The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1864-05-26
From lhe Army Of The Potomac.

The Victory OF NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
charge Of the Second Corps---sple
Success and Immense Captures OF Men
and Material. s,., ft.,.....,.. ..t I
Correspondence ofthe New York World. 5g 'rr
WASHINGTON, May IA.
10 THE LAST BRILLIANT VICTORY.
s. The great victory of Thursday is
probably unparalleled in the history
of the war. The battle was fought on
both sides with the utmost skill and
determination, and the forces on each
side strove their best to outdo the 9TH
er. Probably the most tersely writ
ten narrative of the war will not con-
tain the record Of more gallant i'm
pulse, or successful charge, than that
Of General Hancock in the early morn
ing OF tho day of victory, nor more
determined resistance than was exhib-
tied by those against whom it was di-
rected. The charge was the initial
point in the battle, Hancock's corps
crept slowly, yet surely, up to the
lines Of the enemy, leaped over the
rebel intrenchments without scarcely
firing q gun, and surrounded a whole
division before adequate preparations
could be made for the defense. The
famous "Stonewall" division and near
ly fifty guns fell victims to this bril-
liant charge. The greater portion Of
the prisoners, including three Gener.
ais, and large number OF the captur.
ed guns were brought away as troph.
les Of the brilliant effort. The remain
der of the guns were left upon field
which was soon go covered by the ri.
fes of the sharpshooters of both sides
that any attempt to bring them away
by our troops or to recover them by
the rebels were futile. After the shock
of this grand charge was over and the
engagement progressed more regular
! ly, our lines were pushed forward
with varying success until nighttal
under cover of the sable mantle, Leei
army withdrew discomftted, defeated
and in almost every respect demorali
zed and unfit for further immediat,
action. This effect Of the days battl'
constituted the victory over which al
are rejoicing, and marks an epoch il
our history which will not soon be for
gotten.
At 10 o'clock on Wednesday nigh
the camps ofthe vast army in front O
the rebel position at Spottsylvani
. were hushed in repose. The create
r portion of the troops were resting fror
!. the fatigues of their laborious dutie
(. for the past six or seven days, and tn
I exciting scenes of battle were tempora
rily forgotten as the eyelids shut in tn
outer world of strife, and calm, peace
It full sleep soothed the brain of the wea
Q ry soldier. But if the men were sleeT
3 ing, resting from their labors, thei
n commanders were not. The maste
u minds in this great contest saw plainl
that the moment had arrived for
J. grand struggle; that the enemy was {
!, It were, hemmed in; that his lines {
y communication were broken; that h
y y had hastily retreated 10 one of the mi
I. ny points selected for his defense oft
rebel capitol; that to permit him
- rest there or quietly withdraw wouI
be fatal to the general plan. Beside
re it was well known that the rebels hs
Z exhausted all their strategy, and we
Il fighting almost for self-preservatio
ID a depending upon their fortified positic
ns to successfully oppose Gen. Grants a
y, bc vance.
9 CHARGE OF THE SECOND CORPS.
y Shortly after midnight tho hero
=; Z; commander of the Second Corps, WI
), had won laurels of honor by his pre-,
IN Isa GUS gallant deeds, rose from his couc
an where he had thrown himself in ord
iil ily to seize few moments sleep from t
Sls Ss manifold fatigues and duties of the d.
summoned his staff, and bade the
ra' speed upon missions to the various {
rm vision and brigade commanders in
ZEN wing Of the army. The order was
nd nd an advance along the whole limo, in
m: der to surprise the enemy before t
dawn of day should reveal to the re
els the position Of our forces, and I
+ danger to which they were expose
90 General Hancock himself mount
! 10 his horse and prepared to direct t
J. movement. The advance was ma
rs slowlv. and cautiously, toward the re