The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-05-20

From the n. Y Tribune.
WASHINGTON. May 9, 1864.
Field of the Battle of the Wilderness Friday,
May ell p. M.-FOurteen hours of severe
fighting to-day, and still nothing decisive. The
position this morning was that of last night
substantially. General Sedgwick, with two of
his divisions, Ricketts, and Wright's, has fought
upon the right; Gen. Hancock, with the four
divisions of his corps, viz, Birney's Orr's Bar
lows. Gibbons, with Getty's division of the
9th corps, has fought upon the left; and Gen.
Warren, with his full corps and Stevenson's di-
vision of the 9th corps (Burnsides), has fought
in the center. Burnside's corps has constituted
the reserve, and has marched and counter
marched necessarily. and gone in by brigades
at the center and on the left.
Sedgwick was to advance at p. NJ. but
Ewell, who commands opposite him, attacked
at 4:45. Sedgwick says Ewell's watch must be
Is minutes ahead of his. This action on our
right was spirited and well fought. At the ex-
piration of an hour the rebels were handsome
ly borne back, the firing ceased, and each side
held the ground they had bivouacked upon.
Our loss was severe, and the enemy's could not
have been less.
Gen. Sedgwick's staff were brilliant and ubi-
quitous throughout while the old General was
the man of Antietam and Fredericksburg re-
peating himself This action barely over and
suddenly we heard from the extreme left that
peculiar monotOnous swell and volume of
sound which tells of large numbers engaged
so many that single shots and even volleys of
long lines are not distinct, but are merged in
the mighty noise of great battle. Hancock
was engaged.
The details of his two hours steady struggle
do not know, but ( knoY that he did his
work cleanly and completely. Long treet had
Joined the rebel right, and this was second
determined attempt to turn our left and Sc.
cond utter discontinue.
Grey, who was on the ground, will undoubt-
edly embody in his letter to the Tribune full
and accurate particulars.
Only ten o'clock and Lee had tried each
wing, and had met in each case more than he
could overcome, and we asked ourselves what
next? All his movements were silent and in
visible and unknown until he developed them
in the event. We can deliver blows over in
the dir ection whence blows are dealt us-not
against an enemy advancing in bold sight, but
against one who has mysteriously gathered
and poised himself for deadly spring.
But the suspense is not long. Both COMBAT
ants are too eager to compel the issue for either
to delay another and still another encounter.
shots begin to ring all along the six miles OF
front
At II o'clock the enemy press close upon
Warren and Sedgwick and train q numbsr of
guns upon the latter's headquarters A man
ana tnree horses are killed within twenty feet
OF the General and in the very center of his
grouped staff Finding the enemy disposed to
Tadc;l reaew !he engagement of the early morning,
SedgWlck accepts the challenge and advances
ms wnoie line The men go in with more
dasn ana hold on more sturdily than in the
morning. Ewell is driven back to his second
line, where bis guns are in position, and there
At this Juncture, Warren, who connects with
Sedg wick's left. is extremely anxious to po in
with all his might. but the enemy's position
in his front seems too formidable.