Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1864-05-20
Chr agafpra jJaqajyer.
BEDFORD ri. FRIDAY, NAY 2a 1864.
TME GRRAT RArTLEs.

e oS VIC kliC itbSe u SifiiNE 10 the Qet3H
of the fierce battles that has been raging for almost
avery day for neartwo weeks Thoughthe results
1t this writing are not decisive yet We feel very
lopetul and sanguine that the chief armies Of the
rebels viii be routed aud destroyed before the fight
Sns pow gong on IS brought to a close We give
aresume Of the operations Of the Army ofthe Po-
tomac from the time it crossed the Rapdan, down
to the latest dates
lFedaealay, Aqg i4tt-The Army Of the Poto-
mac madeiis forvagtsinoy elnent q Tuesday
at midnight crossing the Rapidan at several iords
without serious opposition about fifteen miles
above Fredericksburg The army consists Of tie
Second Corps, Gen. Hancock Fifth Corps, Gen.
Warren; Sixth Corps, Gen Sedgwiek Wednes-
day night our army encamped in the Wilderness,
two Or three miles west Of Ghancellorsyille where
the headquarters were established
Ttaasdag. 5tA.-Lee finding our army had pas
sed the Rapidal and out ut-maneuyered him, moved
his army from Gordonsve, and early in the morn
ing choosing his ground The roads were narrow
and bounded on either side with dense growth Of
young pine, chinlopin and scrubby oak. with an
underground Of hazel, that rendered the forests
inpenetrable. An advance in line of battle was
almost impossible. aud artillery could not be
brought into. action at all Lee adhered to has old
tactics by hurlng his army against our fanks and
centre, intending to whip Us in detail He was
every where rep,Tlsed We gained no decisive adj
vantage in this day fight Gen. Hays was killed
on the left During the night Gen. GraAt pre-
pared for attack on the following morning The
corps Of Gen, Rurnside-the 9tfl-numbering 30
600 men, which had been stationed at Warrenton,
was brought forward and assigned to position as
reserve.
Friday 6h "A great battle was fought on this day.
lasting from daylight until dark, Cen Grant, max
ing the attack During the day Lee repeated his
tactics Of Thursday but was again repulsed. The
slaughter on both sides was very great, our army
because Of the nnf;rvorable nature Of the ground
and the superior knowledge Of that ground BY the
enemy, suffering the most, But the moral effects
Of the days fighting were with us. The Rebels
had gained nothing-haying again failed to break
our line. Gen Wadsworth was killed
Saturday 7ti.-This was mainly 4 rapid march
ing day with the infantry Of both armies-I4ee
striving to get into good position on the North
Anna aud Grant to intercept and llarrass him -
The opposing cavalry forces, however, had fierce
clash about six miles north Of Spottsylvana Court
House, resulting in our advantage The different
corps also had some lighting during the dag.
Sunday, Stj-Eehting was renewed on the
morning of this day, Gen. MEADE commencing
the attack. The Rebels were driven out Of their
hastily constructed breastworls, about two and
half miles from the Court House The fight was
not general one, nor a very severe one. Gen.
!, I
eral Fl. G. WRIGHT. After dark the Rebels at
tempted night surprise, but were driven back
Aondag, 9th-Thcrc was skrmishing this nor
ming but no fighting Of consequence occurred un-
til the afternoon, when severe Ggh6 took place
between Hancock and the RebC3 righs under
LoNGsTREEr WARREN. coInmandif & our center,
was also engaged. We drove the enemy half a
mile General SHERIDAN, commanding the cav
airy corps, on this day succeeded III getting in the
eneIny's rear; tore up eight or ten miles of the
Virginia Central Rrilroad captured aud destroyed
two locomotives and three trains heavily laden
with supplies for LEES army; destroyed hisdepot
of supplies at Beaver Dam, and recaptured S7S
of our men, including several officers.
Tuesday loH, There was greatbattle fought
this day. The enemy attempted once more to
turn our flank and it was only after a struggle Of
extraordinary severity that he was repulScd and
our lines were re-established. Later in the day a
vigorous attempt was made by GRANT upe. the
enemy with such success that our troops took
from LEE several thousand prisoners and num-
her Of guns. Oar losses on this day were very
probably not less than nine thousand in
all Generals RICE and STEVENSON we're kill
ed
Wednesday,, ilh.-To-Slay General GRANT tele-
graphed to the War Department that the result Of
six days fighting was much in opr favor" The
army was comparatively quiet during tie day 4
letter dated at seven o clock in the evening SAYS
"0ur position is the same as at the close Of yes
terlav' battle. There has been active skirnlish-
ing nearly all day, hut no general engagement
Our batteries at intervals have sheled the enemy
to prevent his throwing up earth works. which lie
attempted to do On this day the cavalry COM
mand of Gen. SHERIDAN met and defeated the
cavalry command Of Gen STUART. and also de-
stroyed additional quantity Of rebel stores and
several miles of railroad.
Thursday, l2tt-'i'he greatest battle Of the war
was fought this day, and the army of the Potomac
achieved splendid victory The enemy was
completely surprised at very early hour in the
morning by an attack in force BY Gen HANCOCK
The fighting during the day was terrific, but the
Rebels utterly failed to recover the ground lost in
the morning. terrible infantry fight was kept
up during the night, and at daylight LEE aban-
doned the strongly entrenched position Of Spott-
sylyania Court House, leaving in our hands eigh-
teen guns, twenty-five colors and 1000 prisoners
He, had been badly whipped. This day SHERIDAN
again met and defeated the enemy's cavalry, and
penetrated within the outer inc Of the defenses
of Richmond