Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-06-23

On the 9TH he was driven from the Germania road and
mrved all his pontoons 70 Elys Ford. 1t was now
that be attempted his so-caed fankDg operations for
the first time, and he did it solely because be could
make no progress by moving straight forward. 1t was
necessity, not strategy that dictated bis movements
on the 9Th be swung bis right around his lett, and ad
Vanced to Spottsylvanis Court House by side move
ment hoping to get there before Gen. Lee but he had
anticipated for be had scarcely taken possession
before Gen Anderson attacked him. and drove him out
with prodigous slaughter. Ga the 9th, by moving
around our left with heavy force be contrived to get
possession of the road between Shady Grove Church
and tSpottsylvania o. H., end from this position be
was driven the 10th by General Early.
The operations Of Grant, thus far had been attend
ed with losses unparalleled in the history of this
on the 9Th of May, prevouslysto the military opera
lions of that day, the official paper in Washington
stated the number of killed, wounded and missing, at
| 35,O0O-that is, 1000 day There is little doubt
that this statement was far below the mark but as
Gen. Lee gave no estimate, we have no means Of cor
rectlng II. Grant was now the Brook road
His first slide, instead of bringing him upon General
Lees flank or rear, and enabling him to march unin
terruped to Richmond, had brought him directly upon
bis front at Spottsyl7ania Court House, where he
found him strongly entrenched. On the 18th the d-
attack was tried again. and resulted in the repue
of Grant and fearful slaughter of his men. But the
GROWING slaughter was the 18th, when the Yan-
KEGS ten columns deep, and maddened with whiskey,
urged upon Lees breasworks, at the point of the
bayonet. BY sudden attack, before day, in the
midst of thick fog, they succeeded in obtaining tenn
potary possession of portion OF lines, which had
not been completed, and captured 1000 prisoners but
they repulsed with immense loss. Fourteen
different times, from o'clock A. M. until P. N =,
Ill hours they repeated their assaults in deep columns
Safe behind their works, men slaughtered them in
manner too horrible for contemplation. At last their
courage or their whskey gave OUT and they retired
leaving, say 20 000 Others great many more of
their dead and wounded the field. Up tc this time
the Yankee newspapers computed their own losses from
all causes, at IS OO0 Grant remained 10 front
several days. but he could Lot again bring his up
to the scratch. On the l4th from necessity and not
choice, he again began to move to his Left and again
Lee anticipated him, and appeared in his front at Han
over Junction The remaining operations are of such
recent occurrence that mead enter into no detail of
them. Grant has fanked and fanked as his admirers
call his sidelong movements unt be has faOked him
self down TO WestOver thirty miles from Richmond by
the nearest road. In of these flank movements
did he succeed, He did not for moment cut Lee eff
that General In every one be found himself anticpa-
ted and his object defeated He has played havoc WITH
his reputation having utterly destroyed it in onehsl
the time it took Mcclellan and Burnside bring them
selves down to their proper level. Unlike those Gen
erals he has not been hampered by Auic council at
Washington. He has had the entire disposal of all the
forces, naval and military, of the United States He
has not taken Richmonu-he has been compelled 10
follow in McCellan's footsteps-he has lost 100000
men, and be has done nothing. There Was 8
more supendous failure. The North will ind that out
now-gold will 60 up to $50 in another fortnig ht-
Grants commission Lieut. General will be car
celej, and the next Ga to Richmond " will be head
ed by somebody else This will be the though
he should slip to the South side, although thai
operation may somewhat protract the agony.
Richmond Dispatch