Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-05-19
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER
THE GREAT BATTLE.

The Great conflict between the Union anu %
cession armies in Northern Virginia, which mas
been raging through period unprecedented IN Sn
history and with obstinacy and despers"on
inspired doubtless by the conviction that on us
issue hung the fate of the rebellion seems at ias'
drawing it, bloody appeal to close anu WIN -
most assured victory to the arms OF the ouioi
From the multitude of statements, runiofou VI
authentic. which have reached us or received pup
lcity during yesterday and last night, including
two additional dispatches by the Secretary OF war;
we compile all the particulars which wear reiia-
BILE shape and which, should they not be counter
acted by unforeseen reverses, authorize the nope
of success SO complete as to pave the way ior
peace and reunion.
The details of events heretofore recorded IN our
columns will have informed the reader that on
Saturday morning last Gen. Lee retired from tne
Wilderness leaving but small force to keep up
appearances, and fell back to SpottsyVania Court
House.
Gen. Grant Immediately ordered an advance.
The Fifth Corps, taking the lead, confronted Long
street three miles northwest of Spottsylvanla on
Sunday morning, skirmishing all day, and ending
in hard fought engagement, the details OF which
were given in our issue of Thursday last. The
Sixth CORPS arrived near the close OF this battle,
and participated in the fight. The Second Corps
reached the field in the evening, and the Ninth
Corps, marching by longer route, did not arrive
until Monday morning.
The fight on Sunday resulted in driving the
enemy out of their hastily constructed breastworks
and forcing them back short distance.
On Monday morning skirmishing again COM
menced. but no fight Of consequence occurred until
the afternoon. This affair is thus briefly related in
letter to the Philadelphia Inquirer
Reports were brought to Gen Hancocss headquarters
about five o'clock P NJ that the enemy in but light
force in his front battery Of horse artillery, which
thew commenced using against had been speedily 81
and their line had been pushed back far enough to
give us possession of the house from which their sharp
shooters had been annoying us all forenoon Every thing
indicated that the enemy not in force on their lett
to successfully resist attack at that point and
the divisions of Generals Barlow Gibbon, and Brney
ordered to advance across branch OF 10 river ana
take position on the further side Within less than hall
an hour we had commenced the attack cheering
Justify and delivering series Of heavy voeys IN quick
succession Artillery was also used to some extent and
before dark we securely established beyond the
stream aud within two miles OF Spottsylvanla Court
House.
The ield Of battle and the position of the
armies on Monday are thus described in despatch
from the correspondent of the Boston Journal
The battlefield is series of ridges mostly covered
with woods and fine thickes n which the rebels lay
ceaed with batteries masked Standing in the centre OF
our line between the Fifth and Sixth Corps, on Pney
Grove road looking toward the CourtHouse, you
gentle slope with Of undulatons marked with rifle
pits and batteries which defend all approaches To gain
them there must be hard fighting at every step. The
thickes are not quite dente in the Wilderness but
mo,t of the ground ia covered by forest
Lee had pushed his troops rapidly into strong posi-
ton on the south bank of the Pc The CourtHouse
elevated land and the village collection Of half dozer
houses Three roads radiate-one northwest to Todd,
Tavern one due north to Piney Grove Church, and
northeast to Fredericksburg
The Second and Fifth Corps covered the to Todds
the Sixth the road to Pney Branch aud the Ninth th,
road to Fredericksburg The Catharpen road, lesdns
westward, was used by Lee to reach the position
A. p Hill reached the battlefield Monday night and
took his position the rebel right confronting Burnside
Ewe had the centre against Sedgwick Longtreet stood
against Hancock The lines in form Of horseshoe
1t was Gettysburg reversed-Lee having the inner hall
circle.
On Monday afternoon Hancock crossed to Greek Branch
of the Pc river turned the flank Of
him toward the town. and held his LoDgstreets ground