Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1864-05-21
Tho Army Of the Potomac
WAR NEWS.

campaign ended with the position held ~
us on the evening Of Wednesday May
llth. and the statement that Lee had re.
tired to Spottsylvapis where Geul. Sed-
wick wos killed. We resume, as fplIy
as our space will permit. On Thursday
l2th,. battle wa, fought at Spottsylvsnia.
The Confederate eastern flank rested on
Spottsylvania the western flank on the
Pc, which at tha, poin, runs shor, dis
tance south, afterwards curving around in
the rear Of the town. Burnside was OIL
the Federal eastern flank Wright west
Of Burnside, and Warren west oil Wright.
General Hancock, who had been in reserve
murched forward just before daylight be.
tween Burnside and Wright, and surprised
the enomy's eastern flank. In the Con.
fedsrate works little creek ran between
this eastern flank and the rest Of their
POSITION, making q low gap. Hancock
surprised the Confederate troops who held
sort Of mound in front Of this creek, and
it proved an easy capture. Thirty cannon
were taken, with between three and four
thousand prisoners. This opened Thurs.
days battle. Hancock succeeded in leeur-
ing eighteen Of the cannon and sending
them to the rear. Before he could secure
the others, however, the enemy made q
strenuous attack to regain their lost ground.
The cannon lay in the low gap where the
creek ran, on ground alternately in the
possession of the two armies. 10 assist
Hancock, General Burnside, on the ex.
treme left, was sent into action, and War
rem, on the right, opened heavy cannon
ade, Burnside was repulsed with heavy
losses, and does not appear to have gained
any ground, or been engaged after ten or
eleven O'Clock Wright was then sent to
Hancock's assistance, and the contest rag.
ed around the twelve cannon. The Con.
federates however succeeded 10 recaptur.
ing all Of them. In front Of Warren on
the western flank an artillery duel was
kept up for some time when Warren or.
dered charge. His corps advanced, aud
for moment, captured the enemy 8
work., but the Confederates receiving re-
;uforcements, Warren was ultimately out
Aanked and compelled 10 move his line
eastward until he was close to the position
vacated by Wright and Hancock on their
advance. When the sun set the Federal
line was not more than two miles long. a
considerable contraction being caused on
the west, by the attack on Warren. At
niue o'clock the contest closed, Hancock
holding possession Of the mound be had
taken but the Confederates still retaining
the remainder Of their works. About
midnight the Confederates began q can.
nonade upon Haucock's troops which W as
renlicd TO. The picket lines were strength
ened and MI attack feared. At three
o'clock however tho cannouade ceased.--
The number Of guns captured and retained
BY Hancock was eighteen, oil of them
bearing the mark Of the United States.
/ Spousylvania. like many Virginia town.
is but very small village at the Junction
OF thre, or four roads. The battle fought
on Tuesd,y took place mile north Of the
town. A mile aud half east VI the tow
is house called the Block House. Two
parallel roads, one from the Block House
and one from SpottsylvaniA, run southwest
acros, tho Po. The bridges where they
cross that stream are about tbsse mile.
from the battlefield. About seven clock
on Friday morning, tho pickets reported
that the Confsderates had retreated. They
withdrew carrying their baggage and
nearly all their wounded with them, along
these two roads. General Hancock wa,
sSlered to follow, and found them Just be
yond the Po, entrenched in q new position
on its southern bank. Their retreat had
been in all about four miles. The Fed
eral army was then moued ap to SPOTS
ylvania Court House, and that place wa
made Grants headquarters. Hancock
with the advance was on the rivers edge
0wiag to the heavy rains of Wednesds,
night and Thursday the roads were very
heavy, and these movements we're mad,
with difficulty. Secretary Stanton tele
graphs that on Friday there was no fight
ing.
The line of battle formed by the enem,
on Thursday vas six miles south of Chan
cellorsziie, and nine miles south of Rap
pahanGeck at United States Ford. Thei
new line is thirteen miles from the Rap
pahannock. From Spottsylvania to Han
f over Junction is twenty four miles and t.
the North Anna is twenty one miles,
From Spottsylvania to Richmond is forty