Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1864-06-01
Army OF. .NORTHE ' 1RGINIA,
Spotsylyania G.. g., May l3, 1864.

at Spottsylvania G. f., W., on the 18th May:
ARMY oF.NoRTAEtN IN VIRGINIA,
Spotsylvania c. g., May l3, 1864.
On Yesterday was fought il front Of this
modest little village-henccforth to be known
through I'll coming time-one OF the hercest
and most obstinate battles of mosfern times.
It commenced at daylight, and ragged and
roared with tremendous fury until two o'clock
in the afternoon, when the enemy retired
from the bloody conflict. Grant made the
attack again, as he did at the Wilderness, and
gained . considerable advantage By the sud-
lenness and Yigor OF the assault early IN The
aay. but with lhis exception, he was reFn!s-
ed With loss that win carry mourning to
thousands of Northern and European hearth
stones, and dismay ana confusion TO the ty-
rants and denagogucs whose hosts he ieaos'
The Confederates lailcd at one point only -
partly from accident. partly from mistake,
and partly, fear, from lack OF spirit, but on
all other parts OF the field they were victorl-
GUS, and as. firm and resolute as ever. Inc
enemy was beaten, botaot rcuted or driven
from the field.
The battle was fanght Ell tie North side
of SpotsylYania Court House, On the undula-
ting gcround, diversified by fields, pine thickets,
and patches of woods. Our line Is crescent
sbaped ,or perhaps it would be more correct
to say That it is nearly ia the form OF horse.
shoe and extends around the Court House or
village ON the North ana Northwestern side,
20 81 to cover all tho approaches from those
quarters. Slight entrenchmeuts had been
thrown I'D along our entire front, extending
from near the Shady Grove Tor Catharpen
road con,iuued) on the West, around TO anc
bevond the Fredericksburg road on the North.
east side Of the village. Al one point on the
right is ali ernnence few hundred yards III
advance of the general direction of our line,
asd in order to pyeyen! the enemy frem get
ting possession OF it for his artillery, sharp
angle was projected so. as 10 include the hiii
within our entertainments. 1netSsn!t shows
that this was an unfortunate piece OF sne'
neerine. Past the foo! CT the hill on the
North-side sweeps c ravine wh!cs presents
convex line to the hill, the tive apProsching
each other like circles that touch bat DO not
cut each other. The enemy ava;ied himself
Of this rarineiu his assault upon tho angle,
which was the weakest point IN our lines,
being considerably in advance of the general
line nnd beyond tue reach Of support from
the forces operating on the right and left.
Information was received night before last
that Grant was retiring in the direction oi
Frederick sburs and Germaona Fordj report
- this effect WAS noised abroad Throughout
the array, though subsequent events show,
that it was without the least foundation
through mistake, which cannot trace to
lis source, but which grew opt OF this iniSchiev'
GUS report, tie artillery which led been post
Il OH tie hill in tie angle alluded to above
as withdrawn curing the night. Ills left
Iai. Gen. johnson, oi Ewell's corps, whose
division. Eereto,o.,. considered one o. the beS:
in the army, occupied this part Of the line,
Without sry artillery support. He coumnai'
Gated this iac. to lis ccrps commander at
midnight, vita lie additional intelligence
,lptt the enemy was massing heavy i"rce
in mis- immediate front tov the pu1fose, as nc
believed. of :ssaui;ing him next yesterday
moInng. These guus or others were sent
back, and were j:>t moving into the angle at
1 o'clock yesterday morning, when the force
which Johnson reported to DC InaSsing IN ms
front made vigorous assault upon his posi-
tion aud carried It. -,
in the ray;ne 1T the foot of the hill, was very,
strong. and advanced. one report ssys. in col
p,on Of regiments. 1t had rained the even
inr before, and considerable fog prevailed:
under cover Of Which the attack was made.
Orc or two guns were got into position and
fred. but the horses attached to the other
niaces were shot down before they could be
rnl;mbered, and most of the cannoneers cap
tnr.d. Jones' Virginia brigade, whose COM
msnder vas killed in the Wilderness, the
Stonevall and other brigades belonging to
the division becoming involved, s"on follow
p, and the last that wns seen OF Gen. John
son lie vas standing almost alone with mus
kat in his hand. ccntesting the ground single
Lanlied with the multitu,IiaouS foe. The
briGa,l,s composing this division ar5 the Stone
vail. j. NJ. Walker and !nn+s'S t!igades,
beth Of this State, Stewart's brigade ol Eirgi-
uions and North Carolinians, and Stailord's
brigade of i.ouisanians. Jones ard Stafford
fs,i at the Wilderness; Walker. Was wounded
yesterday; Stewart, and johnson, the COM
nsndcr of the division, were taken prisoners,
and the Colonel commanding Jones brigade
is repsrted killed, with many other officers.
The guns LETT on the field, but "dich neither
party has Lcen able to move on account OF
the fire of the otbcr-some eighteen or twen-
ty-aro said to belong to Cctshaws and
Pages batta!icns. LOCO or l,oG0 prisoners
we're lost at the same time
This occurred at q very carly hour in the
morning. If JONES' Brigade had not given
way, it is possible, though net probable, that
johnson would hare been able to maintain
lis ground. He is one CT the best officers in
the army. and the sublime sPectacle h9 pre-
sented when battling alone with the enemy,
though deserted b., lis command, should cS,
cite our admiration rather shan provoke. c.'t-
iciam; Butt should npt be imagined that
the enemy gained the hill without opposition,
sudden and vigorous as his assault was. lie
was received with voiley after yoley, and
tine ground was covered with his slain; but
he had massed such heavy force upon
single exposed poiut, some distance in Advance
of the general line, and incapabls Of being in
stantaneously supported, that it was found
impossible to repulse him. 1t rs but just to
add. too that the cnemy's charge was as spirit
q a. it was srcees:f0l. !. e,d :seOcts no little
credit upon. his treQa He was aMate OF
tha weakness Of the point fom ta comparative
ISOLATION, having cftec.ea temporary lodg.
=, .,,,i, tu,,,d. yc hofor:, ne eiaiied,