Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1864-05-17
INC Great RaftIes.

heaviest connlcfe OF mo0efn times.
We have given the reports as we could,
but they have been so conflicting and uu-
satisfactory thatit was hard to form an
opinion as to the final result. Ga last
Friday, however, light began to dawn and
the hearts of our people became lighter
The news that General Grant and his brave
army had gained the day. filed every
breast with joy. And though at the writ
ing of this. the fearful carnival Of blood
RACES with terrific fury. yet we feel corfi.
dent that the victCry will be ours and that
the rebellion will receive bl.w from
which it can hardly recover.
We shall briefly sum up the reports of
the fighting; as we can think of nothing
else that would interest. our readers at this
crisis:
General Grants army, numbering over
two hundred thousand, commenced Offer
sive operations on Tuesday morning, the
Sd of May. The army was divided into
three columns, the gallant Meade leading
the centre.
On Wednesday the 18th, the battle COM
meuced, the enemy maintaining their po>
sition with great determination.
Thursday morning, the 5th. the fighting
commenced in earnest. The enemy opened
fire, when Grifhn's brigade went forward
and drove them back, but owing to the un-
evenness Of the ground were compelled to
retreat, which they did keeping up heavy
fire on their pursuers. Reinforcement
arriving, the battle extended it's line on
either hand, and again the rebels we're
compelled to fall back to their old position.
The lighting lasted till late in the evening,
with terrible carnage. neither party gain
ing any decisive advantage. Our Loss in
this days engagement is put down at 1000
men, killed and wounded.
90 Friday morning, the enemy in great
force attacked our right and centre. The
attack was successfully repulsed At 8
O'Clock the attack was renewed, and the
lighting became general, our right comman.
ded By the. brave Sedgwick moved forward
until stopped by marsh The enemy
finding himself foiled on our right again
massed against Hancock's column ON the
left. The attack was furious, and after
two hours stubborn fighting, Hancock was
forced to fail back to his eutrenchments.-
By this time General Burnside had come
to Hsncock's assistance. and the left was
again safe. But sooH another furious at.
tack is made on Hancock's right. This is
made by Longstreet, who had apparently
just come up. The Federals are again
forced back, the enemy charging up to our
breastwOrks, but were finally repulsed
with great slaughter. Towards dark the
enemy fell upon our extreme right, cons:s-
ting Of Milroy's old command, now Sey-
mour's. Our men were building entrench-
ments at the time, and ip q few moments.
the entire brigade was swallowed Up as
well as part Of Sbalar's, both Generals
being captured.
On Saturday morning. Lee, from the ad.
vantage he had gained on our right, sup
posing the Federals beaten, pushed force
around on our right with q view of inter.
eepting our retreat. Grant did not evident
~ so regard it, for he drew in hfk right to
allow Lee unobstructed progress, and ct
the same time swinging around his left,
sending force under Burnside to
threaten Lees communications. Lee an
preciated the movement, and at once COM
menced retreat towards Spottsylvania.-
There was no heavy fighting on Satur
day.
Go Sunday Warren and Sedgwick follow
ed Lee, and a severe fight ensued, which
lasted till darkness put stop to the bloody
work.
There was no fighting on Monday the
9th, until nearly night when Sedgwick's
command engaged the enemy and sharp
engagement ensued, in which that gallant
General was killed.
The account Of Tuesdays operations is
given pretty fully in to-day's paper, hence
we will pass that over.
There seems to have been but little fight
ing on Wednesday, but on Thursday the
18th, the most desperate and bloody battle
Of the war was fought, resulting, as reports
20 to show, in favor of the Federal army.
The conflict commenced by Hancock mak- J
ing desperate and determined charge /
lpon EwelPs corps, in the course of which
be captured nearly an entire division of
The enemy, together with two full batteries
Of artillery, and one Major and two Briga-
der Generals.
Everything at the close Of the fighting on |
Thursday night augured we'll for the
speedy triumph of the Federals, and the
termination of this horrible slaughter
The rebels after resisting the shower of
cad and iron for nearly two weeks, were
to retreat on the road towards |
Richmond, with fearfuIly decimated
rauks.
The bravery and endurance of the armv |
Of the Potomac, has. in these engagements,
been demonstrated es not before since the |
'even days fighting on the Peniusula.-
Grant and bis Generals have had gigan-
nc work before them, and most heroically
md ably have they met it. Bot in exuIt>
ng over the victory let us not forget the
'FIce at which it was purchased.
Go in Boys.
The fight between the Norton and Cook
neD is becoming extremely warm the
after, however, seem to have the adyau-
age, as they have the most stock invested
the negro. But Norton. in recent
peecb takes IN the 0eoro -,;tL ..al:-L