Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1876-07-19

Z 10, 1876. .Is. ..1..
of the stream of dead and wounded
(which dropped to the rear, the pace
! being the ordinary quickstep, and the
men firing at will, but coolly and
lrarely.H ,a5 !a5 III
d Col Hayes brigade belonged to
j the division making the movements
Gnst described, and therefore bore a
] Heading part in this glorious affair.
i In the course of Crooks advance it
/. occupied the extreme right of the
line, and crossing a swampy stream
reached a position covered by an al
mest impenetrable growth of cedar.
Through this his command pushed on,
with Hayes brigade then advanced
frapidly, covered by q light line OF
Eskirmishers, driving the enemy's cav
lalry. Crossing two or three open
1stields, exposed to scattering fire, til G
brigade reached slight elevation
where it came into full view Of the
enemy, who opened upon it q heavy
| fire of musketry and. artillery. Col.
Hayes now started double-quick, and
ldashing through a thick fringe of
!, underbrush came upon deep slough
about fifty yards wide,and stretching
nearly the whole front Of his brigade.
The bottom was treachcrOus ooze,
and the dark water, now churned
! with flying bullets, was on the nearer
side about ten feet deep. just beyond
was a rebel battery thinly supported,
the slough. itself deemed sufficient
cal one. Should the brigade under
ttake to go around the Obstruction it
would be exposed to terrible emf
lading fire, and losing the enthusiasm
of the charge would certainly be
discomfitted, and the line of the ad-
vance broken in its vital part. Col.
Hayes hesitated not an instant catch
ing the situation at glance, he gave
the word "forward" to the men, and
then the example as he spurrcd
into the horrible ditch. Horse and
rider sank nearly out Of sight, but the
horse swan until he struck the spongy
bottom, then gave plunge or two,
and then sank helplessly in the mire.
/
the other bank. beckoning with his
cap to his soldiers, many of whom
succeeded in joining him. Many
others, in attempting to follow, were
killed or drowned, but soon, enough
had passed to form n nucleus for the
brigade, and then, Col. Hayes COM
mand, he leading, they climbed the
bank and made for the guns. But
the enemy. dismayed by SO bold a
charge, had Withdrawn his battery
just in time to save it, and confused
ly fed. In a few minutes Col. Hayes
Performed his brigade on the further
side of the slough, and resumed the
advance, Then followed success
sion of brilliant charges as the ene-
my attempted at various points to
rally his broken lines. In one Of these
charges Col. Duval was wounded and
carried to the rear, devolving the
command upon Col. Hayes, who,
though his adjutant general was shot
by his side, and men dropped all
round him, rode through il all as
though he possessed a charmed life.
] The division dashed forward in
pursuit with ali the vigor that victo-
Try inspires. The passage of the
slough was the crisis of the fight, and
the rebels now broke to the rear in
utter confusion. Then the cavalry,
which had followed the movement of
the right, swooped down upon them
like a hurrica ne let loose, and scooped
them up by regiments. The writer
lalready quoted, who witnessed this
from point further to
the left. thus describes it,:
".At the distance of half mile
from us. too far away to distinguish
all the grand movements and results,
the last scene of the victorious drama
was acted out. Crooks column
(Haycs' division leading), carried the
Iheights and forts which crowned
them. We could see the long dark
lines moving up the stony slopes, we
could sec the smoke and hear the ciat-
tier of nmskctry on the deadly sum.
nit, then we could hear our comrads'
cheer of victory. Early's battle was
soon reduced to n struggle to saw
: himself from. utter rout."
! Early now fell back to Fishers Hill
eight miles south of Winchessoi, ant
there took up a position between th'
North and Mansanutter mountains
which was regarded the strongest il
the valley. Sheridan followed VI
sharply, and on the 2ld impetuously
assailcd this new stronghold. Tht
tactics of Opequan were repeated
the Sixth and Nineteenth corps at
tacking the enemy's right and centre
and Crooks being sent round to tn,
right to envelope his left and rear
Col. Hayes division led this lattel
.. movement, and by making a detou
through a series of ravines, arrived a
, point on Early's flank deemed. un
assailable. Clambering up the steel
side Of North Mountain, which wa
covered with an almost impenetrabl
ENHANCEMENT of trees and under
/, brush, the division. unperceiyed
gained a position close to and in tn
, rear of the enemy's line, and thel
!. charged with perfect fury, insomucl
!. that the rebels scarcely made any re
sistance at all, but fled in utter rou
and terror, leaving many guns an
hundreds of prisoners to the vic
: torious soldiers. Meanwhile, Early
centre had also been broken, and hi
army precipitately left the field, dis
:. ordered mob. Col. Hayes was at til
\ head of his column throughout thi
4 brilliant charge, not only dircciin
= the movement, but by his exampl
. and personal daring, greatly adde
. to the enthusiasm and impetuosity {
:, Ills men.
y
!. HAYES MEETING EARLY.
: Nearly month elapsed, durin
IS which Early thoroughly re-organize
= iand largely increased his force
IS Sheridan. after raiding the valley wit
IL his cavalry, had Withdrawn to a poll
g near Cedar Greek, six miles belo
i Fishers Hill. and had gone on Il!
l. ing trip to Washington, devolving Il
a command upon his senior corps con
r mander. General Wright. The trooI
" occupied high ground, Crooks corr
l. being in advance, ,Emory's Nineteen
n on the right, and about mile in Il
nj rear of Crooks front line, al
= Wright's Sixth on the right of EN-
k iy's, the extreme right being covert
r. by division of cavalry. Crool
+ forces comprised two divisions
a Hayes and Thorburn's, numberiI
r. about 4,O00 men in all, Hayes lii
id being continuous Of that OF the Min
teenth Corps and Thorburn occup
~ ing position about a mile in advan
Of Hayes, covered by slight parap'
The nearest force of national caval
IN on the leftat Fort Royal, eight mil
ne distant. General Crook had appli