Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-05-20
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
II RevfvaI Of III Hostilities-Attack on the Enc.
mys Lines-Conflicting Accounts Of tho
Result.

neSuIt.
Especial Despatch to the Morning Chronicle.]
IN THE FIELD, May 1s-The center is the
key OF our present position. From Nye Run
,ne ssounu. r Dy TaGeession OF gradsaons'
ly overlooks large field of open country,
which is begirt on all sides by heavy second
growth of pines, intermingled with dwarf
cedars.
Mordecai Gayle's large house is between our
nrst and second lines of Notifications. Mon
day and Tuesday the headquarters OF the sig
nal corps were here, while the plantation ad-
Joining, known as Frank BeyeIly's, was used
lot similar purpose by General Warren and
stan, Every one fled from these places upon
the approach of the hateful but dreaded
Yankees. The ladies were extremely anxious
about the furniture they were obliged to leave
in the dwellings; but Beverly and Gayle-both
OF whom carried their families away in light
wagons-seemed more exercised about their
persons. Owners OF large plantations, and
numerous servants, they early amassed large
creatures in vested in farms about Richmond.
The servants say 50 Old Bob Lee" told their
masters TO never mind the Yankees, but prose-
cute the cultivation of their farms. He would
protect them, and see that no Yankee marau-
der came nigh TO molest or make them afraid.
these instructions were implicitly followed
fer every available inch of ground fit for TIL
Il ge has been planted in corn and wheat. "Old
Bob Lee" however has failed to be a sufficien
safeguard. and doubt if the proprietors o.
these fields will "go on raising crop" or
whether they will crib as many barrels OF corn
as expected. ..t.s.
Spottsylvania Court House is plainly visible
through the long vista of trees. The rebel lines
are about one quarter of a mile from this place,
and include the old dingy Methodist meeting
house, as our parallels do Frank Beverlys
dwelling. According to recent reports, we
have had possession of this place several times.
In this many have been mistaken. General
Custar, with his brigade Of cavalry, held the
Court House for season, but when he left we
had no further hold on it. The rebels are
strongly fortified In this vicinity, and cling To
the central portion Of their line with great te-
nacity. Twenty or thirty pieces OF artillery
stare US in the face from that point, while
there is apparently an endless chain Of earth
works.
About twilight Monday evening our batteries
near ii e road shelled the woods in their front,
but failed to elicit any response. Monday
tranquility prevailed. The 9th corps Burn
side's) he'll the right. Warren had the 5th
corps next, and was joined by Wright with the
9th corps, Hancock being on the extreme left.
In the afternoon OF Tuesday, the 4th division
of the 5th corps marched from the trenches
where they had been lying all day. No notice
was taken OF this movement bv the enemy, at
least they betrayed no signs of concern. Many
retired that night very much deceived. Next
morning l was aroused by the whIzzing of
shells, and discovered the position of every
command changed. The I'd corps had passed
to the extreme right, under cover of the night.
They bivouacked in the Notifications from
whence, only a few nights before, they took
such a large number OF prisoners.
1t was O'Clock a. M, when the skirmishers
advanced. The rebels were there, armed and
yigilant. Both sides opened with cannon.
Smoke and mist hung pale, heavy and motion
less over our troops. On the right was Glib
bon's list division. The Irish Legion had just
Joined them. They had seen some service on
the Blackwater and Nansemond rivers, near
Suffolk, during the investment of that place by
Longstreet, but had never known the reality OF
q battle.
On the right, the Irish Legion charged with
a fierce, wild shout. Two hundred yards OF
clear field had to be traversed before the first
line OF the enemy's breastworks could be
n ached; a battery of four brass pieces played
on our men necessarily as they advanced on g.
double quick ALI this time the sharpshooters
were busy; sufficient light was lacking to en-
able them to sight their pieces with precision,
but many an officer owes his death to theic
marksmanship.
At last the field is crossed. The distance was
sht t-only two hundred yards Who does
not believe it seemed lifetime to many OF
those men, who, with bent body and erect
tayonet, won their periilous way, foot by foot,
through whistling balls, bursting shells,gna W
ing grape. The rebls fly from the first en-
trenched line. Our brave fellows Chamber over
cEeerily and capture a few dilatory sharp
shooters, who fingered too long at their post.
About midway between the first and second
parallels, the line of the Legion grows con-
fus ed-their pace WAKES slow by degrees, and
finally halts, preparatory to breaking up-to
retreating
. They did fan back a short distance but the
veterans Of the old 1st and I'd divisions We're
at hand. They took no notice OF confusion,
and needed the driving bullets no more than G
pelting rain Through the pines they ran, with
fixed bayonets, searching in vain for the rebels.
A shout rent the air, and the second line Of
rebel breastworks was won.
The second division did nobly, never hating
or faltering till the goal was gained. The en-
tire corps did well, and can always be de-
pended upon. Our loss in this charge must be
between three and four hundred men. Two
hours afterwards, our batteries on either side
the turnpike running from Fredericksburg to
Spottsy lyania engaged in a duel with the rebel
artillery. The lSt PENNSYLVANIA artillery and
battery B, 4th United States, were engaged.
Improvement has been going on among the
rebel cannoniers, for they shell with greater
accuracy than ever before.