Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-05-17
NEWS FROM THE SOUTHWEST
Steele Confident Of Maintain
Ing the Line Of the Ar
kansas,
The Enemy Preparing for Another
Battle
He VIII Give Battle as Soon as
Grant Advances.
FROM WASHINGTON.
Especial Dispatch to the Cleveland Leader.l
First Dispatch.

- ~ a~@A tSSSSOAe
RAsHISGroK, May 16.-6P.N.
Your correspondent with the Army of
the Potomac, sends the following:
GEN. CHANTS HEADQUARTERS,
Friday, May 18.-9PH.
1t was ssoertsined in the course Of the
day that the enemy had merely fallen back
short distance to another defensive posi-
ton, little more to the right Of that held
BY them yesterday. The total number OF
rebel guns in our lines on Thursday, at
one time, was fOrty-tWo, but General Han
VVOA VIoLLIs ~ H0VS DEVuSHV OIE UuS EIIIE ~
The ground fought over by Hancock on
Thursday presents the most awiul spects-
Gle exhibited in the history of the Army Of
the Potomac. The dead and wounded
were literally hesped up in piles. Nearly
one thousand dead were lying on piece
of ground covering but few acres. All
the wounded that could be moved have
been sent to Fredericksburg.
The roads are in a terrible condition
rendering the moving Of trains and artil-
lery very difficult.
In the attack by Hancock on Thursday,
BsrloWs division had the advance, formed
in column by bsttslions, followed by Bir-
ney's in double line of battle, and Motifs
and Gibbons divisions forming the sec
ond line.
The whole column advanced upon the
enemy's bresstWOrks, and carried them
without firing e gun. The advance was
to be made with the utmest silence, and
the surprise Of the enemy would have
been complete, had it not been for cheer
ing BY the second line. The testimony Of
prisoners is that hsd it not been for this,
both Lee and Ewen would have been cap
tured. They sd no time, however, to
mount their horses, but made their escape
on foot.
There is nothing in the history OF the
war equal to the desperation Of the strug-
gle between Hsncock's and Ewell's corps
in the course of thursday, over the pos
session Of the rebel intrenchmenis.
The enemy made five furious but unsuc.
cessful sttemps 10 regain possession
charging up to the very parspet snd
planting their cOlOrs upon and e1chang
ing shots and bsyonet thrusts over it
More persistent gsilsntry and reckless
ness Of life was never exhibited on eithel
side. A large number Of rebel wounded
are in our hands. Our dead hare mostly
been buried, those Of the enemy are still
} untouched The rebel General johnson
acknowledges having been taken entirely
by surprise by Hsncock's attack. Hi
command was enjoying their breakfss
when onr troops fell upon them. H
E was collsred by Captain
t He says that one Of his stsi
officers buried General Wsdsworth Ac
cording to his statement General Lee toll
> his Generals that he would give Genera
: Grant three days to get out Of the Wilder
q ness back to the north side Of the Rapidan
The captured division is the one that mad
= the first attack on Grifin's division o.
!. Thursdsy, the 9th, turned the right Of th
Sixth Corps on the tvening Of Friday, tn
9 9Th, capturing Generals Seymour an
Slater, who are uninjured and doubles
= in Richmond by this time.
4 GENERAL GRABTs HEADo'Rs,l
!. May l4-7P.N.
Is General Grants turning movement
a our left is being continued. The 9th an
9th Corps were moved during last night
n the left Of Burnside's position with awe
J. from its present position.
., They had orders to attack at dsyligb
but no firing has been heard up to tn
time. It is supposed that the heavy road
y delayed the movement.
n The lines Of both armies extended ov,
" the stretch of country lying between Il
Ny and Po rivers, the enemy facing nor
Of east and our army south Of west.
y On Saturday, May l4th at II o'clock y
= Generals Grant and Meade moved the
Sc headquarters, and established them at
point above half mile north Of the