Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1864-07-02

AT this point some new troops Joined US,
and forage and rations were issued to the
command. The forage ration was reduc- /
ed TO FIVE pounds Of grain, but in reality
the horses got no more than four pounds
per day.
Warrens Corps we're fighting hard all
day, Lee having reached Spotsylvania in
advance Of him. He attacked Longstreet
while in column, under the impression that
it was rebel cavalry, and in consequence
lost heavily.
MAY 9.-Much maneuvefing, Grant,
Meade, and Hancock, continually in the
saddle. During the day the sad intclli'
gence reached us of Sedgwick's dea,h,-
He received his death wound, while post
ing battery near the skirmish line. He
was admired by the entire army. Our
horses have been harnesseG for Eve nights
and days. Got permission to unharness,
but the "Heavies,' who we're in the front
line, raised false alarm, and we were
obliged to harness the poor brutes again.
MAY 1O.-The main body of our Corps
took up their position on the right of War
rem, the 9th Corps, now commanded by
Wright, being on the left. Motifs Div. of
! the 2nd Corps with Ricketts, and Dows
Batteries moved to the extreme left to open
communication with Burnside One Sec
ton our Battery sileDced their sharpshoot-
ers by throwing some shells into the build
| ings they occupied. They opened on us
with artillery from behind a strip oil woods,
but did US no damage. About noon sue
ceeded in opening communication with
Burnside. In the afternoon q general at
tack was to be made, but was unsuccessful
for several reasons. Burnside, as usual
was too slow, and did not get into position
in time,-our weak Division could effect
nothing against their strong works, and the
5th Corps rushed against works almost i'm
pregable. The Second and Third Divi
sions Of the 2nd Corps, were withdrawn
from the right to assist the center in the at
tack, leaving the lst Division under Bar
low beyond the Po in a n isolated position
, Perceiving this, the enemy attacked hin
c with an immensely superior force, compel
# ling him to fall back to this side of tn
river with the loss of one gun. The 6t
g Corps, however, made successful charge
\ capturing the enemy's works, 900 priso"
S ers several colors, and Battery. Fo
= want of support, they abandoned sh
works and Battery, but brought off tn
e prisoners and colors. Our losses durin
;. the day have been heavy.
: MAY ll.-About daylight our Diviso
y left its intrenchments and massed in rea
/ of the 9th Corps There was heavy artil
. lery firing during the day, but no genera
engagement Some Coehorn mortars wer
e tried on the enemy, with doubtful results
: They are novelty in field operations
>, One peculiprity of this campaign is :h
: great use made of inirenchments. Nc
e Clellan inaugurated the system on th
r Peninsula, and by that means was enable
b. to fight so desperately against overwhelm
:. ing numbers. From that time to the ba,
tie of Gettysburg little use was made c
f the spade, but our success there is chief
/ due to the protection our men receives
from artificial works. During this cam
4 paign the spade and axe have been as muc
used as the musket, and the Army Of tn
# Potomac is a vast pioneer corps. AS 500
j. as the army halts the first thing is t
intrench, and we have made as many a
n four in one day, The men do the wor
u cheerlully, as experience has taught ther
that the loss is thereby wonderfully de
: creased The rebels say "clubs are trumps
Gin reference to our Corps badge but u
sly "Spades are trumps" Grants Vick'
burg campaign taught him the use Of tn
article.
:, MAY l2.-About midnight Hancock NOV
L ed his Corps to the ground occupied b
. Motifs Division on the / 9th. Our Batter
occupied the same ground it did on tha
occasion. Hancock formed his entir
i Corps in our front for charge, his Hea
Quarters being by the side of our Battery
To the left was the Ny river. (The fou
streams, Mat, Ia, Po, and Ny, form th
Mattapopy physically and photographed
ly) In our front the ground sloped dow
= to deep ditch, about 500 yards from ou
: front, and then sloped up again to th
g enemys wo'ks about 1000 yards furthe
on. From our position the works wer
s hid by corner of the woods. The trooI
: were formed nearly as follows; Gibbo
= on the left, Barlow in the center and BIZ
. mas -, H. .;oht pa.io., Il