The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-05-20
Saturdays RepOrt--.Flight Of the
Rebels-..Rumors that Gen. Wads.
worth Is a PrisOner-..Estima ate of
Losses. ; .g 'r..,l.. .-t.... ..-...,.., :.
Special dispatch to the N. Y. Tribune.

Ne L.
WILDERNESS, 5 p. M SATURDAY, May z,
fighting to-day. Our position this morning
was unchanged from yesterdays, excepting
that the right had been bent back Sedgwick' 5
affair last night has in no wise disconnected the
plans of our leaders, depressed their hope or
impaired the efficiency of the army. It was
but disastrous episode.
This became clearly apparent when. the
morning disclosed the fact that nowhere on the
line was the enemy pressed up against u.s. that
he had during the night withdrawn from the
battlefield, leaving us free to occupy nearly all
the ground where lay the slain. He had re-
treated, however, only to another line, where
he evidently challenged an attack. He has
played upon us all of to-day with. long-range
guns, and has kept a bold shirmish line in his
front. .r,,,., 49,.
Large parties have been seen all day at work
entrenching just in Warren's front. 1000 or
5000 men have been digging all day upon q
half mile line. from which several solid shot
have been thrown nearly to our headquarters.
Lees success on our right must have been
so greatly overbalanced by his repulse ON our
left at an hour before, that he did not dare
risk another day on the same ground. eHe con-
cedes by this quasi withdrawal that he cannot
longer stand the battle when he felt able to
precipitate it. l.H srg'sf,,. b.. s.
b Very great relief is felt this afternoon on &C.
count of a report ofprisoners that Gen. Wads-
worth is in the enemy's hands, severely wound
ed. The cheering statement is quite circum-
stantial, and is generally credited. On the
same authority Longstreet is wounded and
jenkins killed. .
During the day l have ridden along several
miles of front over the ground most stubborn
ly contested yesterday; how stubbornly is at
tested by the trees hewed, trimmed and perfo-
rated by the bullets, and by the thick strewn
dead. 1t is like other fields of this war; GER
tainly none have presented more terrible
scene. Nearly all the wounded had been re-
moved, but none of the dead buried.
Far down the plank road where Hancock
fought beyond the thickest rebel dead, lay a
boy severely wounded, perhaps not less SOL
dief that he was but boy. He had fallen the
day before when we were farthest advanced,
and had remained unmolested within the rebel
lines. They had not removed him, and he
was alone with the dead when rode up. The
poor fellow was crawling about gathering vio-
lets. Faint with loss of blood, unable to
stand, he could not resist the tempting fow-
ers, and had already made beautiful boquet.
Having caused a stretcher to be sent for, saw
him taken up tenderly and borne away, wear
ing brave, sweet, touching smile.
About o'clock the rebels made o demon
stratiOn upon our right flank, penetrating
nearly to the plank road, and threatening
communication with Germania However. we
had cleared the road OF everything valuable,
had removed the pontoons, and probably did
not care to prevent the rebels from occupying,
am not permitted to speculate in regard to
Grants plans and probable movements. He
will, however, make vigorous assault yet to-
night. Lees generalship has been magnified.
His main force was at Orange Court House.
He moved simultaneously with Grant, and as
rapidly.
Wednesday night he held the Mine Run line.
Grant had put his army over the Rapidan. and
the 9th corps headquarters that night were
where army headquarters have been since.
Lee menaced our line of march, and Warren
steps out and fights him. Next Lee .hurries
everything to his right to penetrate between
Warren and Hancock, who was marching from
Charlottesville.
Foiled in the attempt he adopts the system Of
masked massed assaults Beaten through two DAYS
at his own game ne, last night, retres intrenches
and invites attack where the ground Is unknown to
us familiar to him. That Grant and Meade work.
ing in thorough concord and concert have met and
thwarted him at every turn is sufficient Comment
upon their generalship. This fact must he orninsus