Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-05-13
RIVER PQ +!
BLOODIEST BATTLE OF THE WAR !
The Dead Lay Piled in Heaps.
An Expensive Victory
Generals Rice and Steven
son. Killed.
IHerald's Special

|
The latter's division was closely followed
by the enemy, who were checked by our
artillery, posted along the ridge commaud-
ing the river. Early in the day the whole
army began to straighten out in line of
battle for renewal of the engagement
Skirmishing was kept up during this time
between the advanced lines of the two ar
mics, the enemy stirring himself us though
he intended offensive operations. Our line
was formed with the Second corps on the
right, the First in the centre, and the 9Th
on the left, with Burnside's corps in the
rear of our left for the protection of our
immense trains and to act as a reserve in
any emergency. The country here was
quite rolling, with studded groves of pine
and hard wood, and afforded much better
facilities for the handling of troops and the
use of artillery than about the wilderness.
The enemy during the night strengthened
their formidable position with rifle pits,
breastworks, &C., rendering it stronger
than any line of defense occupied by HIM
since leaving the earthworks on the Rapi-
dan.
Thus matters stood until far into the af-
ternoon. Fighting became quite sharp at
intervals at different points, but without
anything definite; five o'clock was fixed for
the grand assault. General orders announc-
ing the success of Sherman in the west, and
Butler on James river, were read to the
troops, producing the widest excitement.
! AS the time approached for the attack, the
enthusiasm of the troops became almost
ungOvernable. Grant, surrounded by his
staff, and Meade, Hancock and Warren, all
stationed Oh the eminence within sight of
each other, while the vast columns of our
| army slowly gathered themselves together
for the great struggle. just as the attack
was about to be made the enemy advanced
on our right threatening to press that por-
tion of the line, which disconnected for the
time the plan of assault. Troops were hur-
ried to the support of the right, but Barlow
succeeded in checking the rebels, and send
ing back his reinforcements with word that
he had men enough and to spare.
Half-past six was then fixed upon for the
assault. Watches were compared by corps
commanders, and finally all separated with
orders to attack at the appointed time. At
the appointed hour simultaneously with the
roar Of the twelve signal guns, the whole
front advanced with cheers from the whole
line. The movement was indescribably
grand. A portion of the forces moved in
solid column, while others advanced in the
usual order of battle the whole army NOV
ing together, and yet each command fight
ing its own battle. The whole rebel line
opened the most murderous fire, against
which our lines irresistably swept, driving
the enemy slowly back from his position,
capturing nearly two thousand prisoners
and three pieces of artillery. The latter,
however, were retaken by the rebels before
the close of the engagement. Night closes
the battle with our forces occupying the
field. Loss heavy-but judging from killed
and wounded left in our hands, much less
than the enemy's, who fought to the last.
Our troops bayonetted them in their rifle
pits, forcing them by hand to hand con-
flicts.
Gen. Rice was mortally wounded, and
died under the amputatiOn of leg. Our
loss of prominent officers was great, but the
lateness of the hour and my own wound
prevent the collection of names. The en-
gagement opened vigorously, and at the
time of my departure was progressing fa-
YOrably.
HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS, IN
THE FIELD, May 11.-My dispatch yester-
day afternoon left the army in the midst of
terrible battle--as terrible for the the time
it lasted as any in the recent series of fights.
Heretofore the contests have been invari-
ably musketry; in this battle the roar of
artillery was as fierce and incessant and al
most as deafening as at Gettysburg. The
battle continued till night, and darkness
closed the sanguinary struggle. Our army
added another to the list of battles and VIC
tories. In the morning change was made
in the disposition of our lines. Our men
greatly strengthened their earthworks,
threw up additional abattis, and everything
was done to make the day one of decisive
results. Very active skirmishing all the
fore part of the day which merged at length
into general engagement.
The most determined and persistent eff
fort which has been made since the COM
mencement was made in the fight i'm this
LEGALITY to turn our right. Charge after
charge was made by the enemy on the
right. -Four columns of men repulsed each
charge valiantly. At length the 9Th corps
drove the enemy, compelling him to fall
back into his third line of defenses. The
effect of this repulse was apparent. Rebel
dead at all points lay piled in heaps.
In one of these gallant charges fell the
brave Gen. Rice at the head of his column,
as he has been in every fight.
Busy in the. midst of the terrible conflict
was Gen Warren. He rode up and down
his lines, directing the movements regard
less of shells and bullets. Another horse
was shot under him-the third within the
last four days.
He made general assault at seven
" ClOCh. IL was biic inuSb uldS SHlHC6IlU anu |
terrible one of the war. Batteries, through |
the cutting down of some trees, were plac- |
ed in an advantageous positions; as like
wise batteries of other corps. Stimuli
taneously these cannon hurled murderous
missiles into the ranks of the enemy, ac-
by general volley of musketry,
and from this hour till dark the conflict |
deepened. Night left us victors. Every
side of our lines was now advancing, and |
we had taken more prisoners than we had
lost. But it has been an expensive victory;
our losses were heavy, but it is believed
that of the enemy far exceeds ours. We
expect the battle will recOmmence in the
Our men are still in good spirits,
and there is no give way to them.
Times Special
WASHINGTON, May ia distinguished
officer who left Grant in the saddle as late
as 10 o'clock this morning, sums up the
bloody work of yesterday thus: The fight
opened all along the line. Longstreet's
corps, under Hill, held the rebel right, rest
ing about two miles northeast of Spottsyl-
vania, and Grant pitted Burnside's 9th corps
against 1t. Alta given moment later in the
afternoon, Burnside precipitated his entire
command, except colored troops, upon the
rebel right, driving and completely crush
ing it, capturing three rebel brigades and
four pieces of cannon. The fight continued
with ferocity never before witnessed until
8 P. M, when night closed upon the blood
lest field nrOduced in this war The loeses