Year: 1862




The rebel bullets had followed him all
day, but they had not hit him, and he
would not regard them Remounting on
this hill, he had not ridden i've steps
when he was struck in the foot by ball.
, Three men were shot down at the same
moment by his side. The air was alive
with bullets. He kept on his horse for a
few moments, though the wound was
severe and excessively painful, and would
not dismount until he had given his
last order to advance. He was himself
in the very front. Swaying unsteadily
on his horse, he turned in his seat to
look about him. There is a regiment
to the right. Order it forward! Craw-
ford and Gordon are coming up. Tell
them to carry these woods and hold them
and it is our fghtp'


! 1t was found that the bullet had
passed completely through his foot The
surgeon who examined it on the spot
could give no opinion whether bones were
broken, but it was afterward ascertained
that though grazed they were not frac-
tured. OF course the severity of the
wound made it impossible for him to
keep the field, which he believed already
won, so far as it belonged to him to win
it 1t was nine o'clock The fight had
been furious since five A large part of
his command was broken, but with his
right still untouched, and with Crawford s
and Gordon's brigades Just up, above all,


with the advance of the whole central
line which the men had heard ordered
with cheer, with a regiment already on
the edge of the woods he wanted. he
might well leave the field, thinking the
battle was won-that has battle was won,


for / am writing, of course, only about


the attack on the rebel left.


l see no reason why l should disguise


my admiration of Gen. Hooker's bravery
and soldierly ability Remaining nearly


all the morning on the right, 1 could not


help seeing the sagacity and promptness


of his maneuvers, how completely his


troops were kept in hand, how devotedly


they trusted in him, how keen was his


insight into the battle; how every oppor-


tunity was seized and every reverse was


checked aud turned into another success.


l say this the more unreservedly, be-


cause | have no personal relation what


ever with him, never saw him till the day


before the fight, and don't like his poll


ties or opinions in general But what


are politics in such battle2


| Sumner arrived Just as Hooker was


leaving, and assumed command Craw-


ford and Gordon had gone into the woods,


and were holding them stoutly against


heavy odds. AS rode over toward the


left / met Sumner at the head of his col


umn advancing rapidly through the tim


Der, opposite the point where Crawford


was fighting. The veteran General was


riding alone in the forest far ahead of


his leading brigade, his hat off, his gray


hair and beard and mustache strangely


contrasting with the fire in his eyes and


his martial air, as be hurried on to where


the bullets were thiekest


Sedgwick's division was in the ad-


vance, moving forward to support Craw-


ford and Gordon. Rebel reinforcements
were approaching, also, and the struggle
!; for the roads was again to be renewed.
Sumner sent forward two divisions


Richardson and French's-on the left.
Sedgwick, moving in column of divisions
through the woods in the rear, deployed
{ and advanced in line over the corn-field.


There was a broad interval between him
and the nearest division, and be saw that
if the rebel lines were completed his own


division was in immediate danger of be-
ing Ranked; but his orders were to ad-
vance, and those are the orders which a
soldier-and Sedgwick is every inch a
: soldier-loves to hear


, To extend his own front as far as pos
sible, he ordered the 34th New York to
move by the left flank The maneuver
was attempted under fire of the great
, est intensity, and the regiment broke At
the same moment the enemy, perceiving
{ their advantage, came round by that
! flank. Crawford was obliged to give on
} the right, and his troops pouring in con-
: fusion through the ranks of Sedgwick S
. advance brigade, threw it in disorder and
t back on the second and third line The
5 enemy advanced, their FIRE increasing.


General Sedgwick was three times
! wounded, in the shoulder, leg and wrist,
: but he persisted in remaining on the field
' so long as there was chance OF saving
t it His Adjutant General, Major Sedg
r wick, bravely rallying and trying to re.
< form his troops, was shot through the
= body, the bullet lodging in the spine, and
D fell from his horse. Severe as the wound
D is, tis probably not mortal Lieutenant
4 Howe, of General Sedgwick's staff, en-
|. deavored vainly to rally the 34th New
n York They were badly cut up, and
j would not stand. Half their officers
d were wounded, their colors shot to piec.
: es, the Color Sergeant killed, and.every


one of the color guard wounded ONLY
: thirty-two were afterward got together
o The 18th Massachusetts went into ac
v ton with IL officers and nearly 600 men
It Nine officers were killed or wounded
s and some of the latter are prisoners
# Captain Simons, Captain Saunders oi
V the sharpshooters, and Lieutenants Der
e by and Berry are killed. Captains Bart
d lett and Jocelyn and Lieutenants Spur
p Gale and Brady are wounded.


d Gen. Dana was wounded. Gen. How
t ard, who took command of the division
e after Gen. Sedgwick was disabled, exer
/, ted himself to restore order; but it coulc
|. not be done there Gen. Sumner order
= ed the line to be reformed under fire
r The test was too severe for voluntee
o t,oops under such fire. Sumner him
o self attempted to arrest the disorder, bu
r to little purpose. Lieutenant Col. Rever
Ie and Captain -Audendrid of his staff wer
S wounded severely, but not dangerously
A. II was impossible to hold the position