Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1864-05-12

mish line within half mile of Grants and
Mcad's headquarters Sedgwicks corps
maintained itself against the assaults of SUI
perior numbers, ut different times durngthc
day, and had no serious reverse until late i'm
the evening, The charge was made ON its
extreme right, as was done with Hancock $
corps IN the morning. Milroy' old division
was at length driven back in great conlu-
SION, aud the enemy succeeded cfcctually
IN turning our right flank. The behavior of
tins division Is severely criticised This re-
verse probably neccssitated the transfer of
our sick and wounded and all supply trains,
from Gcrmania!, Ford road to our Landing
ut Chanccllorvillc. The latter were in mo-
tion the whole night and at daylight had
Lee occupied Gcrmania and cut off the re-.
treat Of the Army that route would have
given him the advantage, and he might
have worked incalculable misunderstanding
an undue extension of our line, and a cores
ponding weakening of it,
The contest of Friday was unsatisfactory
and there are many officers who despond-
ingly feared Lee would in some manner de-
feat Grant. Superficial observers might
construe our repuses that day into defeat,
but no such foreboding found resting
place in the minds of those who know the
that characterizes Grant.
The advantages of the next day verified
their hopes. The battle was recommended
at daylight on Saturday, but the firing was
desultory and scattering. No fierce attacks
were made on either side. Both Generals
are intent on strategy and neither anxious
to bring on a general engagement. Lee
seemed intent on cutting our communica-
tions via Germania Ford. Grant appeared
utterly Indifferent to this, and seemed rath-
er to court it, by Withdrawing Sedgwick
from his position, and throwing it back by
Germania Ford near his own Headquarters,
and pushing Burnside out on Spottsylvania
Z. H. road, threatening Lee 5 line of COM
munication. a new line was formed by a
change in the positions of corps extended
nearly north and south, and gave Lee the
choice Of being cut off from his capital and
risking everything upon the wager ofbattle
At 2 2. NJ. Burnside was well under way
to Spottsylvania.
Lee had thrown infantry on to our right
and drove in the cavalry pickets on the Ger
mania road. The result could only be pre-
cipitate retreat on the part of Lee, to pre-
vent our army being thrown between him
self and Richmond, or deadly contest in
open battle that could only end in his ex-
termination. lie soon discovered the error,
and, apparently, had started in haste for
another line of defence. Some think he
found the North Anna river; while others,
equally certain, says there is no tenable
position for him to fall back to between this
and Richmond.
WASHINGTON, May 9.-The National
Republican has issued an extra, which
states that official dispatches have been re-
ceivcd announcing our complete victory
over Lee, and that the rebel army is re-
treating in the direction of Spottsylvania.
Grant is pursuing them. Gen. Wadsworth,
of New York, is killed; also the rebel Gems.
Jones and Jenkins Gems. Pickett and
Hunter were wounded Butler has whip
ped Beauregard and cut the Petersburg and
Richmond railroad.
a dispatch dated Nashville the 9th, TO-
40 a. M, to Gen. Dix, says:
We have intelligence this morning by
scouts direct from the army, as late as Sat,
urday evening but no official reports. The
general results may be stated as a success to
our arms. The fighting on Friday was the
most desperate known in modern times
Gen. Wadsworth was killed by ball in
his forehead while. leading his troops
against one Of the enemy's strongest posi-
tions. Gen. Webb was wounded. The
condition Of our army is represented as adj
mirabe At --latest accounts Hancock was
pushing forward rapidly by the left for Spot
sylvania Court House, and yesterday heavy
icannonading was head at Acquia Greek
! from that direction. We lost same prison
ers. One regiment of Pennsylvania Re
serves charged through an abattis of the
enemy, but were unable to get back, and
most OF them were captured. We have ia
ken large numbers Of prisoners, supposed
more than we lost. Artillery was not useC
on either side the first two days fights
General Sherman was heard from last night
he would attack the rebels to-day.
WASHINGTON, May 9.-ll:3O A. NJ.
To INV. Gen. Die.
This Department has just received, iron
Gen. Butler, the official report Of Genera
Lee of the operations of Friday. He say
that his loss in killed is not large, but hc
had many wounded, and states that ou
forces attacked him and caused some confu
sion. lie grieves to announce that Long
street was severely wounded. Gen. Pc
gram was badly wounded on Thursday. Iii
thanks merciful God that every advance
of Grant had been repulsed. The belle
here is that Grant is achieving a complete
victory. The Stars extra says that Chan
has a field full of prisoners, and had ad
vanced to Spottsylvania Court House.
verbal message received at Halleck's head
quarters by n messenger from the arm
states that the battle closed on Friday. Tn
enemy having fallen back about II miles
leaving his dead and wounded on the field
On Saturday at o'clock Lee was in fu
retreat through Spottsylvania, and whe