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

all day, closing OF III o'clock at night, Lee
retiring toward Spottsylvania.
The 9Th corps, Warren's, lead the advance
and arriving at Todds early Sunday morn
ing, passed on toward Spottsylvania, and
when within two miles of the place found |
Longstreets infantry in 'front.' That general
by rapid march, had left his position i'll
front of Hancock on the Orange plank road,
moved west short distance and then turn
ed south, till ne reached what is called the
Catharpen road, then moved east and reach
ed Spottsylvania Saturday evening. The
troops being wearied by their march rested
till noon, when, upon attempting to move.
they found formidable force in front, guard
ing TO Pc creek-not Pc rivera small
stream, and yet of some Importance in a
military point of view.
Longstreet was on both sides of the road
leading to Todd's. The artillery began the
contest and the hours of Sunday afternoon
were devoted to deadly contest
ENGAGEMENT ON SUNDAY.
The day was intensely hot. | was too
wearisd by the events of the week, the hard
riding, the want of sleep, to leave the luxu-
rious repose found beneath the shade of ap
| pie blossoms, to leave the humming of bees,
the song of birds and all the beautiful in
nature, to rush to the battle field; but the
deep booming OF cannon, which at first was
like signal guns, became a continuous can
nonade with heavy rolls of musketry.
The I'd division, Robinson's, and the
4th, Cutters, latter the loss of Wadsworth)
were engaged. Baxter's brigade of Robin
sons was thrown forward to ascertain the
position Of the enemy. Their advance
brought on sharp engagement, The sixth
corps was moved to the left of Warren's on
the Piney Church road and was placed in
supporting distance. In this first engage
ment Robinson was badly wounded in the
leg.
The ID corps having filed through the
woods, after hot and dusty march came up
; behind the 9TH and 9th. took ride along
the lines late in the afternoon. The 9TH was
moving slowly forward over fluctuations and
) through pine th:ckets-a long line of men
in blue, picking their way now through denst
underbrush, now through the forest Of moan.
ing pines, now stepping over a sluggish
stream, with briars, hazel, thorn, bushes ant
alders impeding every step, and now eme-g.
ing into an open field where the thritless far
mers had turned the shallow sell for spring
planting.
There had been lull in the cannonade
but now it commenced again. Warren hac
orders TO push on. He did so, and soon tn,
blue smoke curled above the DARK, pin,
woods It was. a before, spirited contest
which lasted half an hour. Warren pressed
steadily Oh aud drove the enemy from thei
advanced position. forcing them to retir
, across the creek. Warren lost several hun
dred men before he dislodged the enem
:, from the woods. The sixth corps was no
much engaged.
THE ENEMY.
, While the fight was going on rode tow
ard the front. Reaching an opening in tn
forest, came upon Harris plantation-a col
r, lection OF negro huts and farm buildings
: lovely spot, where the spring wheat was al
{, ready rolling in green waves in the passir
c breeze. Looking south over Pc creek.
could see the Catharpen road lined wit
horse and footmen, and could hear in the in
tervals of silence the rumble OF wagons. .
Y cloud of dust rose above the forest. Wer
V the rebels retreating. or were they recevin
d reinforcements Gen. Grant came dow
: and looked at them. The rebel ar,ilIer;st
:. near the Court House must have discoyere
: Us, for q hali-dczen rife-cannon shots cam
II ringing through the air, plungIng with a tel
= rtying tnump into the newly plowed cor
If field and clover land, knee deep with luxur
e ant grass.
l. On Monday morning it was found tn.
Il Ewrll was at spottsylvana. His corps ha
arrived during the night, and as our ski
:. mshers were dcployed to ascertain the pos
l, lion of the enemy, il was found that rebe
u occupied all the ground in front. Gel
II Grant die not at first think Lee wouii max
st 4 ae,car of his whole force from a dire
- Inc 10 Richmond; he thought i; must /
~ only detachments Of men which had bee
> thrown IN his way; but when he discovele
l what Lees intentions were, he prepare!
:" accept battle. Word was sent to Gen Bur-
= side to take position on the extreme left.
Il The second corps, which had been in Il
! rear Of the fifth, was swung to the RICH
IT. while the sixth was detected toward Il
IT, ninth. While these dispositions were ma
y ing, there was constant diminishing, and
, continuous cannOnade. \ pontoon train W.
d. sent around to the right, 20 be used by Ha
as cock. A battery was placed in position
ne Harris plantation, and its rife shot and shel
Al interrupted the tide of travel on the Catha
pen road. Riding down to the front
at tlancock's corps, found Birney, with Il
y third division, held the extreme right, az
L had already pushed far over toward the c
tT tharpen road.
IN Gibbons division was in the centre az
VI Barow's was on the left, occupying in "a
t. ground which TIE fifth had held the MIG
Gu previous. 1t was nearly night, and the co
Ut test was deepening. The day had been
Ct tensely hot, but as the GOODNESS Of the ey
re ming came on both parties addressed the
Ct selves to the contest. Barlow pressed s,ea
u lis on, over undulating pasture lands. throu
u" fringes of forest, into a meadow, across
and into the dark pines beyond. Taking
1T favorable position near the Pirev Char
III road. near deserted farm house, could ,
a' the dark lines move steadily on Below ,
D. on hillock were Har cock and staff dire
FL ing movements. A half-dozen batter
VII were in position close by. One. the Sd NJ
OF o sachrsetts-was sending It's shells over +
us heads Of our men into the woods beyond I
a. at meadow. Mounting the breastworks viii
III had been thrown Up 1T this spot, could $
an orchari beyond the meadow where +
ID rebel rihemen were lying. There was +
u sharp shrill ringing of the minnie shot VIII
, ,iA tleing through the air. There was a consta
IT, flashing, and at times lurid sheet of fla,
az a.. from brigade pouring in its volley. B
ny my observations were interrupted. Sudde
en ly a rebel battery on the hill toward the to,
H. opened fire and sent a solid shot down +
Iul road Then they sent shell-nnA.L .