, 1864-05-17

ern. Ne shall doubtless, to-day, feel for Tard
toward Spotsylvania Court House, where we
sh1 PG9eh na s.1t The sh r. possu
able they will reach $4,000. Tic loss Of the
enemy cannot vary much from that fg ure,
and ne hare taken 5000 prisoners. :.
The Baltic Of Sundny, Nay 8.
NEAR SroTslLvAN1A Counr HOUSE,, VA-,l
Monday, Nay 9-2p N. !
I have this morning returned from our ad-
vauced line Of battle, which lies within two
and half miles Of Spotsylyunia Court
Honse, the esemy confronting IN force. Oar
ing, Warreu's Corps h&TinE the advance, and
heavy fighting took place durlas the day. It
wQs hoped that ne could have reached Spot
s1lvania before the enemy would be able to
make that point; but in the foot race which
the two armies ran on Saturday night, from
the battle ground of the Wilderness, the
rtbels beat us. Longstreet, 1t appears, start
ed at II p. NJ. Of Saturday; our advance left
at 10p. m. The two columns marched By
parallel roads, but Longstreet's corps had
time to arrive and form line Of battle, aud
rhen our force was thrown ont to feel the
enemy this morning, he WAS found in posi-
tion. Our first attack Was made BY Bartlet:s
brigade Of Grif1in's Division, on the right OF
the road, with Robinson's Division on his
left Bartlett had been ordered By Gen. War
rem to attack In column. under the belief that
only rebel cavalry would be found. Instead
lsrEstreet's corps, anc bis brigade, already
reduced by the fearful losses Of the
three days battle Of tic Wilderness, mas
fIight1ully cut up. One of his regi-
ncnts, the 1st Michigan, went IN
one hundred strong and came out NTH bnt
Number In fifteen minutes. Roblnsoa's d.
vision, which held the left, vas also roughly
basdled, and broke in disorder. Seeing this,
Gen. Warren seized the division fas and raj
lied the men in person. Fresh troops were
thrown In, and a1ter fighting from 8 n till
songht-an >pen space up to the woods in
which the rebel lins mas Termed. In this
engagement General Robinson was severely
| wounded in the leg, and will have to lose his
limb.
At 6 p. H., two fresh divisions, namely,
10th cerps,} were thrown In, and attet Sc
1cTe engagement lasting for IN hour and a
half, Crawford carried the rebel position,
took their hrst line Of breastworIs, and cap
turcd over hundred prisoners. This ended
tie action Of yesterday. For the numbers
engaged, our losscs we're extremely severe,
and will count up tot 500.
This morning found our line established
tive and half miles thla side of Spotsylya-
nia Court House, and sccare1y intreacled.
Longstreet has also been strengthened ~ the
arrival OF Ewell's corps. The rebel line lies
and it will be position somewhat difficult
| to carry. should 1t be decided to make di-
! rect attack
| 1t will be observed on the map that our
| prett Mt position carries us many miles south
ant. in the rear of Fredericksburg, whose
| famous fortified heights arc In our possession
| without the need of firing shot. II Mill be
used rs q dcpat and for hospitals, and scEsra1
thousand Of our wsunded were yesterday
scut there. / small army of 500 sEeybAcks
hare also just been marched hy headqaarters
en- -"ute to the same point. They arc gener-
ais hearty. looking fellows, and rather bet
ter clad and sh0d than I have ever seen
tltm.
Everything thus far has gone on satisfacto-
ril,, although 1t would doubtless have been
better had We been able to lind in ooportunl.
TT OF fighting decisive battle, .
Tbs Army Of the Fo:oHsc is in superb con-
ditfon and spirits-in fact, Tas never before
in any such condition. VIC are going On to
Richmond, depend upon It; at le.st, some
peared will have to present itself to stop us.
Butler, nc see by the Richmond p2pers oi
yesterday. is between Petersburg and Rich
mend; aigel and Aycrlll are In the right
place, and you will presently hear from the
cav a'r7 corps Of this army. under the bold
and energetic leadership Of sheftd IN, IN q
Nay tlat will throw all previous raids into
The headquarters Of tie Lieutenant General
aBe Gen. Meade are always established nral
eacl, other, and In action the tTo Generate
and their stafa are always together. General
Meade retains the immediate command oi
this urnny, while Gen. Grant exercises gen
crxl supervision over the movements ovel
the whole field. In regard to the operations
| of this army, the two Generals are In conzsan
consultation, and It would, think, be hard
to say how much his own practical share In
the command il. Perhaps may say thai
combinations, while Gen. Meade lakes charge
Of their technical execution.
The rebel papers acknowledge loss oi
two general officers killed and two mortally
wounded, while 1t is noW positively ascer.
taized that Longstreet also is wounded.
P. s.-Ne have this moment bee3 shocked
by the announcement that Gen. Sedg WICK,
commander of the 9th army corps, has Just
been killed hy SHOT through the head. He
was standing up with Ills staff In his advanced
line Of breastworks, ard was picked off By 9
rebel eharpshooter perched IN 2 tree. Ths
ball entered the face little below the e{e r
lived for hnlf IN hour after being struck, ant
. then expired. His body has Just passet
hesdQuafters in An ambulance. 1t Will b.
| embalmed and sent North. The prefoundas
grief is felt ut the death Of the lion.heartet
: chicftain, and It is felt that re could bette
afford to lose q whole division Of the arm
than one whose ralor, Illustrated on so man
fielda, We can III spare at this time. H
never fought SO well as in the arduous thre
, 3avR' fight in the Is Wilderness" ind it was
, matter of general remark how splendid
; Sedgwick had been doing. It is presume
: that Gen. Wright will take the vacant co 4
: mand Of the 9Th corps,
Skfrrnls.eR of M onday. May 10. 3.