The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1864-05-12

n uofcro uInJ entuou, ana our Two /
brigades held their ground against ev-
identity greater numbers, for nearly an
hour; bat the enemy succeeded in
overlapping Ayers regular brigade,
and forcing it back, threatening tho
flank of Bartlett's, which being expo
sod, it was, also, soon forced back for
some distance. Two pieces Of the Sd
Massachusetts Battery had to be left
behind, in consequence Of the killing
of nearly all the horses, and fell into
tho hands of tho enemy, Switzer's
brigade and Wadsworth's of Robert
sons division were ordered forward
and relieved the two brigados. The
enemy soon attacked them, but were
held at bay. Brisk muskotry and ar
tillery firing was kept up for an hour
longer, when the enemy drew off from
that part of our limo. Our loss in this
affair was quito severe, Ayers and
Bartlett's brigades principally suffer
ling. No definite figures can now be
given, but the total viii probably not
exceed six hundred in killed, wounded
and missing. Among the wounded
are General Bartlett, Slightly, Colonel
Hayes, 18Th Massachusetts, slightly,
Colonel Gwyn, 10th Pennsylvania,
Colonel Gurney, 9th Massachusetts,,
Colonel Lombard, 4th Michigan. We
took about threo hundred prisoners
Hancock's corps has been ordered to
turn off the road; he had started out
and marched over cross road as rap
idly as possible for this point, to COM
plete our line of battle. About three
o'clock in the afternoon, after the fight
on tho center had closed, a movement
by tho enemy was discovered, evident
| ly intended TO throw q force betweeR
Hancock, and the remainder Of the
army. Getty's division of Sedgwick's
corps, was ordered at once to stay
this dangerous demonstration. Han
cocks advanced (-division) arrived
just in time to form with Getty, to the
left and right of tho plank road lead
ing directly from Charlottesville to Or
ange Courthouse. General Grant or
dered them to attack the advancing
enemy, in order to give the remaining
l divisions OF Hancock time to come up,
and they did so, and became at onco
heavily engaged, in woods so thick,
that it was almost impossible to ad-
vance in line.
Birneys division of the I'd corps
soon camo up and dcquietly formed on
the right Of Gctty's; Bartlctt's and
Gibbons divisions formed q second
limo. AS they came up in vast force,
pressed energetically and repeatedly
on tho front, and thore was a most flu
rious musketry fight for nearly two
hours. The heavy timber and dense
undergrowth rendered the use Of ar
tillery impossible, and only few
rounds from heavy pieces were fired
on either side. But, as to violence,
the muskctry surpassed everything in
the history of the army of the Poto-
mac Our line steadily held its ground
until Whites corps formed, when
nightfall prevented an advance on our
part and put an end to the fight. Kads-
worth's divisions and brigade of
Robinson's division, under command
Of General Robinson, were ordered to
take tho enemy in front of Hancock
|, by tho right flank, but darkness also
prevented the full execution of this
Operation. Tho loss on our left will
probably reach one thousand, inclu-
ding General Alex Hays, killed, Colo.
pels Cortland and Tyler, wounded
Hancock's Rca behaved most 'admira-
bly,. The 5th Now York cavalry, in
advance on the road to Parker's store,
was attacked by superior force in tho
morning, and fell back with consider
able loss. General Sheridan sent q
message to General Meade in the eve-
ring, to tho effect that ho had met a
part Of Stuart's cavalry and was dri-
wing them in every direction.
The events of this day may be sum-
med up as follows: General Ice made
two attacks to cut our army in two,
both on the right and lett, by gotting
between the river and Warrens and
Sedgwick's corps, with only part Of
; Burnside s across on the ono side, and
between Hancocks corps, and the re-
mainder Of the army on tho other
That he failed in both purposes, not
withstanding his two we'll conceived
attacks, constitutes most Substantial
success for Geaeral Grant. Not quite
one half of the array was engagod to-
day. To- night all the corps arc full
ly up, and Geaora Grant has at his
command an ample force with which
he will make general attack upon
tho enemy at daylight (Friday).-
There was heavy firing on Sedgwicks g
part of the line after dark, but it was
of short duration, 1t is understood
that it was brought about by an ad-
vaace ON our sido to clear cur front.
xho Movement south OF tlre Jamos River
An Army Within Fifteen Mixes OF
Richmond.
New York, May SIN tho occupa-
ton of City Point there is splendid
chancc for cxultation hero, and we are
devoutly thankful. City Point has
become ours without struggle. The
Union forces are securely planted in q
splcndidly advantageous position,
within fifteen miles of tho rebel Capt.
tai. Our troops are landing as rapidly
as possible. 1t is now 3 o'clock, and
before nightfal tho greater part of the
| 81 Il.