Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-05-26
gHB ARMY Oh THE POTOMAC,
THE BATTLE or THURSDAY.

In relation to the demonstration Of Ewells corps, al
uded to in the despatch Of the Secretary of War we
have the following further particulars from the army cor
respondent Of tho New York Tribune One letter, dating
neal Spottsyaua Court House Thursday evening at
| nine O'clock, sayS:
'The turnpike road q0m Spnttsylyama Court House to
fredericksburg has been infested with guerrlas Tor seVe
raj days anxously awaiting the movement of our supply
trains This evening organized aud rosolnte move
ment made, which was completely foied Durng tho
day through opening cut through the woods troops
passing away beyond our right Hank Evening
developed their purpose
sour cavalry had been driven in under excitement
They dsmounted and sent into the woods with their
carbnes while part renamed to hold the horses The
Transfers ashsd their mules along the road toward Wncn
the enemy advancing shouting 10 the mules nAo
maniacs. Time was every thing. Hall mile, ana the
angle of the roads would put the enemy VINO was now Do
fore them behind their backs The teams crowded on
ward and the muskety began to rattle faster throush
| the woods, =
1.-THE heavy artillery armed infantry, were presently
put into position and formed line of BATTLE first in the
roads, then in the woods towards tho enemy VINO soon
engaged them Our heavy artillery are raw troops I'M
field service and should not have been employed
alone such time, but they most convenient ana
available in such emergency our loss III killed. ana
| wounded can hardly fall short OF one thousand
The enemy came in and took possession OF the road
and the wagons but their prizes we're small and their
possession Of them short Our forces engaged We're ~
| ler's division OF heavy artillery.
Later Brney's division of the Third Corps was seen
moving down and Immediately put into position we
soon recovered the road and the wagons none OF which
had the enemy succeeded in carrying away or destroying
A few horses only of the train killed. The enemy
were driven reluctantly back and at shutdown the last
gun had been fired and the effort to turn our Hank and
| capture wagon train WAS ever - -
The forces engaged proved to be those OF E~elPs
corps hundred Of them were captured who reported
that the movement WAS made from the right ot Spotsy
wanna Court-House in the afternoon"
Another correspondent gives crcumstantlal ac
count Of this engagement. We extract the following from
| his letter, which is also dated on Friday:
Our extreme right had been considerably withdrawn
last night il rested ray miles rearward of the battle
field Of Wednesday, and seemed to barely cover the Fred
ericksbufg pike.
This extreme right of the line Understand that the
entire line is fully ak miles Ong) held by Tylers div
sion, consisting OF heavy artillery regiments, lately
brought the front from the forts about Washington and
their great guns exchanged for muekets and Kitchens
brigade being the 9TH 18th New York Artillery taken
from the artillery, and likewise given muskes
'in the of the afternoon skrmishing became
quite warm, but the firing not such to attract the
attention OF the various headquarters until about live
O'clock At that hour the voeys became continuous and
heavy that the extreme le where happened to be-
it was apparent that well contested action was being
waged
lit appears that having forced back the kirmsh line
confusion upon their supports, Ewes entre corps
burst upon the troops above mentioned Instantly that
able General developed brisk skirmsh into determined
assault The object is papable He meant if possible to
turn right and cut of baggage train perhaps cut
and permanently hold our communications Failing in
this he might reasonably expect to gain the advantages
and information to obtain which Reconnaissance IN force
| is the last resort. He was beautifully foiled.
| "Co Tapnotts brigade, LIST Maine heavy artillery and
1st Massachusetts, heavy artillery received the assault
and then, wider front OF rebels appeared the whole
division became engaged, and not long after Kitchens
brigade found the enemy coming upon them and there was
nearly mile OF battle Finding his gradually yield
ing ground Col Tannott ordered counter charge and
drove THE rebels small field lie could not dis
lodge them from the adjacent woods and was finally him.
sef driven back to the Of the woods his side
| Of the open space.
| dan Hunt had hasd rtars
and succeeded in planting Harris battery at the left of the
line of acton and just in time to repulse an assault upon
that quarter little later he had placed another battery
in effective position and Col Tbbas 4th New York ar
lery brought up but not then put IN.
"Untll sunset period Of an hour aud half charges
counter charges swsyed the action back aud forth de-
ecng the ine bearing it back here and pushing it for
there but breaking it. and scarcely chang
ing the mean position 1t not yet decisive, but the
enemy checked and heavy achievements were com
up. ., ~ t.,-.,
of the enemy penetrated the woods widely around our
right and burst out Of the woods upon the Fredercks.
burg pike almost directly in tue Of the main engage
msnt During few minutes, they IN possession OF
n long empty train headed 10 the for supplies They
had csptured few transfers and killed few horses when
they were hustled back. .#'
''Brneys division of the Second Corps Crawfords of
the Fifth and Russes Of the Sixth, assumed the line be-
fore firing had quite ceased and held during the night
| with brisk diminishing at intervals At 3 A. M to day
these divisions advanced The movement SO rapid aud
unex pected that the enemys picket line was captured
almost 10 man, and, sweeping prisoners were
theed at every STEP until two miles had been gained
| and hundreds of prisoners taken.
| Judging from what SAW in riding the ground
this morning before the dead buried estimate
own killed at $50, the rebel dead at 300 think the
proposition holds with the respective loss in wounded
Knowing to be fully 1000, the enemy's would
then be 00 ali of which he carried off, though leav
ing his dead the field Among those have buried
| for him is Col Boyd Of the 45h North Carolina. We
already have between FIVE and ak hundred prisoners pa
rolled near Army Headquarters aud there perhaps
hundred still to be brought in Our loss in prisoners will
not exceed 300
Altogether, the result of this attack by Ewell is emf,
nently encouraging to the army 1t is accepted as fit
Offset to failure nearly the ground two days
before 1t demonstrates that the troops added to the army
since the ten days battle may be relied upon. prompt
and udcious recognition Of this fact has been made by a
General Order issued THIS morning. which readsa follows:
/ HEADQUARTERs ARMY OF THE PoToMAc
| Fr.d0y May % iSo4-S A. M.
The Major General commanding express hs sat
isfacton with the good conduct of yler division, Ktch
ings brigade Of heavy artillery the affair of yesterday
evening The gallant in hich these commands the
portion being for The first time under fire. met and
checked pestn corps OF the enemy, led by OF is
best Generals usthes the commentator in ths special
" troops who henceor ward will be relied upon with
the tried OF the Second and Sixth Corps at the
| time engaged
| BY command Of Major Gen. MEADE
| SETH WILLIAMS, A.A. G.