Year: 1862

enemy, OUT siuply y narrowing anxiety


THE AFTERNOON BATTLE.


have said these lulls in the artillery firing were omi-
nous They appeared like that dun, dead calm that
doubt as 10 the meaning in this Soon after noon
II may have been after oclock-the enemy OBJ
served moving in large force field in front Of


RorssEAUs DIVISION.


HIS men were quickly placed in position repe any
charge, aud scarcely were they placed when our
skirmshers engaged the sairmishcrs Of the enemy.
This the first musketry firing Of the day and was
not far from one O'Clock


OUR shlRaisIiERs WE'RE GRADUALLY DRIVEN BACK,
and finally fell completely back into the lines They
were followed closely by dense Of the rebel in
fantry, who with determined tread aud unwa-
verng step, with bayonets fixed, and evidently expecting
to sweep our forces from the ground.


RorssEAU's LINE
in the edge of piece OF wood with large or
tobacco fold in front Across this field the enemy were
obliged TO CHARGE and they up they greeted
with repeated yoles web aimed from the guns OF our
infantry.


Ror&EAu's DIvsIoH2
The division receiving this assault was formerly
manded by General Mitchell. and OF the bravest
and best disciplined forces in the army The division
cludcs the Seventy eighth and Seventy Pcnnsyva
regiments, the Ninth Indiana and the Fifteenth Six
teenth and Nineteenth regulars The Nineteenth Indiana
battery also attached to the division and did excellent
service to-day. There arc also some new Indiana reg
ments the division but their numbers have boon
able to ascertain. They conspicuous in tho nght
and acted with un0inching bravery.


MusKErRY FIRING
For half hour the Of muskery incessant,
the rebels pressed upon these lines At time the rebels
driven back entirely the ed but again
rallied and brought up TO the charge. and forced their
way up even the edge Of the woods but again
repused and eecuay that they could not again be
rallied Tho men broke In confusion while forces
continued 70 ponr upon them rapidly continuous voleys
rg them down like grass. Orr loss in this action
was heavy but by equaed that OF the rebels,
who suffered at east three 70 compared with
casualties.


AN ATTACK LEFT.
This action had scarcely terminated when movement
was discoy left that indicated attempt
flank u.s. was even a desperate attempt than that
upon the right.


IERRLL's


Our extreme left it will be remembered was held by
Terrls brigade of Jacksons division. The enemy
succeeded in getting upon his ank and planted battery
in such position pour deadly cnnading fire into
our ranks.


TERRiIL ORDERED A CHARGE
take this battery but found it supported by o.
infantry five times greater than his He then opened
his artillery upon il, and after few rounds succeeded
quietpg IT,


who rushed mp fairly into lines, crowding
back by the mpetuosy Of their charge and the weight
of their columns.


BRAVERY or GENERAL TERRnL.
Terrils brigade composed mostly of raw Indiana
regiments. who at first thrown into disorder by
desperate charge Ia their gallant commander placed
himself front and quickly rallied them, leading
them up himself TO their work.


HIS FALL DEATH.


Being thus exposed, he became a ready mark
for the enemy, and soon fell from his horse
desperately wounded. He taken from the field by
his dc and tho battle rolled with only pcreas
ed fury


BRIGADE FALrERs.


It truly wonderful how we'll these regiments
stood their ground wonderful that they were
driven back when they their noble leader fall and
discovered the overwhelming force OF the enemy opposed
to the. They did give way although first Furnishing
the enemy severely and struggling with him desperately
in close hand 70 hand engagement.


GENERAL JACKSON % fHs RESCUE.
On hearing OF the fall of Terr and the disorder Of his
brigade jackson ordered Colonel George websey
Of the Ninety-eighth Ohio, acting brigader, TO
advance with his brigade 10 the support Of
Terrilrs brigade, and throw himself in front
Of Terrill's men TO rally them. They were



again met the enemy in close contest. Here they
fought molly and WELL and poured their fire with deadly
eject upon the enemy.


JACKSON


The battle swayed to fro with intense violence
AT one time the enemy were driven back, and we had
nearly recovered the ground had lost when the gal
liant jackson fell pierced through and through with bul
lets and mortally wounded.


wEssIERs BRIGADE BRorGHT ACTION
of hr,oa
withdrawn and websters brigade took their places And
then again desperate lighting. -Four to one the
nemy pressed upon mis lille column but they could not
force ie back Hard and desperately they fought but
neither party faatered


DESPERATE STRUGGLING.


The ground covered all over with the slain and
the suffering wounded trodden beneath the feet Of
the oonending forces. Unonst and rebel lay together
on that terribly bloody fcld throughout space of hal
n mie, witnessing the coscness Of the conflict.


CANE ON,
both parties still struggling for the possession OF that
field covered with mangled corpses aud mutilated
helpless bodies of yet animate flesh. And when the
darkness thick that nothing could be seen the
weary soldiers reluctantly ceased their destruc
ton leaving the final stroke for another day determine


ACTING wEBsTER MORALLY WOUNDED.
have forgotten mention that leading his brigade
xp to tho fight Colonel Webster seriously wounded
! have not learned the extent of his injuries,
hut am informed that they are doubtless mortal.


E'I1MATEp LOSSES.


The late hour which the battle terminated and the
darkness Of the evening" have prevented my going
Geld and can give you nothing but general estimates Of
losses Competent judges assert that have lost at
least five hundred in killed and from twelve to fifteen
hundred wounded Parties engaged in all direc-
tens in burying the dead, while the wounded being
gathered up ambuances and carried the field hospi
tails in the rear.





IN at the lowest estimate, onc-hrd greater than ours
On our right they suffered fully four to compared
with us. on the left the casualties evenly
divided though they doubtless suffered the most having
the greater number Of men engaged


ARRIVAL RkNroRcrxETs
As l write my are continually assalled with the