Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-05-19


where Gen Wright is slghtly wounded, but still in COM
mand of the Sixth Corps.
t FURTHER PARTICULARS.
We have already given detailed account of the spen
did success with which Hancocks corps ushered in the
dawn of Thursday morning. resulting in the capture of
entire division and part Of brigade Of the enemy and from
thirty to forty pieces of artillery We are now enabled
complete the account of the great battle of that event
| full day;
1t will be remembered that very early in the morning
of Thursday Gen Hancock apprzed Gen. Grant of bis
great success aud added have finished up Johnson
aud going into Early" At half-pas he
still fighting with his accustomed perseverng ntrepdity
although furious rain storm, accompanied BY heavy
THUNDER aud lightning placed few difficulties in his path
At that hour Warren composing the centre OF our
army, also became brsky engaged the batteries OF the
enemy beng opened in the meanwhile and their shot and
shell falling fast and urousy around the headquarters OF
| Grant and Meade.
Burnside the left and 'front.' and Wright and Warren
the right the enemy fighting with the utmost obstinscy
but without being able to regain from our troops the ground
they had TAKEN prevent them FROM steadily advancing
At eleven o'clock there ul in the battle, with the
exception Of vigorous cannonade which still kept up
At O'Clock it became apparent that Warrens attack
the right had not succeeded right wing drawn
back and Gen Meade mased forces upon the left and
vigorous attack made there.
At two O'Clock il had been found impossible to dislodge
the enemy from their poston-Lee having formed HE left
in strong position his line being covered for its whole
| length by formidable breaste orks.
Later in the day Ewells Corps attacked Hancock with
furious energy striving to the OF that able
commander in the morning but without making any de-
i cided impression.
Elsewhere the fighting violent but indecisve until
FIVE o'clock in the afternoon when became apparent that
| the enemy were growing weaker
Towards dark, centre, for the fret time occupied
Spottyvania village and at dark held decided sdvan-
tages line having advanced two three miles despite
| all the efforts OF the enemy.
raauIfs of fba tbus mn
Gen. Grant, ID despatch to the Secretary Of War; dated
near Spottsyvsna Court House. half past six O'Clock in
| the evening of Thursday:
"The eighth day Of the battle Closes leaving between
three and four thousand prisoners in hands for the
days work including two General officers and thirty
have found the last ditch We have lost ORGANIC
| not even company whilst have destroyed and cap
tured division, (Jobnson's brigade, Dobbs and
| one regiment entire Of the enemy"
The desperate struggle was, however resumed in the
night after which the enemy falling back We
quote the following from despatch of the correspondent
of the Associated Press dated from the Headquarters
| the Army at noon Of Friday:
"The Army Of the Potomac has achieved the gres
victory Of the after OF the fghting
recorded in history The battle Of yesterday is acknow
lodged be the heaviest of all lasting from daylight till
after dark renewed about nine p M. and continuing till
three M both parties during the night, contendDg for
the possession OF line Of rife pits from which our men
4
early this morning. aud skrm shing is going on,
| troops following them up through the woods
"The presented to-day entirely beyond descr
ou the dead and dying of both armies lying in the breast
works on each side in piles sometimes three and four
deep and many Of them pierced with holes in their bodies
The enemy had removed many OF their dead and wounded
during the night from portions Of the pe but there
pits whore they could not reach and in these places
| they lay az thick as ours.
1T was Birneys DIVISION Of the Second Corps that
charged this position, and in doing lost about
Il m in he diyisi al
suished ITSELF and bore nobler part than the 93d
New York. Col CAROLS brigade aided this division Ia
the charge and usual performed their share with great
gsantry. Col Carroll wounded second time, but
| still keeps duty.
| THE number Of guns captured is tbrty.nine Many
coors have been taken which have been brought In
the wanting to keep them. CAROLS brigade took
number Of prisoners and staDd OF colors this morning
from rebel regiment which they surprised in piece Of
/ woods"
The same correspondent under date Of two o'clock il
the afternoon, writes that the enemy found TO have
fallen back to line, abandoning their works ther
right and apparently getting into position for another
test He forwards the following ongrauatory address
issued by Gen. Meade to his troops Friday mornings
| HEADoUARTERs ARMY or THE PoToMac,
| Friday, May -, 1864
| SOLDIERS The moment has arrived when your Com
msndng General ee authorized TO address you in terms
| OF coDgratuatiOn.
| For eight days and nights almost without ntermisson
10 rain and sunshine you have been calamity fighting
desperate foe in positions naturally strong and rendered
doubly by entertainments You have compelled him to
abandon his Notifications the Rapid Ann to retire and
attempt TO stop your onward progress, aud he
abandoned the last entrenched position enacousy
suffering loss in all Of eighteen guns twenty two coors
aud eight thousand prisoners including two general officers
Your heroic deeds and noble endurance Of fatigue pr
walton will ever be remembered Let return thanks 10
God the mercy thus shown u.s. and ask earnestly its
| continuance.
Soldiers; Your work 10 not The enemy must be
pursued and If possible, overcome. The courage aud
ortude you have displayed renders your Commanding
General confident your future efforts will result in
While we the loss OF many gallant comrades, let
remember the enemy must have suffered equal not greater
losses We shall receive renforcemens, which he
cannot expect Let determine, them to continue vieor-
ously the work so well begun, and, under Gods blessing
in short time the object of labors will be accom-
| plished. GEO q. MEADE,
| "Msjor General Commanding"
THE correspondent states that the disparity which APP
the number Of prisoners taken is owing TO the
fact that many Of them had not at that time arrived Mt
| Headquarters.
We have not any account that confirms the report