The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1864-05-21

troops. Fires were built and supplies cook
ed the bands began playing, and the for
est along the line was undisturbed fer once
by the enemy ahd shells. Our poor SOL
disrs ate hearty, rested sweetly. The enc
my had no ammunition to waste. News
arrived towards evening that Sheridan had
penetrated to the vicinity of Beaver Dam,
on the Orange O. H. railroad, and had torn
up ten miles of track, captured a rebel sup
/ ply train and recaptured over 800 of our
men takep prisoners in the old Wilderness
battle. This news SO inspired whenever it
was known, that general jubilee of cheers
succeeded the announcement. During the
night arrangements were pushed for an at
tack, on our side. This morning the enc
my had been pushing troops towards our
right and ostentatiously erecting an abbat-
tbs in front of Haueock's troops. It was
shrewdlY and rightly supposed this was
only a blind to the real intention of the en- :
envy. and it was there fore anticipated, after
midnightIhe second corps was pushed to
the left of the 9th corps, between that and
Burnside's command, and on the left of the
| Spottsylvania road. At 4 O'clock this morn
ing. Hancock attacked the enemy fronting
him, in force, opening a whitening cannon
ade and making restless charges against the
very heart of his position. The cannonade
was replied to with vigor and the charges
of men were as vigorously resisted, but the
determination Of the onset overwhelmed ev-
erything. The troops rushed on the rife
pits of the enemy. bayoneting them in their
works, cutting the lines and capturing on
the first charge over 5000 men and sever
al guns, including greater portion of the
Stonewall brigade, belonging to Gen. Ned
Johnston's division, and forming a part Of
Ewell's corps. Gen. Johnston himself was
taken prisoner.
LATER-1l o'clock.-A dispatch this
minute arrived announcing the capture OF
1000 prisoners and 80 guns. The battle
is still progressing. The 9Th corps on the
left and the Cd corps fastened into battle
and are pushing the enemy. Warren's 5tt
corps moved up to its support on the right
and the battle is becoming general. Near
ly all our artillery was engaged.
LArER-12 o'clock-It is just now re
ported Hancock has turned the right danl
of the enemy below Spottsylvania, and
pushing on the battle, everywhere is over
whelmingly in our favor. Terrific firing
was just now commenced on our left neal
Grants headquarters. The battle is going
on with terrible earnestness and our success
is said to be certain. Prisoners are con
stantly coming in. The following diepatcl
was sent by Hancock, this morning:
NEAR SPoTTsYLvAN1A, May 1913 AN.
l have captured between 80 and 40 guns
I have finished up Johnston, and am nov
going into Early.
] (Sigued) W. s. HANCOCK.
The guns captured have arrived at head
quarters. Gen. Stuart, commanding brig
ade in Johnston's division, was captured.
,, Another dispatch of the 18th says: Th
boat which left Belle Plain at ten this morn
ing is justin. Passengers bring intelligence
of the result of yesterdays battle. It last
: ed all day, and Lee was finally driven GU
of his entertainments to the Pc river, fou
miles. During last night the greater pal
, of his army crossed that stream. The glo
rious victory of the morning was thus ren
: dered decisive and brilliant by the result a
evening.
All accounts agree that the battles o
Thursday were the hardest of the serie
which has lately taken place.
g Additional advices from General Sher
e dan show that he has had great success
+. Both the Fredericksburg and Richmond an
. the Virginia Central roads have been d.
It stroyed for miles.
s The Secretary of War states in dispatc
e that Government is sparing no pains to SUI
s port Grant. The energy displayed to tn
10 end is truly commendable. Since the ba
: ties in the Wilderness, and more particular
e ly since the army has been engaged in II
l. vicinity of Spot;sylvania, reinforcement
have been rapidly sent forward. lively
thousand men left Washington on Thur
! day, and it is stated that Sigel reinforce
N the Army of the Potomac with $4,000 me-
There is every probability that the losses
:, the army in the late battle have been grea
e ly exaggerated. The reinfOrcements. 90
It 600 or more, referred to above, very near
# make up the army to be quite as strong
:. morale and numbers as it was when it s
ONT nnon the camnaion. A dispatch fro