless mob
as reIentlessly as ever maddened Toe pur-
sued its victim. GA, on, on, steadily
with unLroken ranks they come, wells
and ieers and crash OF muskelry indicat-
ing their progress through the darksome
wood The prize Of perfect victory seems
to them at hand. Confidently they press
forward. thinking 10 gain the Brock
road with unbroken rsnks and unspent
ammunition. before their Toe can possibly
rally from his bad condition. IL was in
deed a dark moment Tor the Stars and
Stripes the tide of battle for ten minutes
or more had been setting most feartully
against them. What could save the day ?
Surely. to all human appearances. only
something provideniial.
Col. Connor's remnant Of regimen!
WAS replenishing itself with ammunition
at the momen, the reverse began. The
fact that our attacking column was pre-.
cipi,ously retrealing, holly pursued by
The enemy, was at once known 10 the
forces north OF the road, yet to abandon
their own position and 90 TO the rescne
would invite still worse, If not universal
disaster. The cataslI ophe had come So
suddenly. and the enemy were advancing
! so rapidly, that there was little time for
Jelibera,ion. The diSpirited column
broken into fragments, pressing feverish
Iy toward the lear, presently came dimly
in view across the road. followed 10y the
rebel column. The Brock road had beer
nearly reached by pursued and pursuers
IN five minutes more the confederate
pbalanx would have attained it Ant
then?
Suddenly Col. ConnOr wheeled his
command parallel with the Plank road
and deliberately delivered volley alteI
yolley in rapid succession, directly int
| i Naua,