The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-05-14
THE BATTLE ON THURSDAY.

Jhe 6AIILe UN THURSDAY.
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Mr. l.. A. Hendricks Despatch.
HEADQUARTERS, FIFTH Army CoRrs, Tn TIN FlxLD,l
May l2-6 p. N.
There 10 lun IN the battle storm. which has RACED
with fearful and unprecedented fury since daylight. II
may be luI to another storm Of wilder neroeness
Meantime send by special messenger leading outline
Of the balle's progress since my despatch Of this
morning
Gen. Hancock captured, In his brilliant affair OF this
morning. seems, Thousand prisoners and thirty
two cannon instead OF the number sent you az TAKEN
Ny statement received at army headquarters Capt.
Aeade son Of Gen. Meade, which corroborated by
other star officers At this time the prisoners had
been brought u the accompanying report OF General
Hancock. II is correction glad to make; for IL u
seldom that tho reports captures do not place the
figures too high and compel their reduction afterwards
This victory OF the brave commander Of tho Second
corps and his valiant troops has the arms Of our
soldiers in odays fight beyond precedent and they have
fought with unparalleled steadness in this most
desperate OF all our battles.
The main fight has thus far been on our left The
Second corps fought four hours-a long, severe and
deadly strife. In the field lie large numbers Of our
gallant dead, whom a mourning nation when they como
10 read how nobly they fought and fell, will mourn as
hallowed heroes
superhuman effort has been made to turn this flank;
but columns Of infantry stand Arm and by their
continuous muskery. and the steady streams OF shot
and shell from our cannon pushed tho enemy back,
covering the disputed ground with piles OF rebel dead
At length the Sixth corps to the relief Of the
Second, and, in addition has taken largo number or
prisoners twelve cannon With like steadiness and
herosm they have whstood the desperate assaults or
the foe and pressed upon them In two with mus
kes bayonetted forcing the enemy at this point two
miles back Of the position they held this morning Our
troops hold the road and rising ground which Is andc
mans house, where the enemy had several batteries sta
toned and parallel lines Of strong earthworks Losing
this point is loss to them for was the best
point along their entire line.
The attack here was Simultaneous with that made on
the left The nrst Division Of the Fifth corps in obcypc
the orders TO push forward the enemys skirmshers,
went forward half mile in their earthworks
Fixing bayones, they 10 advance further
nre voey and then take the enemys works at the
point Of the bay onet.
They pressed up to within fifty yards Of tho encmys
ntrenohments, when the enemy nrcd them with
grape and canister.
Multitudss fell In the onward struggle and stl
did not yield in their attempt to storm the enomys works
Rcniocsments the assistance OF the enemy and
to avoid being nanked, troops obliged TO fall
back, which, however, they did in the best order.
This division. commanded by General Griffin, never
showed greater courage than in this attack also did
General wrights, General Couters and General Craw.
ford's divisions OF the corpe.
Tho enemy attempted afterwards TO drive thom from
their position, but have been unable TO do SO.
Our losses thus far have been heavy, but II believed
the enemy's losses much heavier.
II is rumored that General Wright, commanding Gene
raj wadsworihs old divisIon wounded bu, the
10 NOT subs:antiated.
General Leo not Captured.
We are authorized by the War Department TO state
that tho capituaton Of the rebel Les and
his army is untrue.
Tho public viii be oficialy notified Of oil prominent
events.