Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-05-12
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
4 MOVEMENT ON RICHMOND.
DESPERATE FIGHTING.


early in the morning Of Wednesday, the 4'n N
slant, the Army Of the Potomac commenced 0io'',
ing the Rapid-Ann river, moving ~
Columns. They encountered no serious oPPus''ioA'
On the same day Gen MEADE issued INC ioi'0"-e
spirited address to his army:
4p.pou.RTERs ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
Maya, 1864.
s,asrs Again you are called upon to advance on tne
enemies of your country ! no uie gu" n 49, 10 a3Jrass
aad opportune by your Commanding oeherai W auio'
80, ! f.w words of confidence and caution. ru
w, have been reorganzed, strengthened, ana iuiy
equipped in every respect You ior ,hs direction Of
an able and dstng General, who enjoys tho ceuh
deuce of the Government, the people, ana me army
movements being in cooperation Win otnei ~ ~ = - "a
utmost Importance that no ehoi1 ehouiu - 80
10 make it successful. l;
sod,ars: The ewes Of the whole country are looking
with anxious hope to the blow you are ABOUT 70 s
the most sacred that ever called men 10 arms
member your homes your wives and children ana pear ~
mind that the your enemies are overcome
you will be returned to ENJOY the dement's anu
peace Bear with patience the hard.hps aod sscin0e'
YOU will be called upon 10 endure. nave oounu ~ a.,
your officers and in each other Keep your anks on the
march and on the battlefield and let each man ea.hes
nnora Gods blessing and endeayor by his thoughts anu
actions to render himself worthy OF the favor ne seeA
With clear consciences and strong arms scluated oy
high of duty, fighting 20 preserve inc ra.,hsr
and the institutions handed down to us by our oreatner
If true to ourselves victory under Gods blessing must
and ,y; attend our efforts GEORGE G. MEADE,
~ Major General Commanding.
BATTLE ON THURSDAY.
The progress Of tho important operations thus COM
can best be learned from the letters OF the cores
pondents of the newspaper press who are with the army
We quote follows from letter dated at Union Mills az
nine o clock on Friday night says:
The grand Army of the Potomac crossed the Rapid
Ann on Wednesday The Second Corps moved on Tues
day to the Mills, opposite Eys Ford. On wednesday
morning, at four O'Clock the cavalry crossed ala olose
the rebel pckes from the opposite heights meeting with
no opposition. position was gained ana the corPs
moved on at seven O'Clock taking the road Chanceors
vile at which place Gen Hancock Woua Is a'
mania Ford the of the day. akng the road TO the
Wilderness.
were at the Wilderness Gen Sedgwck on his night and
the general headquarters at Germanla Ford
On Thursday morning the rebels pressed our pckets,
and appeared to be in strong force on our right The
Fifth New York Cavalry skrmshing the Orange Court
house road Perknss Tavern, were driven IN with
severe loss leaving many wounded on the held General
Grns division marched forward on our right about
eleven clock to feel the enemys position and was met
by the rebel Gen A. p. Hill, supported by Gen Ewe
severe action took place. IN which we captured about
three hundred prisoners though reported that lost
two guns Meantime Gen. Hancock marched his corps
TO the right connect with Warren and had hardly got
into position his left resting near Chancellorsue
when he was attacked by Long-eet with bis ull corps
and part of Ewells Gen. Hancock, with the assist
nnce Of Geys division of the Sixth Corps held his posi-
fion under musketry fire Of two and half hours dura
fion 10 which bis command suffered severely iDiIcng
much injury uPon the Rebels,
/" Other Developments showed Lee TO have his whole
force in our front This knowledge Of their position was
Of course highly important and thus obtained only By
the greatest skill in the handling of troops 1t not
being the purpose Of Gen Meade to advance upon the
envy be ordered the line Of battle 70 be held h morning
The position of troops Thursday night was pa
rslsl with and little IN advance OF the road from Ger
msnis Ford Charlottesville, the two TANKS resting on
these points, and the general al the Wilderness
Il, - NJ tha mil
Corps Gen Burnsd-s) crossed GermsDia Ford, taking
position on right flank. Gen Burnsdes rear arrived
this forenoon.
Ii va. understood that general attack was to be
made this morning and heavy firing had commenced on
our right when left, at five O'Clock
The correspondent Of the Boston Advertiser, writing
under date Of Gen Grants headquarters May 5h give
the following account Of the battle:
Reyee wa. sounded at three o'clock Thursday morning
and the whole army vas 10 motion tdsygh According TO
The general order Of the day Gen Hsnc, eks corps
10 march from Charlottesville southwestwsrdy far as
the PADuDkey road TO Grove Church. Gen Warren WAS
10 march from Old Wilderness Tavern to Parkers Store
on the Orange Court House plank road Gen Sedgwicks
corps was 10 follow behind Wsrrens Gen. 7. IL Sheri-
dan concentrate the whole cavalry corps OF the
nv ut Piney Branch Church, few miles south OF Chan
ceorsye and start upon general search after Stuart
cavalry the main body Of which reported to be con-
centrated At some unknown point in that vicinity
The different bodies Of troops had been in motion but
short time when shout elk o'clock reports came in from
both the turnpike and plank roads running almost parallel
from this vicinity to Orange Courthouse that the enemy
were advancing with infantry and artillery toward US from
near Verdievile.
The evidence accommodating in the OF the next tive
hours that strong rebel columns moving up from the
directions mentioned Generals Grant aud Meade uE
from Germania ford and orders issued poet the
columns Of infantry concentrate and form them fo
battle at this point.
Commanding ridges running from the northwest to the
northeast across both roads which the enemy
advancing and about half mile to the Of this point
offered fine position for the formation OF battle front
and selected for this purpose. General Sedgwck
ordered to take the right, General Warren the centre
and General Hancock who the van, expected
TO come up on the left.
Generals Warren and Sedgwick got into line abou
eleven o'clock and after diminishing heard OF
the front About noon General Warren ordered 4
push Gufn's dvon forward TO the right and left Of th
turnpike, and endeayor 10 ascertain what the enem!
about General Baretts brigade moved up 10 tbei
left and Ayress brigade Of regular troops TO the right
the road ,SweiEers brigade following in the reserve
After advancing about three quarters of mile they sud
denly found themselves confronted by well formed and
fight eDsued two brgades held their ground agsins
evidently greater numbers for nearly hour but the
my succeeded in overlapping Ayres regular brigade and
forcing il back precpitatcy The TANKS Of Bartlets be
ing deposed by this demonstration IL also forced
back for distance Two pieces Of the Third Msssa
chuses artillery had to be left behind in consequences
the killing Of nearly all the horses, and fell into hands
OF the enemy.
Sweitzers brigade and Wsdswortb's, Of Robinson,
DIVISION ordered forward, and relieved the two br
gades which hAd met with repuse. The rebels soon nj
tackled these achievements bnt held at bay Brsl
musketry and artillery firing kept up for hour
vhnn tho ..,aH 49, axt nf