The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1882-07-22

] WOODS, ana soon Inc an ceased. Inc enemy
discontinued his pursuit and we only knew
Of his proximity by the barking of his bat
teries; the flashes Of the guns could be plainly
seen some six hundred yards up the plank
road. Immediately in the rear of the Chan
cellorsviIle House was field of perhaps one
hundred acres in extent, bounded on one
side by the plank road above mentioned, a
wood skirting the right Of the road as you
face toward the enemys position, In the
cool Of the evening the corps continued its
march for the position.
FATE HAD DECREED
that our brigade should take the advance;
accordingly, after renewing The alignments
considerably disoTdered by the passage Of
the fleeing troops, we moved down the
plank road into the valley, where we rested
for short interval to await the cessation of
the enemy's fire from IialIl MAJ hnsi naaudi,ec,
the road. After the FIRE bad somewhat
slackened we to ~ la- s1s#
towards the enc na 1a
right into the gd
position on the sl.a
left resting on n.
the scene of J
battery of brass ssu .4#... d.
road, aud upon l.s Io.. .lat-- IL --,--- L. -.-
Third Corps. il was now dark, and the men
sought slumber on the soft bed Of dead leaves
which covered the ground. Our position was
in the midst Of dense forest OF second
growth pines and oaks, with close interlac-
ing branches and an almost impenetrable
underground Of briers and shrubs preclud-
ing the possibility Of a view for a greater
distance than few yards. About daylight
OF Sunday, May ,, as the men were making
preparations for the morning meal, we were
startled by a sharp, rattling, rolling vOlley of
all arms On our left, swelling louder and
louder until it reached its climax on our
immediate front, when the zip! zip! Of bull
let, scream Of shell, with the crash Of falling
trees, proclaimed that we were in the vortex
Of action almost before we were aware Of it.
But not a foe could be seen. Of course the
regiment poured voIley after volley into the
dense thicket, with what effect it was inn
possible to tell. After time the terrific
fire from both sides swept away the under
brush and younger trees and through the
heavy, murky atmosphere the dim forms of
men could be disceTned. Owing to the ma
ture Of the ground but little artillery could
be used to advantage; occasionally, however,
q round shot or shell would plough its way
through the woods, carrying death and de-
struction in lis path. II seemed horrible to
be pent UP in that dark and gloomy forest
to be
BUTCHERED LIKE SHEEP N TIE SHAMELESS.
The brigade suffered fearful loss in killed and
wounded, but brayely maintained It's ground
until at about eleven a. m, when our right
was enveloped and annihilated by incoming
fresh masses Of the enemy, and the pressure
was so great on front and flank it was obliged
to fall back in broken detachments. And
here occurred q singular incident: General
Hays who had heretofore calmly observed
the battle during its progress, without utter
ing word, walked deliberately into the enc
my's lines and surrendered himself This
action ever remained a mystery to those VINO
witnessed il, as there was no apparent neces-
sity for his capture. IN falling back the
brigade became disintegrated after Hays's
capture and gradually ceased to exist as an
organization. So leaving the second line Of
battle TO cope with the fresh enemy we
wended our way in fragments towards the
rear. A walk Of fifty or sixty yards brought
Us again TO the open field before mentioned.
On our way across / met with a sight do
not think will ever be obliterated from my
memory A poor unfortunate soldier. was
sitting at the foot Of tree on the edge of
the woods his piteous eyes looked up in
mute appeal for help, which none could rem
der him, Tor a round shot had cut away his
lower jaw as completely as q surgeons scalpel
could have done. His tongue, uniniured,
was curling and twisting over his bloody
breast rs he endeayored to speak. Poor boy!
he Lqd no mouth! The field was strewn with
the dead and exploding shells were continu-
ally adding TO the number. Charlottesville
House had been used as q hospital, but the