The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-11-05
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE: THURSDAY 1885,

) ing along with frightful rapdity, destroying
nearly everything in their pathway. Our
} troops on this part of the line were compelled
} to fall back. leaving many poor fellows of both
, sides to perish. Soon however, the skirmish-
ers were re-enforced and drove the enemy for
mile into their intrcnchments.
) :" 1t was now determined to make the assault
contemplated in the morning. So about d
o'clock Silent ordered the assault Warner
and Wight were 10 move simultaneously WI tn
Warmers and Gibbss Divisions Motley to ad-
vance on the left of Wight's Corps. Our troops
had to advance up densely- wooded hill. ST.
lent aud Meador took position On an elevated
point but could see little of the field, il was
so ovcrgrOwn with bushes
The battle had again commenced our troOps
assaulting. cloud of smoke hung heavily
over the field, lighted up occasionally by flashes
from artillery. The shouts of the commanders
giving their orders, the yells of the soldiers on
both sides, as we'll as the groans of the wounded
and dying, could be distinctly heard in every
direction. Across an open field, then through
heavy woods, across soft mOrass in front of
one division of the enemy near the stream
went our lines, struggling forward under a
most CALLING fire until lost to view in copse
OF wood and the smoke of battle. Only our
wounded now came staggering and crawling
out from under the cloud of smoke to the rear
These few moments of suspense were terrible
this moment assembled the hill and stormed the
enemy's works, but could not hold them against
the destructive fire. They fell back to their
| original line
''On our left, at that moment, a great victory
was being accomplished. Col. Upson and Gen
motley formed storming party of some II
| regiments, and drove right against the flank of
the enemy. They rushed with such mpetu-
osity against the rebels that they could not
withstand the assault They captured an en-
tire brigade and one battery Of the enemy.
HanscOm Row assaulted and broke the enemys
line, capturing many prisoners. At p. m.
| BrOOmfied attacked. Night closed with our
columns within one mile of Spottsylvania
Courthouse. The fighting of this day was des-
perate, and the loss on both sides terrible.
| The suffering was great; many were burned
who had fallen wounded on the field.
| This was the sixth day of blood and DEATH
Our forces held some 900 prisoners, while the
enemy had taken mono from us save a few
stragglers That night Boutler reported great
siccess. Sherlin had got in the rear of the
enemy, destroyed 10 miles Of his railroad and
nearly all of his supplies of food and medical
stores. Silent now ordered rest and reconnoi-
| terng for the next day.
| 80, on the following day. our lines were
adjusted and rec0Gnassances made with full
| preparations for the ending of the great con-
! test Hanscom was to move in the night so as
| to join Broomfeld, and they were to attack at
a. m. of the 18th They moved into line not
more than two-thirds of mile from the enemy.
| The ground was heavily wooded and ascended
sharply towards the enemy. In the morning
heavy fog lay close to the ground. but at 4:35
the order to move forward was given. Burns
and Harrow moved in advance. The SOL
diers seemed to be urged forward by some
KIND of inspiration. and finally broke
into double-quick, and with irresistible force
over the earthw0rks of the enemy they went
Both divisions entered about the same time
and most desperate battle here ensued. Mus
kets were clubbed and bavonets and swords
pierced many bodies on both sides. The strug-
gle was short, however, and resulted in our
forces capturing some 5000 prisoners 20 pieces
of artillery, and 80 colors, with two General
officers. The rebels broke to the rear in great
disorder, our men pursuing them through the
woods. Shouts of victory rent the air.
Silent was now by small fire. which was
sputterng and splitting, the rain coming
down in uncomfortable quantities Hanscom
had taken and was now holding the center of
their line. He reported: Have just finished |
up Jones and am going into Earls many pris- |
oners and guns The enemy made six assaults |
on Hanscom, which were repulsed. Broomfield |
now reported that he had lost connection with |
Hanscom Silent wrote him: Push the ene-
my; that is the best way to make connection |
Desutory fighting continued until mid |
night, when the enemy gave up the task of re-
taking their lost line and retreated. Thus |
ended the eighth day of marching and most |
desperate fighting ever known.
- The next morning an assault was made in |
order to take possession Of high ground near
the rt-house, which was success. without |
any considerable resistance. The rain was now
falling in torrents. The roads became so muddy
that they were impossible, which prevented
any further movement for the present. The
collecting of the wounded and burying the
dead was a sight to behold. The whole country
m ;tal
Our losses were over 10000, and no one could
ever ascertain the loss of the enemy: but it |
could not have been less than 80, 0,0OO-nclud-
ing prisoners.
THE howl that was set up by the Sons of
Liberty and copperheads excelled anything
derer,' butcher brute an 'inhuman
monster The enemy, however were ali right |
They were humane friends good Christians
ETC. The hypocrisy of this world is perfectly
amazing.
AT this time take glance at the rebel cari-
tai. Boutler was within 10 miles, Sherin's
troopers were, many of them, inside the works
on the north side of Richmond. Sherwood was
forcing the rebel Army of the Center Gen.
Crooker had cut all railroads between Tennes-
see and Richmond. All lines of communca-
ton with Richmond were severed, and con-
fusion and terror reigned in the rebel capital
jeff Davis contemplated flight, but was pre-
vented by those surrounding him. With all
these evidences of final success on our part and
failure on theirs, the anti-war party in the
North could find no words of contumely too
severe for our successful commanders.
Henry and / left for Washington. and in
the confusion of everything finally found
Surgeon by the name of Bliss who informed
me where | could find my sou Jackson He
had been brought to Washington and placed
i'll the Stone Mansion Hospital, on Meridian
Hill. We lost 10 time in visiting that place.
and by permission of the Surgeon in charge
visited Jackson. We found him with a high
fever and some evidence of erysipelas His
wound was in the right groin-a very danger
Gus wound. He talked quite freely, and gave
all kinds of messages for his mother the family,
and Gen Anderson, but said to US that he
could live but few days.
1.-The fates are against our family said he
We will all go down sooner or later. Mother
is right
"We remained in Washington and gave
Jackson all the attention we could. We merely
paid our respects to the President. He was so
busy we could not interrupt him. Joy was in
the hearts of all loyal people, while curses were
upon the lips OF every disloyal and anti-war
Democrat in the whole country
jackson died from erysipelas on the sixth
day after our arrival. This shock almost broke
me down. Henry was nearly frantic. Jackson
was his favorte brother. They had both been
n a ,yapdararS frnu No 200 IL I,