The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-05-10
The Battle on Thursday, May s.

At o'clock Thursday we in line OF battle
with tho best corps The extreme rght-.he sixhths
Fifth with the Second forming extreme left. The
cavalry had been skrmishing In the meantime with .
newy discovered body Of Stuarts msu near Chrncel.
lorsvie. These found to have augmented and
the skrmish speedily swelled into tho proportions OF
battle General Wilson, with portion Of bis command,
cut off from the main body but joined them later In
the day
cavalry Stuarts famous partsans The latter were
badly worsted IN the DAYS engagement and retired TO-
ward Fredericksburg, to join General Fitzhugh Lee OF
whose command Stuart's 10 part.
On taking the different positions assigned them each
corps began hasy construction OF Geld breastworka
in front Of s first line Of battle and soon had them ca
pable Of Offering formidable resistance Tho face Of the
country and character It's growing timber found
to be the most unfavorabe imaginable for offensive ope
rasons Tho roads generally, tedious and
bounded either side with dense growth Of young
PINE chinpn and scrubDy oak with underground OF
haxel many places that rendered tho forest almost I'm
pcnctrable. The pines low imbsd and ssraggy,
and the chnkap,nS the sest and bristlicst Of their
s;scas, An advance in line Of battle almost ,mpos
sibe Artillery could not bs brought into action at ALL
few places on the immediate line Of the road and 10
occasional break 10 the forest either side. wore the
only positions possible for planting batteries Over three
hundred pieces lay idle during the whole Of the nrst
days 1ghtng
Tho position was admirable for defence, and was go
eced by General Lee Instantly learning that General
Grant had out mannuvred him and gained . crossing
without a battle. Many Of the ravines were deep
and impassabe, but . majority were not 80 On
account Of precpitous declives. The main obstacles
we contend against the thick growth OF scrub
by timber that prevented the proper handling OF the
troops and concsed the enemys presence and dsposi
tion OF his forces.
our grand line Of battle formed by all the corps
war fsy i've miles In LENGTH from northwest TO south.
east with the centre thrown forward, giving convex
form. The rebel line Of equally not greater length.
proven by their maintaining their positions in
'front.' and one or two occasions temporarily turning
our tanks.
This much Il seems Necessary say, for proper ap
probation OF what 10 TO follow.
AT O'Clock p. ~, on Thursday General warrena
corps began battle by advancing along the line Of the
turnpike 10 line OF battle on both sides, The Hghng
sharp vigorous both sidcs with occasional inter-
vas TN dark, with indifferent TO either. Our
nrst dash from the centre of Warrens corps was met
with a deadly volley that threw their line into
momen,ary confusion. The rebels took advan-
tase OF this, and made a bayonet charge on
Battery D. First New York artillery, capturing two Of
their brass NaPoeons or twclyepoundss. The battery
sesms 10 have been imprudeny exposed and differently
supported sharpshooters had previously shot down the
horses and many OF the The captain was wounded
early IN the nght These the only guns lost In
| tho battle.
4, dark warren nomnay held posiiopia half mile in
| advance OF his breastworks.
General sedswick may possibly have been feeling
\ ,hs enemy earlierr than Warren, but was NOS
1 ho,,v engaged TIL afternoon. The 1ghtng 10 his
| fron, was terrific for considerable PERIOD AID
The losses necessarily heavy both sides Al night
no seemed to have gained decided advantage, and at
ono time Il seemed probable that Lee withdrawing
roops from that point and concentrating left
subseouent eveps conradicted this theory, and the
fxh corps was compelled to meet Of the most vio
| Liant aeaanlts OF this or any other war,
General Hancock opened on the rebss from the left Of
our Iiue at hapast four on Thursday afternoon, and
Tough. furiously lin night He found himself con.
frosted With veteran troops who resisted his impeuous
assaults with the coolncss Of wc trained soldiers, and
ban forced back always retired Ia better order than
would be possible for fresh recruits. From the moment
~ attack ,u dark the crash OF muskstry inccssant
and deaeuipg. The rebels were finally driven fully
| mile. st1 .a
CAD Hancock was severely pressed Al one time In the
and two eades thrown into the gap be-
,voen his r,gh, and warrcns Left. The nghtng here
~ ,bs most obstinate character pcssble'
An tho sun sunk below the horizon, the grand conflict
Of the day ued into Irregular nusksy nrug, and nual
" ceased altogether
General Burnside's corps not engaged through h,
aav bu, was held in petition TO support the sixth.
The Battle Of Friday. May 8.