Year: 1863

our left His intention evidently to fight for the pos
session OF the plank road which it perfectly apparent
he must have that portion of which we then held wal


bect to the enems assaults in front and on both TANKS
But the Of this road not obtained by the
enemy at time at bis everest cost and after
one Of the desperate tenacious and bloody
for it's short Duration of the whole war.


At o'clock A. NJ. the rebels could be plainly ss6n up
the plank road about mile and half from the Chancellor
House. which Gen. Hooker still retained his headquar-
ters though shell had gone through it the evening before
and another had cat down tree directly In front Of IT.


Our line Of battle formed with Con Berrys gallant
division the right. Gen Birnsy next on the left Gen
Whipple and Gen. Williams supporting er, .


AT 50 A. M the advance became engaged in the rayine
just beyond the ridge where Capt Bests guns had made
their terrific onslaught the night BEFORE and where they
still owned upon heenemy and threatened his destruction
The rattle Of musketry became long continued
crash, and in a few moments battalion after battalion
became engaged the surpassed all conception and
dicated that the fight would be of the most terrible
nature. Gen Berry's division. which had checked the
enemys advance the night before engaged him again. and
fit possible for them to add laures to their
fame then they did it thrice over again


The enemy advanced his infantry in overwhelming mum
bers and seemed determined to crush forces But the
brave of Sickles and Socam, who fought their col
with desperate galanty held the rebels in check
and inflicted dreadful slaughter among them Gen Frenchs
division sent in the right flank of line at about
A. NJ, and short time horde of ragged streaming
rebels running down the road indicated that portion
the enemys line had been crushed At 8 o'clock Al NJ
Gen. French sent his compliments to Gen. Hooker with
the information that he had charged the enemy and was
driving him before him. Sckles maintained tho attack
upon his line with great endurance. The enemy
seemed determined to crush him with the immensely of his
forces and shown from the statements Of prisoners five
whole divisions of the rebel army precpitaed upon
this portion of the lne for from these FIVE divisions we
took during the day aggregate Of two thousand ps
Oners


The exploits of gallant troops in those dark tangled
gloomy woods may be brought to light but they
would fill hundred volumes. 1t deliberate, despe
rate hand tohand conflict and the carnage perfectly
fghtfu Cool officers say that the dead and wounded of
the enemy covered the ground in heaps and that the rebels
seemed utterly regardless of their lives and literally threw
themselves upon the muzzles of guns Many despe-
rate charges we're made during the fight particularly by
Berrys division. Motifs brigade made fifteen distinct
charges aud captured stands of coors the Seventh
New Jersey, Col Francne alone capturing four stands of
coors and FIVE hundred prisoners Gen. COUGHS Second
Army Corps though only part present did excellent
work. 1t Gen. French who charged and drove the
enemy the flank and 1t the indomitabe Hancock
who gaany went to the relief of the Sckes


The engagement lasted without the slightest inerms-
sion from 81 A. NJ to S45 A. M, when there was a tenn
porary cessation part occasoned by getting out Of
ammunition. We held position for nearly an hour
with the bayenet and then being resupped order was
given to fall back to the vicinity Of the Chancellor House,
which did in good order. Here the contest
tanned for hour not severely before bat
with great havoc to the enemy and considerable loss
ourselves


The vicinity the Chancellor House was now the thea
tire Of the fight and my visits to that spot became less fire.
quent Gen. Hooker maintained bis headquarters there
until 10 A. M when it set FIRE by the enemy's
Shells and is in ruins Charlottesville is longer
in existence having perlshed with the flames but Chan
cellorsve is in history, never to be efaced.


Our line far established to render it
safe to withdraw all forces that front, which
accordingly done and at III 80 A. the musketry firing
ceased The engagement had lasted six hours, but had
been the most terrific of the Our artillery had lite
rally slaughtered the enemy and many Of the companies
had lost heavily in themselves but the guns all
saved


The enemy longer in rear, but had been
showed down directly 10 'front.' and directly be-
tween and forces in Fredericksburg, and
again in an entrenched and formidab fortified position
The enemy has gained ground it true but the
sacrifice Of the flower of his force, FIVE Of his dv
sons having been cut to pieces n the effort aud two
thousand of them have fallen into hands.


Our right wing, under Gems Reynolds and Meade was
not engaged, the division Of Gen Humphreys, which
went into the woods the enemys left flank and fought
vaanty under their brilliant leader until their ammunition
exhausted.


During the afternoon the enemy has made several at
tempts TO force lines particularly at the apex OF
position near the Chancellor House, but Capt Weed has
massed large quantity Of artillery in such position
repuse with great loss every thing placed within its range
The enemy tried several batteries and regiments at that
point at different times during the afternoon and they
literally destroyed by the fire Of terrible guns
Nothing can 1--we within Their range.


Our present position impreRnable il troops


nue to fight they have day Gen Lee the prisoners
has issued order that lines be broken at
all hazards Let them try it again with what they ha We


left They and perhaps will destroy themselves by at


acks upon this position Our troops perfectly cool
and confident Tboy have fought with great spirit and
thusasm, and will continue to do so.


The rebel prisoners report that Gen A. r HUI was
killed this forenoon during the sangunary conflict ms d.
vision had with Gen. Berry's division. Gen Berry was
hmself killed, while gaantly fighting his brave men.
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