Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1864-05-25
THE WAR NEWS,
Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
correspondence oftho N. Y. World. ]


SUNDAY, May l5-7 -7P.N.-For the moment
, the two gigantic armies of the Union and
the rebellion rest like gladiators in the
midst OF their combat, to gather strength
and to manwuyre for fresh advantages
Such an interval, brief though il NAV be.
Is sorely needed. Sinews Of iron could
not prevail against such unremitted fight.
ing and marching as the troops of this ar
my have had TO Undergo. 1t will have
been perceived that the efforts of our for.
ces have been chiefly directed against thr
flank Of the enemy. Every shift of the
battle has been toward our left We have
moved by the left flank continually.
At the close of Thursday a day of such
a battle as General Grant himself said was
never fought on this continent; the army
was in liue as follows; the Fifth corps on
the right, the sixth corps next, the Second
occupying the lett centre, and the Ninth
corps forming the left wing. This posi-
ton continued on Friday, no battle taken
/ place. Cur men were engaged burying
the DEAD and caring for the wounded du-
ling most OF that day and evening. The
cnemy's sharpshooters, watchfu as ever.
fired at every head which showed itself
/
officer, whose name | did not learn, was
shot dead while riding across the field.
An occasional cannonade broke in upon
the quiet Of the day, which was one of
rains aud terrible weather, spelling the
roads, which have now got from bad to
worse.
Notwithstanding the mud, another swift
ana bold man muvre was accomplished on
Friday night, again changing, toward the
left, the position of Our whole line. The
| Fifth and Sixth corps we're marched all
night, and the army yesterday morning
! faced the enemy about two miles above
| SpottsyivaNia Court House, along the Nv
river, between the 10 and Maltaponay
and across the fredericksburg and Spott-
sylvanIa Court House road-thus the Sc
cond corps on the right connecting with
the Ninth corps on the left, connecting
with burnside on the right, and the Sixth
corps held mostly in reserve on the left.
The headquarters Of the army, including
those Of General Grant, were established,
as also those Of the Sixth corps, at the
house of a noted and wealthy secessionist
named Gail, who, in company with his
brother, held possession Of an immense
estate, upon which that part Of our limo
OF battle, held by the Fifth md the re-
serve OF the Sixth corps, was disposed in
sight
Let il he understood that this doubling
movemcntof our line did not turn the en-.
my's flank as intended but, nevertheless,
it being in a southeastorly direction, was
an advance movement, and brought us so
much farther on our way. The enemy
was found in front, and ubiquitous rs ev-
er, and leisureIy engaged in Strengthening |
works, which are understood to be Of long /.
standing and very formidable. Observa- |
tion of the Geld yesterday forenoon reveal !
ed a curious sight. The advance forces of
both armies were quietly digging within !
four hundred Yards OF each other. cxpos- |
ing their bodies in full view without firing |
q shot. Batteries we're coolly placed in |
position, and the aspect showed that the !
troops on both sides were too worn out by !
harG lighting, and marching to waste their
strength in the useless duimosities OF the |
picket line.
Our batteries on the left about s 4. m
lazily felt Of the enemy's position and then .
5ubsided. A sharp and successful extern.
poraneous fight did occur on our left, how
ever, which resulted in more serious fight
ing in the afternoon. The enemy bad
possession of house across the Ny river
near the termination of our line of battle
"A commanding and dangerous position
Soon after Q o'clock Col. Upton's brigade
of Russel's division Of the Sixth corps,
with q portion Of the New Jersey brigade
Of the same corps, crossed the Ny, charged
up the hill, and took this house from them
after lively engagement. The day was
one Of showers. About the middle of the
afternoon, when one Of these showers was
at its height, General Meade, accompan-
led 10y General Wright, commanding the
Sixth corps, rode up TO this house, enter
ed it and sat down Cor light conference.
The ground was still held by Uptou's and
the New Jersey troops alluded TO, which, |
except the picllets, formed the extreme |
left OF our position. The two generals had /,
been conversing but few mlnu. .es, when .
a sudden rattle of musketry from above |
startled both. The next instant another
volley nearer, and accompapi ied with wells |
that could not te mistaken, was heard, |
and a number of the bailets penetrated
the house. Generals ,deade and Wrieht
had Just time to rush out the rear doors
anu AA4oNAiN NhS-A iOlSes Nuel lNb enemy /
came down upon the house and the troops
around it bne wolves. At the same time
hey brought out battery from behind a
wood above, unlimbered il, and poured in
a cooperate storm Of grapeshot upon our
men. Tho latter, although taken at a sud /
len disadvantage, fought valiantly, but .
were forced back through an orchard and .
Town the face Of the bill, yielding the po-
sition to the enemy with loss in killed /
wounded and prisoners of from fifty to /
seventy Eve men.
The position was too valuable to be lost. /,
The enemy proceeded at once to plant q
battery in the grounds about the house. !
which threatened to inflade our left wing /
completely, and the Sixth corps was or
dered TO drive them back, retaks and hold
the hill. Tho ordeT.reaohed Gen. Wright
a. hour before dark. At that hne the
main body Of the Sixth corps was siill IN
this side of the Ny river, but il wos
sen: forward so.the left, be