Year: 1862

Hooker, whose eyes lighted as he saw
these veteran troops led by soldier
who he knew he could trust. q think
they will hold it," he said.


Gen. Hartstuff took his troops very
steadily, but now that they were under
fire, not huridly, up the hill from which
the cornfield begins to descend, and
formed them on the crest. Not man
who was not in full view--not one who
bent before the storm. Firing at first in
yolleys, they fired them at will with won
derful rapidity and effect The whole
line crowned the Eill and stood out dark
ly against the sky, but lighted and
shrouded ever in flame and smoke These
were the 18th and 18th Massachusetts,
and another regiment which l cannot re-
member-old troops all of them.


There for half an hour they held the
ridge unyielding in purpose, exhaustless
in courage. There were gaps in the line,
but it nowhere dwelt. Their General
was wounded badly early in the fight,
but they fought on. Their supports did
not come-they determined to win with
out them. They began to go down the
hill and into the corn, they did not stop
to think that their ammunition was near
ly gone, they were there TO win that field
and they won it. The rebel line for the
second time fled through the corn and
into the woods. | cannot tell how few
OF Hartsuff's brigade were left when the
work was done There was no more
gallant, determined, heroic fighting in
all this desperate day. Gen. Hartsuff
is very severely wounded, but do not
believe he counts his success too dearly
purchased.


To the right OF the cornfeld and be-
yond it was point of woods. Once
carried and firmly held, it was the key
of the position. Hooker determined to
take it. He rode out in front Of his far
thest troops on hill to examine the
ground for battery. AT the top he dis
mounted and went forward on foot, com
pleted his reconnaissance, returned and
remounted. The musketry fire from the
point OF woods was all the while extreme
ly hot. AS he put his foot in the stirrup
a fresh volley of rifle bullets came whlz-
zing by, The tall soldierly figure of
the General, the white horse which he
rode, the elevated place where he was
all made him a most dangerously con-
spicuous mark. So he had been all day,
riding often without staff officer nor an
orderly near him-all sent off on urgent
duty-yisible everywhere on the field
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 FIVE 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 till he had given his last
order to advance. He was himself in
the very front. Swaying unsteadilv on
his horse, he turned in his seat TO look
about him. There is regiment TO the
right. Order it forward Crawford
and Gordon are coming up. Tell them
to carry these works and hold them
and it is our fight |"


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 10.
ward the left, met Sumner at the head
of his column advancing rapidly through
tho timber opposite where Crawford was
fighting. The veteran General was RI
ding along 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 he hurried on TO where
the bullets were thickest.


Sedgwick's division was in advance.
moving forward 10 support Crawford and
Gordon. Rebel reinforcements were ap-
preaching also, and the struggle Tor the
roads were again to be renewed. Sum.
ner sent forward two divisions Rich
ardson aud French on the left. Sedg.
wick moving in column of division
through the roads in rear deployed and
advanced in line over the corn field
There was broad interval between hin,
and the nearest division, and he saw that
if the rebel lines were complete his own
division were in immediate danger of be
ing thanked But his orders were to ad
vance, and those are the orders which 9
soldier-and Sedgwick is every inch a
soldier-loyss best TO hear.


To extend his own front as far as pos
siblo. he ordered the 3Ilh New York tc
move by the lef, flank The maneuyei
was attempted under fire Of the great
est intensity, and the regimen. broke. A
the same moment. tho enemy, preoeiving
their advantage, came round on tha
flank. Crawford was obliged TO give or
the right. and his troops pouring IN con
fusion through the ranks of Sedswick':
advance brigade, threw il into disorder
and back on the second and third lines
The enemy advanced their fire. increas
ing.


General Sedgwick was three times
wounded. in the shoulder, leg and wrist
bu, he persisted in remaining on the field
SO long as there was chance OF saving
it.


At O'Clock affairs on the right bad ,
olaamv InoE HooEar,s tranns war.