Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-05-19
The Great Battles in Virginia.
Most Terrible Conflicts of the War.
Rebels Steadily Forced Back.

day, the fifth, and bringing it down to We'd
nesday, the eleventh
The Tribune has letter from the Potomac
army dated Thursday night, saying that early
that morning the march was resumed in the
direction of Tods Tavern, which point was
reached before noon, and Gen. Wilson, COM
handing Kilpatrlcks former cavalry division,
made his whereabouts known by brisk can
nonading several miles southwest of the Tay-
ern and in the vicinity of Shady Grove
Church, where, for three-quarters OF an hour
ne was sharply engaged, with large body OF
rebel cavalry, and a considerable force of in
fantry, by whom he was gradually forced
back upon the second corps.
Had not the maneuvers of Lee prevented,
night would have found Gen. Hancock's com
mand at Shady Grove Church connecting
with Gen. Warren on his right. By this
maneuver we would have occupied the pike
running in northwestern direction from
Germania ford on the Rapidan.
The movements of Lee soon revealed his
real design Gen Warren was directed to
attack him at once, which he did about A.
NJ. A determined fight of about an hour and
a half ensued, in which Warren drove him
from his position with great loss. Grifin's
division of the 5th corps led the attack and
suffered severely, nearly 1000 being killed,
wounded and missing.
Finding his effort to break Our center fu-
tile, the enemy next attempted to lnterpOse
an overwhelming force between Warren and
Hancock, the latter Of whom, in accordance
with orders, was marching his corps rapidly
to form junction with the former Fortu-
nately his advance, consisting Of Blrney's
corps, came up Just in time to circumyent the
rebel General who at 2 P. NJ commenced an
onslaught on the divisions of Birney, Gibbons
and Getty. The latter had been temporarily
detached to form the extreme right Of Han
cocks command.
The fight ragged until some time after dark
and resulted in the complete repulse of the
enemy at all points. Our loss does not proba
bly, exceed l 900 men. Scarcely any artille
ry was brought into position, the character Of
the ground rendering it useless. The battle
field is covered with thick growth of under
brush and medium sized oak trees, and it is
owing to that fact that our losses are com
paratively light. Our captures in prisone:
are about 500.
When Hancock's corps retired toward Par
kers Store, 500 Of the 18th Pa cavalry, under
Major Brunton, sent to relieve the pickets sew
eral miles below on the Spottsylvania road
were attacked by large body Of rebel troop
ers and driven back to Tod's Tavern in con
fusion, and quite a large number taken pris
| oners by the rebels.
The special correspondent of the Times
writing from headquarters at the Wilderness
Tavern, Friday evening" gives the following
| intelligence:
''The great battle of Friday has closed upol
terribly hard fought field and the Army 0
| the Potomac has added another to its muir
derous conflicts. Lees tactics, so energetic
| ally employed at Chancellorville and Gettys
burg, Of throwing his whole army first upol
one wing and then upon another, has again
been brought to bear, but [ rejoice that tn
Army of the Potomac has repulsed the on
! slaught Of the enemy and stands solidly to
night in the position it assumed this morning
"The first attempt was made upon Hancock
whose right was somewhat weakened in nun
| bers by the battle yesterday, but the iron OLE
second corps nobly stood its ground. Thel
the enemy hurled his battalliOns upon Sedg
wick and once or twice gained temporar.,
| advantage, but the old veterans of this corp
were nobly rallied and repulsed the rebel
with fearful slaughter
''About half past P. NJ Lee made a fem
upon the whole line, then suddenly fell wit
whole force upon Sedgwick, driving him bac
temporarily, but the advantage was soon re
gained and the rebels hurled back with grea
loss Night now came on and it is believe,
at Headquarters at this hour that Lee ha
withdrawn from our front.
"Although the nature of the ground ha
been of terrible character, most of it bein
| so thickly wooded as to render movements al
but impossible, and to conceal the operation
of the enemy, yet he has been signally re
pulsed in all his attacks, and nothing but tn
nature of the battlefield prevented it fror
being a total defeat to him.
The Herald has the following relative to tn
battles of Friday and Saturday:
At o'clock in the morning the contes
was renewed against our line and the roar an
hum of battle came from every quarter
From certain indications it was conclude
that Lee was reinforcing Longstreet on Han
cocks front, and part of Burnside's corp
accordingly moved to his support, taking
position to the left of Gen. Warren and com
pleted filling the gap into which the two brig
AIDES had been thrown the previous evening
On moving at daylight toward the assigne
position through a close forest, they found
occupied by the rebels, prepared to disput
its possession. The fighting at this poin
was over by o'clock, finding it impossible
| W ulSIOuSt bLC ICUCIS IIOIII GuClI pOSlJlOl
Early in the morning Hancock was drive
| back close to his breastWOrks by a superiO
force, but subsequently rallied his men an
succeed in regaining most Of the ground.
Between 10 and l o'clock, however, Long
street succeeded in turning the left OF hi
advance and throwing it into great confusion
This extended along the entire line and nearl
involved the whole corps in inextricable cor
fusion. He was once more forced back to hi
breastworks and the rebels actually plante
their colors inside them but could not sustai
| themselves and were elected. At this tim
| heavy reinforcements were thrown to his SUI
| port from Burnside's corps and his men were
rallied and taken well in hand and the DANCE
| of further disaster removed.
The charge of Longstreet was completed
overwhelming. Solid masses of infantr
were hurled upon Hancock, time after time
with an impetuosity nothing could withstand
| This was exceedingly fortunate for the ct
Corps and the whole army. He was checke
at the critical period and driven back with a
much precipitancy as he came.
The ground in front of Hancock had beer
fought over a number of times, and Their
were vast numbers of wounded and dying O
the field.
At night Hancock occupied his breast
works and had nothing but a few prisoner
and rebel dead to show for the slaughter G
two days fighting. He behaved with cor
spicuous gallantry throughout, and was o.
the field in person where danger was thickest
Gen. Warren also rode along the lines.
The utmost surprise was manifested at tn
number of troops that Lee was able to brin
into action.
This corps retained their first position
however till darkness. About midnight
charge was made to which it gave way AM
! was unable to regain the ground thus lost =
| This of course compelled the abandonment o
the great portion of the line of breastwork
4 -, g. 2 IL,