Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1864-05-20
Ton &C Y. I. AaVy Hoftf.
THURSDAY $ BATTLE.

7 IT.
y EADQr AgTERs q ARMY oFIII PoToMAc.
BAIILE-tIEIq NEAR SP0ITslLE-tNIA.
thursday, May Y s A. ii.
Our army this lnornine is entirely engaged in
eiiercest of its battle, and pressing on to vieo
ry
Afler the sanguinary but generally unsuceess-
ful battle Of lnestay. the army during yesterday
was comparatively quiet A feeble demonstration
against enr right wing was repulsed this forenoon.
/ 4 Reconnaissance was made on the Iighs TO face
/ the enemy left. 1T was intended to assault he
e1enys right in force
a column, consisting Of a portion Of the Sixth
corps and Birney S division of General Hancock :
Gers We're at first intended to oundertake this work
/ which was afterward abandoned Meanwhile. oc-
easiona sharpsliootng aud artillery firing on both
SIDES occupied theday,
IN the forenoon two companies IN the left Of the
Sixth corps commeHced driving some sharpshoot-
ers from position in house commanding partial
view OF our lines, killing and capturing several of
their number. In the afternoon rain 10 some ex-
tent fell, continuing until after dark driving the
dust COOLING the atmosphere, and raising the spir-
its 0f the troopS. FIRES We're built and supplies
cooked, the bands began to play in the forrest
along the lines, and un1isturbed for once by the
enemy shells our soldiers ate heartily and rested
sweety. The enemy had no ammunition to waste
lnhrng artillery at random after nightfall Their
officers acknowledged that, and but little was
fred.
Meanwhile news arrived toward evening that
General Sheridan had penetrated to the vicinity Of
Beaver dam, ON the Orange Court House railroad,
had tornup about ten miles of the track, captur-
! ed rebel supply train and recaptured above
three hundred OF our own men taken prisoners
inthe Old Wilderness battles. This news was so
Inspiring, that wherever it was known, a general
jubilee Of cheers succeeded the announcement, and
during the night arrangements were pushed for an
attack on our side this morning. The enemy had
been seen pushing troops toward our right, and
ostentauously erecting abattis IN front Of Ham
cocks troops 1t twas shrewdly, and as the event
showed rightly suspected that rhis was only a
blind 10 the real intention Of the enemy sthere-
fore anticipated
After midnight the Second corps Hancock s.
was pushed to the left of the SIKH corps,
/ (Wnght's.) between that and Burnside comm
Inand, and on the left Of Spottsylvania road
AT II clock this morning Hancock attacked the
enemy fTC nting him, force opening withering
eannonade and making reSistess charges against
the very heart ct his position.
The cannonade was replied to with yigor The
charges OF our men mere as vigorously resisted
but the determination of the onset overwhelmed
everything The troops rushed in on therIfie-pits
Of the enemy, bayonetting them in their works,
cutting their lines, and capturing on the FIRST
charge over three thousand men and several guns,
including the greater portion Of the 'St0newall
Brigade. belonging to the division commanded
/ By General Ned Johnson, and forming part of
Eweli corps General johnson himself was ta-
ken prisoaerer. The assault was continued till
nearly the whole division Of the corps was cop
tpred and other troops amounting in the aggre-
gate to a thousand 1nen.
Later, II O'Clock
A dispatch arrives at this moment announcing
the capture OF seven thousand prisoner aal thir-
Y guns The battle is still progressing The
Sixth corps in the left Of the Second has moved
INTO battle, and arealso pushing the enemy Gen
v arren, iIlth corps, moves up to its support on
the right The battle is becoming general
Nearly all 0uraTtillery isengared and the clang
eroi the guns. the whistle OF grape and solid shot
The roar OF musketly, and the explosion Of the
enemy shells, flied miles of forest with awful
iumult The shells burst around me while
write. a
Iater-l2 O'Clock.
Itis Just now reported that Hancock has turned
the right flank Of the enemy below Spettsylvania
GoRrt House, and ls pressing on. The battle is
everywhere overwhelming in our favor.
Terrific firing has just commenced on the left,
yery, near General Grants headquarters.
The battle j. going on with terrible energy and
our success Is sad to be certain Prisoners are
| constantly comingin.
The following is dispatch sent by Gen. Han
cock this morning.
NEAR SPoTTsYLYANIA C0URT House !
May 1913 Al
have captured from thirty to forty guns. I
have finished UP johnson and am now going into
Early. W. j. HANCOCK
The guns captured have arrived at headquarters
BrIgadier-GeneFal Stuart, eommandinga brigade
in johnson 5 division, was captured
General Burnside column is reported to have
moved down on the railroad toward Eredericks-
burg, going in on the enemys rear. General
Warren, with the Fifth corps on the right. is now
ccnding heavy lines of ofsirmishers to feel the enc
my works in his front, which are supposed to be
Abandoned
tits impossible to ascertain all particulars at the
to he going on with decisive result. We are pres
sing the enemy everywhere General Wriehtis
slightly wounded but still in command Of the
Sixth corps