The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-05-27

ali tuo CduuOnlerS driven from the guns,
from which they were kept by the savage
hire of our skirmishers. 1t was hoped
that all TIE guns would be brought off, but
the charge was not successful on the other
parts of the line, and the gallant Sixth
had to fall back. Onr losses durinx the
day must reach from eight to ten thousand
men.
Webb's brigade, Cd corps, lost heavily
the Twentieth Massachusetts particularly,
Colonel Macy was dangerously wounded.
Major Abbot. another splendid officer, was
killed, and only six or seven officers, out
OF about twenty-four, left. Lieut.. FEEDER
shen. of the First Massachusetts,, took
section into action in spot where the
rebel sharpshOoters had sweeping tire.
He was taken from the field, shot in both
thighs, after doing good service. This
was on Wright's front.
Gen. Ward was hit in the neck early
in the day, but would not leave the field,
and afterward led bis brigade to the charge
on Hancocks front A battery of Coburns,
on Wright's front, did good service, throw
ing their shells into the rebel entrench-
ments. Capt Martin, of the Third Mas
sachusetts Battery, was wounded in the
neck.
The losses of the army up to this time
exceed anything that any previous battle
has cost US. Nothing has been developed
up to this hour respecting the enemy's po-
sltion or intensiOns for the day, and there
is nothing to Indicate whether they will
retreat, remain on the defensive or assault
w. SWINTON.
The Great Battle Oh Thursday-.How
IL was Won.
From the Cincinnati Gazette Mayi4
WASHINGTON, May IS.
The general summing up of yesterdays
brilliant success, the dispatches from In
gals, Grant, Hancock, and others, an
COunc!r it; the statements of the pris-
on ,rs, the guns and colors we have cap
tured, end hi spiri ,g news from Butler
and Siqel, hat con p etc the circle ofour
triumphs, and made this the Lappiest day
Washington has known 70. many month
all this may be left to the Associated
Press to tell. Meanwhile the following
details just received at this bureau, from
correspondents on the battle fields, possess
es a special interest:
The battle of Thursday was the mostde-
clded success which the Army of the Po-
tomac has yet attained, as we'll as the
most desperate struggle of the eight days.
fighting.
Early in the morning Hancock made a
most brilliant charge on the enemy's right,
sweeping their two lines of breastworks,
capturing forty guns and 5000 pris-
oners. Following this a general attack
began and continued furiously for some
four hours, when there was lull up to
late hour of the night Wednesday night
passed n~quiet The battles of the two
preceding days had served to show that
tue enemy's line in front of Spotsylvania
Courthouse was so fortified that to attempt
to carry it by storm would have been mad
ness, but one point in it had b zen found
where the works did not seem to defy our
attempt at charging upon them, and by
singular coincidence that was point line
where there was almost a gap in our own
lines, between Wr'ght's Oate Sedgwick's)
corps and that of Burnside. Hitherto the
enemy's policy had been to mass his forces
and attack us in overwhelming numbers. |
1t was resolved, in part at least, to give
him taste of his own tactics. Shortly be-
fore midnight, Wednesday night, Hancock
began moving. During the day he had
held the extreme right. By hard marching
he had passed in the utmost silence along
the entire length of our lines, and reached
the point between Wright and Burnside,
where our lines were SO thin Meanwhile
the enemy remembering that on Wednes-
day they had suffered none from any fire
at this point, were giving it no attention,
and had no expectation of any attack at
this quarter Their latest reconnaissance
had found Hancock on our right, and from
Burnside they expected to meet the brunt
Of the mornings assault. The morning
broke slow and dim; heavy mist over
hung the field and concealed our move
ments. The enemy were still waiting for
the attack on our right, when, to their ut
ter and complete surprise, hell-fre burst
out from this unexpected poiat, where yes
terday they had found 40 opposition, and
in an instant Hancock's whole corps was
charging with triumphant cheers and in
magnificent style over their outer row of
breastworks. Though stunned by the
sudden and unexpected onset, they were
still true to their oft proved bravery. Raj
lying on the instant, they made the best
defence they could, and desperately con-
tested our furthe- advance. 1t was splen-
did but it was in vain. Their lines melted
away before our resistless charge broke
into eddying fragments, and were swept
back in the fierce tide of the attack The
outer line of the breastworks had been
carried by the first rush. This brief fight
ended in our sweeping over the second
and Tapped our TANKS around the brayest
OF its defenders.
Eve thousand prisoners whole d.
vlslon-with its commander, Major Gen.
erai Johnston, at its head; forty rieces of
artillery, battle flags without humber.
Such were the splendid trophies with
which General Hancock thus began the
day. Among the officers captured. besides
the Major General commanding the di.
vision, was his brother, another General
Johnston, and General g. d. Stuart. for
merly of Baltimore, both commanding
brigades. -
Oar brill ant success aroused the bipb.
est enthusiasm in the army, and the men
seemed as eager for tho battle as they did
the first day in the Wilderness. Hancocks