Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-05-28
The Great Battle of Thursday May lsth---HOw
il was Won.


From the Correspondent of the Cincinnati Ga
zette, May I4th.
The battle of Thursday was the most de-
cided success which the Army of the Potomac
has yet attained, as well as the most despe-
rate struggle of the eight days fighting
Early in the morning Hancock made a
most brilliant charge on the enemy's right,
sweeping their two lines of breastworks, cap
turing forty pieces of artillery and 5000 pris-
oners. Following this a general attack be-
gan and continued furiously for some four
hours, when there was lullup to late hour
of the night. Wednesday night passed in
quiet. The battles of the two proceeding
days had served to show that the enemy's
line in front of Spottsylvania Court House
was SO fortified that to attempt to carry it by
assault would have been madness, but one
point in it had been found where the works
did not seem to defy our attempt at charging
upon them, and by singular coincidence
that was point in the line where there was
gap in our own lines, between Wright's
Gate Sedgwick's) corps and that of Burn
side. Hitherto the enemys policy had been
to mass his forces and attack us in overwhelm-
ing numbers. 1t was resolved, in part at
least, to give him a taste of his own tactics.
Shortly before midnight, Wednesday night,
Hancock began moving. During the day he
had held the extreme right. BY hard march
ing he passed in the utmost silence along al
most the entire length of our lines, and reach
ed the point between Wright and Burnside
where our lines were SO thin.
Meanwhile the enemy remembering that
they had suffered none from any fire at this
point, were giving it no attention, and had no
expectation of any attack in this quarter.
Their reconnaissance had found Hancock on
our right, and from Burnside they expected
to meet the brunt of the morning assault
The morning broke slow and dim; heavy fog
overhung the field and concealed our move
ments. The enemy were still waiting for the
attack on our right, when to their utter and
complete surprise hell-fre burst out from
this unexpected point, where yesterday they
had found no opposition, and in an instant
Hancock's whole corps was charged with tri-
umphant cheers and in magnificent style over
their outer row of breastworks. Though
stunned by the sudden and unexpected onset
they were still true to their oft proved BRAY
cry. Rallying on the instant they made the
best defence they could, and desperately con-
tested our further advance. 1t was splendid
but it was in vain. Their lines melted away
before our resistless charge; broke into ed
dying fragments, and were swept back in the
first tide of the attack. The outer line of
the breastworks had been carried by the first
rush. This brief fight ended by our sweeping
over the second and tapping our TANKS around
the bravest of its defenders.
Five thousand prisoners-a whole division
with its commander, Maj. Gen. johnson, at
its head; forty pieces of artillery, battle flags
without number. Such were the splendid
trophies with which Gen. Hancock thus be.
gan the day. Among the officers captured,
besides the Major General commanding the
division, was his brother, another Gen. John
son, and Gen. G. III. Stuart, formerly of Balti-
more, both commanding brigades.
Our brilliant success aroused the highest en-
thusiasm in the army, and the men seemed as
eager for the battle as they did the first day
in the Wilderness. Hancock's gallant stroke
was made just at the right time and place, for
at every other point the enemy's works were
very strong and well guarded. To have made
this attack in front would have been most
disastrous.
After Hancock captured johnson and his
division, highly interesting interview took
place, when Johnson was brought to head
quarters. Meade and johnson had been
chums in the old army in other days, and they
readily recognized each other. johnson was
introduced to Grant, and friendly chat en-
sued, in which the fact was mentioned that
ufdllI anu nc OhCS oCCuplcu pOsltIOnS III TIC
same brigade.
johnson was known to nearly all Meade's
staff officers, and there were many recogni-
tions and anxious inquiries. General Hunt,
chief of artillery, greeted him with Ed. |
am glad to see you," to which Johnson, half
facetiously and half seriously, replied: "Well
Hunt, under the circumstances, am not glad
to see you; you look at the matter very phil
osophically." He assured us we would have
hard time of it yet, although he admitted that
we had dealt them heavy blow. His dress
is the faded, dilapidated suit that rebel Gen.
erals wear his SLOUGH hat is much the worse
for wear, and in no part of his dress is there
anything like style. He put ON no airs what
ever, unlike the cockney Stuart, who, when
Gen. Hancock, his gallant captor, offered his
hand, refused, saying his feelings would not
allow him to shake hands.
By eight o'clock a terrible rain and hail
storm began to mingle with the crash, and
storm of artillery and musketry that was
sweeping over SpOttsylvania, the fighting be-
ing now mostly in open ground, which gave
the artillery fair play. The heaviest fire was
now coming from Warren's corps, which held
our centre. There was no advancing, howev-
er, and seemingly little was gained on either
side. The rebel artillery played furiously
for while on Grants and Meade's headquar
tiers. After its firing had subsidized the despe
The last four or five hours had done fierce
work, as Scared trees and many dead bodies
of men and horses plainly told.
~
Gen, Washburn's Recent Order.