The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-05-20
of Vermont FOR President of the United
States, for the next term is that man of the
people, Abraham Lincoln.
THE GREAT BATTLES LIN
VIRGINIA.

9Th. hostilities were warmly resumed. Both
armies were evidently bent OF attack. Gen.
Sedewick had been ordered to advance at )
o'clock in the morning but fifteen minutes
earlier the enemy were upon him in force
General Seymour, with provisional division
on the extreme right and Gen. Wright's lst
division of the 9Th corps, next adjoining,
were briskly engaged at once, and Gen.
Rickett soon no less holly Involved. The
enemys endeavor to flank was repealed. ana
our line pushed few hundred yards ahead,
without gaining, however, material advan-
taee. At S and at 10t o'clock again the
right was pressed; but the lighting, though
furious, was indecsive. AT about o'clock,
also, the fring extended all ai"ns tne line,
and after short cessation again broke out
at 10t The enemy began to hurl himself
successfully on our right and left wings
having perceived our weakness on Thursday
Nth obvious intent to break through and
separate the three corps. A part Of Burn
sides ninth corps, however, had been sent
to fill the dangerous gap between the centre
and lett,-though this arrangement was not
entirely and properly consummated until la
ter in the day, after the experience Il several
fierce assaults. Earthworks were thrown up
on Friday, as on the preceding day, when
ever and wherever practicable. and, as the
event proved, with wise precautlon against
disaster The varying fortunes OF battle
found them of invaluable service.
On the left, our line stretched across the
plank road, as at the close of Thursday ;
battle. with Barlow's division OF the sixth
corps on the extreme left next, Motifs and
one brigade of Gibbons; next. Birney's ;
finally, towards the centre, ROblnson's divl
sion of the fifth corps, with SteyenSon's brl-
gaQe of the ninth corps, and CAROLS and
/ Ovens brigades of Gibbons division Of the
seconi corps. About 5 O'Clock i. M-the
tine appointed for Sedgwick's advance
| Hancock moved out his forces, and with
s.eat enthusiasm att lCked and drove the
ast0nished enemy more than two miles from
the Brock road. to wards Pa:kers store.
Ihere, reinforced by Longsneet, they sue
ceeded in holding their ground, leaving,
however, many PRISONERS IN our hands. a
comparative iui ersutd after this hand
some exploit, VIXEN again severe assault
i was made on our left, followed up along the
line with such vigor as nearly to involve the
whole in confusion. Rtintorcen ents, how
ever, came from Burnsije's corps, and Long
streets solid infantry masses. pressing our
eft and centre. were checked, and at las
recipitately driven back.
The line swayed back and forth with the
shifting fortune Of the terrific fight, and the
thick and heavy chaparal IN contention was
covered with the dead and wounded of both
armies. Our right aid centre gained little
ground, under hct fire, but it was only t.
meet the enemy's entren2hed line, posted or
an extended ridge. and approached through
a thickly wooded swamp of considerable
width, protected by front and flank fire
This position was twice unsuccessful, at
tempted by our right and center in IN. COURSE
of the morning. On the left, however, the
position at noon was not q little critical
The reintorcenents from the ninth corp
were expected to have sufficiently filled IL,
the gap, at daybreak, between Warren anl
Hancock, but the position was not made en-
lirey strong until later in the day. tn,
, enemy partly Withdrawing from the right
for the moment, rushed in far her down tn
line, as has been said, almost surround!n,
the second corps, and rolling far out on it.
lett flank. as well as on the front. Col~ne
Franks third brigade of Gen. Barl0WS IRIS
, division of the second corps was borne haci
bv the fierce assault Of a greatly super"
force. and the whole line once more retired
to its entrenchrd line Of logs ard ahafti,
: thrown up on Thursday, along the Broc
e road. Brigadier general James s. Wad>
worth, commanding the fourth division {
the corps, was struck in the forward and in
Z stantly killed before noon or Fri Jay.
: Another comparative luif occurred
i at noon, and our forces took the opp3rtrGi,
. i afforded to draw up and concentrate the
ints, interpoSing the greater part Of Burr
e SIDES ninth corps between Hancock an
q Warren. The left also was brought forwar
u little from the Brock road, to which i ha
been driven, towards the centre. iardi
had these fortunate dispositions been mad
4 when again IN the middle Of the af,ernoo
d the enemy. under Longstreet and 4. =. Hi
tell upon our left and centre with great fur
and again pushed them back. At the Jun
l. ton Of The left and centre the attack Va
i particularly severe, Crawiord's third diysiu
of the fit corps, Csrr's fourth division
the second corps, and Stevenson's diyi>io
~ Of the ninth corps suffering its brunt. 81
II latter division, on Gen. Hancock's right. 81
y ing Wy overpowered, the enemy ru,hr
,e through the gap. Gen Hancock then di
patched Col. CARROTS third brigade, secor
division Of the second corps, to sweep aor
The whole line and attack the enemy in ii
hlok. The maLmuver was most gallant
aid successfully executed, the enemy retirl
n with much loss, and our troops gradual
j. gaining their old alignment.
i ResOIute and prrseyering still, the enem
~ now turned away from the left ard centre
y towards Gerk--2nd again gathered in a f.
r rush against our right, which had since II
O.. opening attacks in the morning and at II
= o'clock, been comparatively al rest. Suddc
y AID turl0USIy a, aIted. OUI men began
H. break. General Seymour's Second hngad
:. Third division, SIKH corps. already pan
I; stricken. o. our Extreme right, with most
- Genera Saa.trS brigade, were swept off
" by a vhri"ind, and captured with their co:
re manders. The whole right wing. and Jade.
ID the whole army, was in imminent peril Gr
le eral Sedwick, however, by Infinite exertio,
and direct personal exposure, rallied al
held his troops and saved the army from Il
al destruction which threatened it. With the
I'd success on the right, the enemy sullen
P. withdrew, darkness already having fall.
-, over the field
, 1t may be added, that this terrific infant
D. contest OF Friday closed on disputed fe.
es neither army having gained great sdvantas
d. and friend and foe lying side by side over
:, broad stretch Of territory in a,testatiop
the equal fortune of the day. General Ora
held substantially the same line as or Thur
ed day evening, but he had strengthened it {