Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-12-07
The Advance OF MeadaS
A. TERRIFIC STRUGGLE EXPECTED.

and Meade were facing each other, IN
line of battle, the enemy on the East
side Of Mine Run, and our forces on the
West side of the same creek, and abont
sixteen miles east of Orange Court
House. We give from the Richmond
papers of Monday such particulars as
they contain. The Examiner says:
An important and very desperate par
tial engagement took place m the Rapi-
dan, near Germana ford, on Friday last,
in which we gained a decided advantage,
took a number Of prisoners, and captur-
ed and destroyed an ordnance train of
an hundred wagons, and other valuable
property. From officers who took part
in the fight and were wounded we have
obtained some particulars.
On Thursday night French's eerps of
the Yankee army, crossed to the south
bank at Germana Ford and threw up en-
trenchments. Friday they advanced to.
wards Spottsylvania Court House, with
the design it was thought, of making a
flank attack upon Johnson's division Of
EwelPs corps. At the same time John
sons division was moving in the difec-
ton of Germana ford. The two forces,
about two o'clock, p. m. came in coils
ion in a field. about a mile and a half
from the river, and a very desperate bat
tie ensued. From the beginning of the
action until nightfall, when the fighting
ceased, we drove the enemy at all points.
Just before dark they succeeded in get
ting in their entertainments, from some
of which we dislodged them. Our loss
in killed and wounded is about FIVE hun
dred. Most Of the wounded have al
ready been brought to the city. The
enemy'S loss is not known with any &C.
'curacy, but is believed to be three times
as great as ours. We took a considera-
ble number of prisoners, but have not
been able to learn the precise number.
Whilst the above battle was going on
General Rosser made a dash upon ar
ordnance train Of the enemy, which was
moving in rear of French's corps, anC
captured ninety odd prisoners, one hun
dred ordnance wagons, forty ambulances
and four hundred mules. 1t being found
impossible to bring eff the wagons, mos
of them were destroyed, but the priso-
1CIFt dIlu dulOUldIlCeS were S6CuICU.
We append such a list of casualties a.
we have been able to obtain Lieut.
Kenner, of the 1st Louisiana regiment
killed General John M. Jones, of Vir-
,ginia, wounded severely in the head
General George Fl. Stuart, of Maryland
arm LieuteniabR4to G4RIif ,Rneal .NSeIIigan
captain Mcclellan, Fourteenth Louisi
Tana, in arm; Captain Merrick, staff off
Ger, slightly wounded; Captain Molten
Tenth Louisiana, slightly wounded
Lieutenants Joyce, of First Louisiana
slightly wounded and Goodwin, of FIT
teenth Louisiana, slightly wounded
Lieutenant Souve, Tenth Louisiana
slightly wounded.
General Edward johnson had a hors
shot under him during the action, an
one Of his couriers whose name we di
not learn, was killed.
MEADEs ADvANCE-A LETTER FROM tn
The following letter is from the arm
correspondent of the Dispatch:
, 1ARMY NORTHERN VIRGINIA, Nov. %, 1856
j. The enemy have at last undertaken
advance, in good faith, | suppose, al
the result has been a collision abo'
, eighteen miles below here, on the turf
/, lpike and plank road leading to Frede
, icksburg. The enemy began his foraa
move on Monday last. He started
+ this campaign with eight days ration
which according to computation, W
= give out or Wednesday next. The en-
my have their force largely strengthen
6 by the return Of the troops sent TO Ne
York to enforce the draft, and those Sc
to Pennsylvania to influence the elt
tons, besides those drawn from the f
tifications at Washington.
As early as Wednesday last it was e
dent that there was some move on ba
with the Yankee army. On Thursd
to morning demonstrations were made
$ Morton's, SommervilIe, and , Racco
: fords but these were merely made
IS divert our attention while their forces
is fected crossings almost unopposed {
re we had only cavalry pickets at &c low
ford>) at Jacks, Germana, and Ell
fords. So soon as the enemy had cross
e his whole force, he turned the heads
* his columns up the river towards Orar
re G. H.
IS This true purpose of the enemy v
S, developed On Thursday evening, at VIII