Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-08-11

and centre had charged the enemy's works with
great intrepidity, but without success, the enemy
position being found impregnable, And SO the
battle surged along the whole line throughout
fourteen hours Of this day, at the close of which,
to use the words of military writer, night fell
on battle unsurpassed for severity in the history
of the war We had suffered fearful loss-perhaps
ten thousand in killed and wounded The bril-
liant achievement with which Hancock had opened
the day obviously gave to army the substantial
advantages of decided success.
On Friday, May 18th, there was but little fight
ing, and on the next morning the enemy had fallen
back short distance, still tenaciously holding the
Court House. The army was mainly enclosed be-
tween the Po aud Ny rivers, of which the former
is the chief afiuent of the Matapony. Sharp but
undecisive contests eBsued on our extreme left
On Sunday, the twelfth day from the breaking
of the camp at Culpeper, the Army of the Potomac
rested from its toilsome marches and wasting bat
ties. Excessive Hins had made the roads impas-
sable on the next day, (Monday, May l6th,)
during which, as also on the following Tuesday,
offensive operations were suspended
On Wednesday (the 18th of May) the contest
was again renewed Early in the morning gen.
eral assault was made by the two corps the right
which, meeting insurmountabf obstacles were with
drawn in good order under destructive fire. A
vigorous attack was also made further down on our
line by the Ninth Corps, under Gen. Burnside,
which, after dashing up to the very abatts of the
enemys works, was compelled to recoil. At IL
o'clock in the morning the assault at all points was
abandoned and our troop, were recalled to their
original position. Our loss amounted to about
twelve hundred men in killed and wounded, most
of the latter dangerously from the fact that their
wounds were inflicted by artillery.
On Thursday May 19th) Gen. Grant proceeded
to make dispositions with view to turning the
to thwart the movement sharp engagement en-
sued, costing US about twelve hundred men,
On the following Friday night the grand flank
movement was fairly begun, and on Sunday, the
22d of May, the whole army had been placed in
its position, facing westerly, the Second Corps
holding the left at Milford Station and the Fifth
Corps the right at Guineys Station, with the Gen.
tire established in the direction of Bowling Green.
Gen Lee in the mean time had abandoned Spott-
sylvania and was advancing towards Hanover
Court House.
On Monday the 23d of May, our whole army
neighborhood Jericho Mills-the Second and the
Fifth Corps being in the advance. The Second
Corps under Hancock, gallantly forced the enemy's
position at Tsylor's bridge on the North Anna,
while WarreH's Corps, having already crossed the
river higher up at Jericho ford, was attacked with
great impetuosity by the enemy but the attack was
repulsed. Our losses at both points amounted to
about one thousand in killed and wounded.
On Tuesday, the Gath of May, the whole army
had effected the passage of the North Anna, en-
maneuVre.
On Wednesday, the 25th, all the troops were in
good position on the south side Of the North Anna,
and preparations were made to communicate with
Port Royal on the Rappahannock as the new base
of supplies. The enemy being found in strong po-
the North Anna and again stretch out easterly in
turning movement "by the left flank"
This movement was begun on Thursday evening,
and at nine o'clock on Friday morning, the 9th Of
May, Gen Torbert's first and Gen. Gregg's second
divisions of Sheridan's cavalry took possession Of
Hanover Ferry and Hanovertown, on the Pamun-
key, fifteen miles northeast of Richmond, and six
teen from White House on the same river, which
latter had been Gen. McClelan's base of supplies
two years before, during his peninsular cam
paign, as it nows became the base of supplies to
Gen. Grants army at this stage Of his overland
march.
On Saturday morning, the 2Sth Of May, our
troops had obtained complete possession Of Hano-
vertown, and before night we're safely across the
Pamunkey. Gen. Lee in the mean time had ex-
tended his lines southerly and had again swung
about his army to face our troops-his columns
being reinforced at this juncture by Brccknridges
forces fresh from their victory over Gen. Sigel in
the valley Of the Shenandoah.
On Sunday, the 10th, and Monday, the a0th Of
NAV, series Of reoonnossances were made in force
for the purpose Of ascertaning the position of the
enemy. Gen. Warren held position in advance
near Mechanicsville, about seven miles from Rich
mond The Army of the Potomac was again on
the familiar lighting ground Of the peninsuar cam
n -