The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1864-05-19
pETAlLsoF THURSDAYS FIGHT.
WAsalxoTov, Nav Is.

DAYS brilliant success, the dispatches
from Ingalll, Grant; Hancock andsoth-
srs. announcing il; the statements Of the
prisoners. the guns and collars We have
captured, and the inspiring news from
Butler and Sigel, that completed the
circle Of our triumphs, and made this
the happiest day that Washington has
known for many 4month---all this may
be leftto the associated Press to .ell,-|
Meanwhile the following details just ro'
ceivedi at this bureau, from correspond
snlS on the battle fields, pOSeSs a spe'
cial interest: o1' galH-o0-8ir . '.,i 4
The battle Thursday Yves the most
decided success which the Army Of The
Potomac has yet attained, as we'll Ssthe,
most desperate struggle Of the eight
days fighting. " - lt'F ~
Early in The morning Hancock made
a most brilliant charge on the enemy's
right, sweeping theirtwo lines Of breast
works, capturing 40 pieces Of artillery
and 5000 prisoners. Following this a
general attack began and continued tu-
fiously for some four hours, when there
was aluitup to late hour ofths night
Wednesday passed IN quiet. The bat.
lies Of the two preceding days had ssrV.
ed 10 show the enemy's line in front Of
Spottsylvonia Court House, was so for
tilted that to, attempt to carry it by as
sault would have been madness, but
one point in It had been found where
the works did not seem to defy our al
tempt at charging upon them, ond by .
singular coincidence that was APPOINT OF
lines where therslwas elmost a gap in
our own lines, between Wright'S Qate
Sedgwick's corps and that Of Burnside.
Hitherto the enemy's policy had been
TO mass his forces and attack US in over.
whelming numbers. 1t was resolved,
in partial least, to give him q taste Of
his own tactics. Shortly before mid
night Wednesday night, Hancock began
moving. During the day he had held
the extreme right. By hard marching
he passed in the utmost silence along
almost the entire length of our lines,
and reached the point between Wright
and Burnside where our lines were SO
thin. Meanwhile the enemy, remgm.
bering that on Wednesday they had
suffered none from any fire OF this point,
were giving it no attention, and had no
expectation of any attack from this
quarter. Their latest reconnoisaDce had
Hound Hancock on our right, and from
Burnside they expected the brunt Of the
mornings assault. The morning broke
slow and dim; heavy mist overhung
the field and concealed our movements.
The enemy were still waiting for the at,
tack on our right, when, to their utter
and complete surprise, hell, fire burst
out from this unexpected point. where
yesterday they had found no opposition,
and in an instant Hancock's corps char.
ged with triumphant cheers and in mag.
nifcent style over their outer row Of
breastworks. Though stunned by the
sudden and unexpected onset, they were
still true to their oft proved bravery. =
Rallying on the instant, they made the
best defense they could and desperately
contested our further advance. II was
splendid but in vain. Their lines melted
away before our resistless charge; broke
into eddyiug fragments, and were sweep
back in the fierce tide of the attack
The outer line OF the breastworks had
been carried by the first rush. This
brief fight ended in our sweeping ovel
the second and tapping our TANKS around
the last and brayest Of its defenders.
Five thousand prisoners-a whole di
yision-with its commander, Major Gen
Johnston, a! its head; forty pieces of ar
tilIery, battle flags without number
Such were the trophies with which Gen
Hancock thus began the day. Among
the officers captured, besides the msjoi
general commanding the division, was biz
brother, another General Johnston, ant
General G. H. Stuart, formerly of Bal
Iimore, both commanding brigsles.
Our brilliant success aroused thu
highest enthusiasm in the army, and tht
men seemed as eager for The battle 81
they had been on the fret day in thu
wilderness HOucock's gallant stroke
was made just at the right time ant
place, for al every other point the enc
my's works were very strong and vel
guarded. To have made this attack il
front would have been most disastrous.
The news from Sheidun's cavalry
expedition, is ofths most satisfactory ma
ture. He has torn up ten miles Of The
Orange and Gordonsville railroad, thu
principal avenue Of supplies for Lees ar
my. He reGaplured 500 prisoners OF
their way to Richmond, and took fou
cannon. ia
After Hancock captured johnson snt
his division, a highly interesting inter
view took place, when Johnston wa
Ihrnupht In henhnuArtnrs Meade nm