Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1864-05-12
THE WAR In VIRGINIA.
Three Days of Hard Fighting near
Charlottesville.

ONt-VJtJ
Miles, Nth Great Slaughter.
The Grand Army of the Potomac
crossed the Rapidan on Wednesday
The Cd Corps moved on Tuesday tc
the mills opposite Ely's Ford On
Wednesday morning at 4 o'clock, the
cavalry crossed and drove the rebeI
pickets from the opposite nights, meet
ing no opposition. A position was
gained, and the Corps moved on a,
= o'clock, taking the road to Chancel
louisville, at which place Gen. Hancock
would establish his headquarters.
Here fcelers were sent out to ascertain
the enemy's position. 1t was discov.
cred that the whole of Lees army was
in Gen. Meade's immediate front. Two
severe engagements ensued, in which
there was considerable damage on
both sides. Developments showed
Lee to have his whole force in our
front. This knowledge of their posi-
tion was Of course highly important,
and was. thus obtained only by the
greatest skill in handling our troops.
1t not being the purpose of General
Meade to advance on the enemy, he
ordered a line of battle to be held till
morning
The Washington Republican Of
May 7th says:
The Government has information
this morning that, on Wednesday. at
daylight, Grants whole army was
entirely across the Rapidan. 1t march
ed to plain little beyond and near
the old Charlottesville battle ground,
when Lee was forced out of his works
and offered battle, which was at once
accepted. The fight became fierce,
and lasted until dark, the enemy be-.
ing forced back some distance with
great loss, leaving most of his killed
and wounded in our hands. The two
armies lay on their arms all night
Wednesday, at daylight on Thursday
the battle opened again, and ragged
with the greatest fury on both sides
until dark, when it was found that the
enemy had been forced back, in the
two days fight, about two miles and
half, leaving heaps of dying. killed
and wounded on the field. Various
estimates are made of the number
slaughtered, but at this moment it is
useless to speculate on this subject
On Friday morning at o'clock, the
forces were marshaling for another
conflict. Grant was moving on Lees
works.
Up to this time Burnsidc's troops,
numbering 10000 men, had taken no
part in the battle but at 81 o'clock
he was marching into position to en-
gage in the bloody contest of the third
days battle. The result of this days
battle we have no report of up to 60
ing to press The battle commenced
AT 6 O'Clock in the morning. Unless
Lee received reinforcements equu 10
Burnside's Corps, the battle of Friday
must have proved terribly disastrous
to him. The fact that he received
none, during yesterdays fighting,
leads to the belief that Lee is endeav-
oring TO get away to Richmond, and
that Grant is in pursuit. ....
1t is evident that the rebel forces
about Richmond cannot be spared to
reinforce Lee, as they have discover
ed that they have enough to attend to
there, probably from attacks upon the
city by Gen. Buffers forces. The
Government has unofficial advices
that after o three days. fight, Lees
lines wero driven in two miles, and
that Grant was in pursuit. Gen. But.
Ter was marching on Richmond in two
columns. The report is that Lee left
all his dead and wounded on the field
Many believe that it will be found that
General Grant has fanked Lee, and is
between his army and the works Of
Richmond.
LATER, BY WEDNESDAYS MAIL.
On Saturday at three o'clock Lee
was in full retreat through Spottsylva
mia, and when the messenger left Han.
cock was entering that place in pur,
suit.
Gen. Wadsworth was killed by a
ball in the forehead while leading his
troops against one Of the enemy's
strongest positions. Gen. Webb was
wounded.
Longstreet is badly wounded.
The condition of our army is repre-
scented as admirable.
We have taken large number o.
prisoners-more than we have lost.
The War Department has just re
ceived from Gen Butler the official re
port of Gen. Lee, who reports that the
rebel Gems. Jenkins and Jones wer,
killed, and Gen. Pegram badly woun
ded on Thursday. Butler is report
cd within 10 miles Of Richmond. TIN
belief at Washington is that Grant i
achieving complete victory.
Lee was forced to fight at Spottsyl
vania on Sunday, and was again re
pulsed and compelled to retreat.
report from rebel sources says lie
has been wounded.
Dispatches show that Butler is still
holding the line Of railrad between Pc
tersburg and Richmond, preventing
Beauregsrd from reinforcing Lee. ii
had severe battle with Beauregard
whipped him. and succeeded in DE-
stroying the southern railroad