The National tribune., 1881-10-29

into position and forming his lines
At halfpast three in the afternoon, and just
as the head of Hancock's column (which was
marching by another route, the Brock road, and
was rapidly getting into battle ORDER reached
the field General Meade gave orders to attack at
once without waiting for Hancock. This order
was reiterated by Colonel Lyman, of General
Meade's staff, in person. Accordingly Getty's
division advanced at once. A section of artillery
from the Second Corps, under Captain Ricketts,,
was planted on the plank road, advanced with
the lines. and did good service. The enemy was
found in strong force Immediately in front. His
lines out1anked the division, and though forced
back some distance in the centre he held, in the
main, his ground and repulsed every attack. The
fighting was very heavy. About $50 in the
afternoon the enemy charged and forced back
our lines some fifty yards, where he was checked
and repulsed On the plank road he got up to
and planted color at one of the guns OF Rlckettss
section, which, the horses being killed, could not
be withdrawn However, the enemy was lmmc-
diately driven back and the gun retaken by a
gallant charge of portions of Grants Nermonters
and Wheaton's brigade. twas with the utmost.
difficulty and only by the most stubborn fighting
bered and outfanked as we were by the whole
corps of A. p. Hill, which consisted of the
divisions of Anderson, Heth, and Wilcox. But
the Second Corps at length getting into position,
advanced on the left and to great extent re-
lieved the pressure on our lines Very heavy
fighting, however. without either gaining or
losing ground, was kept up until after dark.
Getty was then relieved from the front line by
troops from the Second Corps, and withdrew a
short distance to the rear. AT o'clock on the
morning of the 9th of May the Second Corps
attacked. Gettys division, formed in two lines
on both sides the plank road; Eustis on the right,
WheatOns in the centre, crossing the plank road,
and Grant with his Vermonters, on the left, and
advanced in support to Birney's division, Second
Corps The enemy were again encountered i'm
mediately in front, but after a sharp struggle
were forced back, and our troops pushed forward
with renewed vigor. The confederates now lost
ground rapidly and hundreds of prisoners and
many colors came pouring in
A mile and a half in advance of the cross roads
the gallant Wadsworth, with his division of the
Fifth Corps, swept in from the right, driving the
foe in great confusion, and forming junction
with the troops which had advanced on the plank
road. All pressed on after the now almost routed
enemy. 1t was fearful but joyous moment.
Cheers rent the air and excited breaths through
begrimed mouths and nostrils shook the foliage
Having driven the enemy three-tourths of a mile
a heavy artillery fire encountered from bat
teries on the left of the road, which were masked
by the thick scrubs and pines. In compliance
with orders from General Birney, Gettys division
La %
road, but soon after perceiving that there were
but few troops on the right of the road and that
the enemy threatened an attack from that quar-
ter, Getty moved Wheaton's and Eusts's brigades
back to the right of the road. All this time
we were steadily advancing, driving the enemy
in some disorder, and capturing many prisoners
and had reached point within half mile Of
Parker's store. The threatened attack on the
right now burst with great fury. The lines in
front gave way. At this point the Thirty-seventh
Massachusetts,, Colonel Oliver Edwards, rushed
forward and in the midst of confederate elatOn
at their little success beat back their advance
about quarter of a mile. 1t was at this moment
that General Wadsworth fell pierced by a mimic
ball while in the act Of complimenting Colonel
Edwards upon his splendid achievement. Whea-
ton ana EuSIlS also Sbeppeu INTO tnc gap, anu ny
hard fighting held the enemy. Soon the extreme
left was forced back The confederates, it ap-
peared, had brought up all of Longstreet's corps,
and before the onset of these fresh troops our
men, fatigued and disordered by their long ad-
vance in line of battle through the dense and al
most impenetrable thicket which covers all this
tract, gave ground Getty's men were soon in
the front line but being outtank ed by the break
ing of the troops on the left, were forced back
with the rest. Here the gallant Getty received
a severe wound through the shoulder and was
compelled to leave the field, turning over his
command Of the division to General Frank
Wheaton, the senior brigade commander present.
General Neill, with his brigade, having been de-
tached, was fighting with Sedgwick on the ex-
treme right of the line.
After severe contest of some ten hours dura-
ton, our troops were forced back to their origi-
nal position at the CROSSROADS. The division,
throughout all this fighting and falling back,
held well together. Not single reg iment or Or
ganization was broken up. The brigades reoccu-
pied nearly their original positions. Breastworks
were hastily thrown up and preparations made
to resist the enemy's further advance: At
o'clock in the afternoon he attacked and made
the most desperate efforts to break our lines, but
was handsomely repulsed, and after struggle Of
half an hour withdrew, leaving the ground i'll
front of orr lines covered with his dead and