THREE SANGUINARY ENGAGEMENTS.

279

the line was completely turned. This success of the enemy placed Gen. Sickles, who had pushed forward in front with the remaining two Divisions of the Third Corps, in a very precarious condition, nearly severing his connection with the remainder of the army. Gen. Hooker now decided upon a night attack, which, though terrible and bloody, as the engagement through the afternoon had been, resulted in victory. The enemy were driven full half a mile, and the lines re-formed on the left, much in the same manner as they had been before.

The First Army Corps, which had arrived from Falmouth, and the Fifth, were posted as a new line, while the disorganized Eleventh was transferred to the left. About 5 o'clock Sunday morning, the enemy came down the plank road leading from Chancellorsville, and made a furious onslaught. The engagement soon became general, and for five hours the roar of artillery and sharp rattle of musketry resounded through the forest. Our batteries were posted on commanding positions, and made great havoc among the enemy as they advanced to the conflict.

About ten o'clock the lines were contracted and re-formed in the vicinity of the clearing, which, together with a single house, constituted all of Chancellorsville. During the remainder of the day the enemy made several attempts to break them, but were each time repulsed. Here the army remained on the defensive, in a strongly entrenched position, until the following Tuesday evening, when it re'reated, and safely re-crossed the Rappahannock.

280

THE LEFT WING ON THE MARCH.

Returning now to the other wing of the army, the First Corps, Gen. Reynolds, Third, Gen. Sickles, and Sixth, Gen. Sedgwick, proceeded, on the afternoon of the 28th, to the dense woods back of the point where Gen. Franklin crossed the river in December, and bivouacked for the night. The Thirtythird, which was on picket Tuesday, when the Sixth Corps broke camp, having gone out the day previous, was ordered in at two o'clock P. M., and in a half hour's time completed their preparations for departure. The sick had previously been sent to the Corps Hospital, which had been established at Potomac Creek Bridge, and placed in charge of Surgeon Dickinson. All clothing and camp equipage, not absolutely necessary, were sent to Belle Plain, in charge of Quartermaster Alexander, and the haversacks and knapsacks, loaded down with rations, of which the troops were ordered to have eight days' supply. The time for their departure northward was drawing rapidly near, and for days the men had been making themselves merry over the prospect of soon being with the loved ones at home, after two long years absence. Under such circumstances they could hardly have been expected to enter upon the new movement with much heart or spirit. Instead, however, of flinching from the fresh duties imposed upon them, they stepped with alacrity to their places when Col. Taylor, who had now resumed command of his Regiment, gave the order to "fall in," eager to strike one more blow for their country-add one more laurel to the wreath of honor which encircled the name of the gallant Thirty-third.

LAYING OF PONTOONS BELOW FREDERICKSBURG. 281

An

Leaving the now grass-green crest, where so many pleasant weeks had been spent, the Regiment wended its way down the sloping sides, through the fields on the left, and crossing the main thoroughfare near White-Oak Church, entered the forest. hour's march brought them to a small clearing, where a halt for a few moments was ordered, and the men stretched themselves out on the green turf. Again entering the woods, they pursued a circuitous course, through dense thickets, across deep ravines and over treacherous bogs, until the Division was overtaken at dusk, close to the spot where the Regiment had encamped after re-crossing the river in the winter. Fires not being permitted, the men were obliged to dispense with coffee, and sup as best they could on "hard tack" and ham, after which the light shelter tents were spread and, they betook themselves to rest. The "Light Brigade" of the same Division was employed during the night in getting the pontoons down near to the river.

Instead of being drawn on noisy, rumbling trucks, as heretofore, they were quietly conveyed on the men's shoulders, who tugged away lustily at them until between three and four o'clock in the morning, Wednesday, when they were launched in the river. So stealthily had the operations been conducted, that the enemy's pickets did not sound the alarm, until they saw boat loads of armed men approaching. They had time to fire only two or three volleys, and then fled. Russell's Brigade was the first to reach the opposite bank, and rapidly clambering up its sides,

282 GEN. WADSWORTH SWIMMING THE RIVER.

started in pursuit of the astonished rebels. The officer of the picket line was found fast asleep in bed, and on being brought over, entreated us not to exchange him, "for if you do," he said, “I shall surely be shot for having been caught napping." Col. Irwin, of the Forty-ninth Pennsylvania, and some eight or ten others, were wounded in the crossing. Two bridges were lain, in the identical positions occupied last year, and Brooks' Division of the Sixth Corpe thrown over.

Later in the morning, five companies of the Fiftieth New York, Engineers, proceeded one mile and a quarter below, and commenced throwing two other bridges. Troops from Meredith's (Iron) Brigade of Gen. Wadsworth's Division, First Corps, dashed over in boats, and charging up the bank, took nearly all of the enemy prisoners, who were firing from behind earthworks and rifle-pits. The Twenty-fourth Michigan, Col. Marrow, led this gallant charge, followed by the Sixth Wisconsin. Some of the rebels who escaped took refuge in a house close by, but our guns immediately being turned upon it, they scampered from the building as fast as their legs could carry them, provoking round after round of laughter from our boys. The whole of Wadsworth's Division crossed, the General not waiting for the bridges to be completed, but fearlessly swimming his horse over. Troops now began to debouch at various points from the forest, and reaching the flats along the river, halted and stacked arms. The Thirty-third, together with the other Regiments of Howe's Division, breakfasted early, and descending to the plain about nine