Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-12-16

wrone road. which passed TOO far to Sthe
right. and of meeting Johpsen's division OF |
EgSlits corus. which force held Il 10
cheek. and again delayed it's progress
while Il enabled Ewell 70 rapidly coneen.
trate the ibalance Of his corps on the OLD
turnpike road leading from Robertsop's
Tayern toward Mine Ran, thus preventing
the advance of Warren. Scarcely was tt
ont of this mishap before IL again mis-.
took the road, and night coming on found
it, two or three miles distant from the
Second corps.
Gen. Meade having waited hour after
.hour for the arrival of the Third corps, and
having made use of his Aids in vain, In;
endeavoring to hasten its march, at length;
sent.a dispatch, about O'Clock in the at
ternoon, to Gen, Newton, in command OF
the First corps, which was at this time at
Parkers ,store-distant some two or three
miles from Robertson's taHern-ordering
Second, CORPS. This order Gen. Newton
promptly obeyed, but twas dark BY the
time his corps arrived in the rear of War.
rem, and the fight of the day Was over. 10
the meantime the Sixth corps, under Gen.
Sedgewfek, had arrived, and It was posted
on the right of the Second, On the left,
Gen. Gregg, with his cavalry, was gallant
lY holding in check the advance of Hills.
corps, which had been rapidly pushed for
ward from Orange Court House., .on-the
pland road, passing Parker's store, Gen.
Sykes, with the Fifth corps during the at,
teFnoon of, Friday, was supporting General
Gregg. /
GEN. MEADE's PLANS A1READY FRusrRATED.
]. Such was the position Of the different
corps late on Friday night. If Gen. Meade
rested at all on this night he rested under
the weight of many aud bitter diseppoint-
ments. All of his plans had been ftustra-
ted. The misfortune Of the Third corps
in taking the wrong road, and meeting
Johnson's division, developed the object
of Gen. Meade. The delay 10 its march,
and its failure TO support Warren, enabled
Ewell to concentrate, and prevented the
advance of the Second corps, which would
have separated the two corps of the enemy
aud brought our line of battle beyond
Mine Run, upon the same ground, and in
same impregnable position which the ene-
my held on the following day. This delay
also gave time for Hill to move up to-
Ewelrs support, and prevented Gregg,
Sykes and Newton from swinging around
the left of our line, and cutting off all
avenues of escape to Ewell's corps.
"A BATTLE STILL THE PURPOSE,
During Friday night Gen. Meade deter
mined to give the enemy battle in the
morning. He had reason to5believe that
the battle would take place on the lineIdi.
rectly in front of the Second corps. Hence,
before daylight the First corps was posted
on the left of the Second, and an early at
tack was ordered. In the meantime the
Fifth corps had been ordered over to sup.
port the Second, while the Sixth. was on
our extreme right. The light of the morn
ing revealed the fact that the enemy had
during the night abandoned. his position
in front ofnWarren, and fallena back. An
advance of our line was at once ordered
This line rapidly pressed forward, passed
the enemy's line of earthworks, behind
which he had fought the.preceding day,
and at length reached his second line Of
which. was two miles in rear of
the first.
OF TIE RNEMY's CHOSEN POSI-.
TON.
This line was, of the most formidable
character Itextended along a prominent
range or series Of hills formed all the an
giles of q complete ford fication, and COM
prised the essential elementsof q fortress.
ll.deined facings 81 UNEQUAL length, oc.
copying space Of more than 8 600 Yards,
with. such angles Of defence that the fire
of the enemy was able to enflade every.
avenue of approach, while his right and
left ;hanks were not less strongly protected.
Stretched Immediately in the rear and on
the TANKS of his position was dense forest
of heavy timber. About 1900 yards in.
front ofhis lines was Mine Run-a stream
of no great width, but difhcuIt for infantry