The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-05-20
SPDTTSTLIANIA.

The place IS old. Seeuy, ruined long ago,
ike every oiher southern town. Ii was
once CENTRE place for trad. political
meetings and the ike. The Catharpeu road
runs along Catharpen creek toward Orange
Court House; the road to Fredericksburg is
the most travelled of all: the others are
mere country roads with little travel in the
best of times As has already been said.
the country is undula.ins. half wilderness
and half cleared land he roads meet on
elevated ground, commanding the valley OF
the Pc river.
There is nothing at Spottsylvaria worthy
If contenuon-nO mountain pass or de- p
running riyer-hut Gen. Grant is on his way
- Richmond. Lee has determined 10 oppose
nm at every step. Like Apollyon in Bun
vans Pilgrim. the adversary has come out to
meet him on this spot.
Lee has the advantage of position, and is
able to concentrate MS forces.
THE BATTLE.
Ii was about l O'Clock when Lonsstreet
began to press Hancock. Birney, on the
extreme right, was first engaged. 1t was a
hot fire, lasting half hour, but he held his
ground. The artillery, which had been silen.
little while recommended their uprOar, and
at o'clock it was continuous discharge of
! field pieces The 10Th Massachusetts, were
/ thrown out a. SkrmiShers on the right. and
performed their part without finchng.
! Having made 40 impression on Birney's
! division, the attack was abaA!oned there. and
the rebels tried to pry open the Join; between
/ the ID and 9TH CORPS. but Hancock detected
portion of Glib, ms command toward the
left, while Warren brought up a brigade
toward his rign,, ard thus the Joint was made
exceedingly strong. |, had been weakened
hy advancing Barlnw's division across the
creek. The rebel columns came in mass.
After little skirmshing Hancock withdrew
Barlow and made his corps more compact.
TIE withdrawal of Barlow was a sign to
faint hearted ones that the dav was going
against US.
During the lull n the strife rode back to
the Second Corps hospitals to see the
wourded.
How goes it hoys?' was the question.
All right, said one.
Pretty rough said another.
They niver will get through the Second
Corps said Hibernian.
The lull had become storm. How fear.
fully rolled the musketry. 1t is utterly use
less to attempt description or comparison.
1t was voiIey after ,olley, surge after surge
rcl after roll
Maurice Collins of the 10Th Massachusetts
was brought in with an ugly wound through
his shoulder. He was a Catholic, and the
priest was showing him the crucifx.
'Will it be mortal :? he asked.
Perhaps not, if You lie still and keep qui.
ct; but YOU may lose your arm"
We'll, am willing to give an arm to nv
country was the reply of one who, though
born in the ever green isle, while loving The
Harp AMI Shamrock, adores the Stars and
Stripes of his adopted country.
Leaving the hospital. and galloping toward
the front, met hundreds of men working
their way to the rear-an VI nistakable sign
that there is not work In front, and that there
is some doubt as to what will be- the resul,
The contest went on with hut little eessa-
ton on the right, and gradually extended
toward the left; but the main attack of the
rebels was on the Second Corps, which stood
like wall Of adamant.
The attack OF LoDgs,reet upon the %
Corps at Getty had more of desnera.
ton IN II than this, but that was an action of
fifteen minutes, while this was one of hours
hours Of hard, persistent fighting of san
culinary character. The attack Of Long
street here, as at Gettysburg, utterly failed.
Great fame and credit is due to the % Corps.
1t never has faltered, and its commander has
proved himself to be one of the ablest Gen.
erals Of the war.
1t would be unfair, however, TO give all
credit to the ID Corps the 9TH and portion
OF the 9th were engaged in this struggle.