The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-05-14

The Flight ea Friday.
GENERAL ASSAULT
During Thursday night the corps commanders haa
conference with General Meade and, In con~eqaerce.
orders issued the cnec, that IN. foio~iag
morning general advance should bs made along the
whole lue. The attack ordered take place
O'Clock precisely. Tho attack be strong deter
mined and continuous Accordingly General naneock
sent word to Generals Getty, Brncy Mott Gbbou ard
Barlow to attack al the appointed hour, while General
wadsworhs division and some OF Furnishes troops
70 Join those 9f the Second corps upon the right
10 this assault tho troops under command o. General
Hancock formed with Colonel carros brsaic and
General Hays Brigade commanded by Colonel Crooker
the right orthe orange Court House read and Generals
Owen, and Wards brgades on the let Geiys division
n with Generals Eustis and wheatons aud
Colonel Grants brgades OF the DIVISION extending from
right 10 LEFT.
Next came General Motifs DIVISION Colonel McAiisters
brigade in front, and Colonel Brewster's forming tho
second lne This constituted the right OF Hanclcks
line, under command q General Brney, tho centre u
Brneys line being at the junction OF the roads already
mentioned. The loft Of Hancocks line was under com
mand Of General Gbbon. General webb's brig do, Of
his DIVISION had the post OF honor hts right and
General Barlow's whole dvison-Colones Smith, Brook,
Frank and Miles commanding his brieadss-beng also
formed In two lines Of BATTLE extended the whole OF Han
cocks line OF infantry to the lot.
At the Same timo portion OF our cavalry was operat
Ing still further TO the left and performed valuable
uice in preventing tho enemy getting n our rear BY
turning lett flank. Opposed to Hancocks front
Hills and Longstreets corps Of tho rebel army-A r.
Tll being on. our right and Longstreet tho left
Having given the disposition Of the troops, Is time 70
speak Of the assault At five o'clock tho command was
givon and troops Birneys mont advanced the
right and left OF tho plank road The line Of battle
preceded by heavy cloud OF skirmshcrs The assault
sudden and vigorous The enemy retired slowly aud
stubborny before the deadly are that poured
his ranks.
But the speed OF the rebels Increased our forces con-
tnued TO advance. II discovered that 10 tho
midst OF this Wilderness tho enoy had constructed
defensive limo OF works, similar to those troops had
thrown up the Brock road for victorious soldiers
encountered fresh line OF the enemy posted behind
those bresstworks. When both bsIgersnfs met this
position the nre terrific and tho slaughter
mcndous Our troops Immediately made gallant charge,
and, with exutant cheers which won't ringing through
the Wilderness they drove the enemy from this defen
sve line and took possession Of tho Three
rebel coors and several hundred prisoners taken at
this time. General Birncy continued TO advance
TO the right OF Hancocks line, swinging u
round pivot, OF which tho LEFT the centre.
He pushed It forward mile and half in the advance.
II expected that troops Of other corps st further 70
the right OF Hancocks front, which have joined
gagerent by this tmo but General Brney ascertaned
that the right Of limo exposed thanking force
Of tho enemy 10 consequence OF gap which existed IN
that direction The enemy threw In large masses Of
troops to endeavor 10 check this vigorous advance.
whereupon General webb's brigade moved TO tho
supporl OF General Brney and conjunction with Gen.
wadsworhs division, succeeded in checking Tor time
tho counter onslaught OF the enemy.
A DIVERSION on III. LEFT
About this time information received which
vinced General Hancock OF tho position OF the right Of the
rcbcl ine consequence OF which brigade OF General
Barlows division was sons take tho right Of Long
streets corps In nank.
PROGRESS BATTLE
For two hours and more the battle was or the most
sangunary character Troops changed posons brigades
and regiments which had expended all their ammunition
retired behind the breastworks and rcned their cartridge
boxes from tho wagons which brought up 20 tho
'front.' troops which had formed the other lines
forward to continue the assault. AZ the time
General Meade recommended that wherever Il could be
done. ammunition should be economical and tho bayonet
used instead Fresh ouibursts Of muskctry would
sonally Indicate how tho enemy had Withdrawn his
shattered forces and formed now lines In front.
At this tmo all Of Gibbons brigadcs had been sent
to General Bpey wcro placed either side OF the
plaDk road for tho support Of position on the right
For three hours tho baltic ragged without moments
intermsson aud almost every foot Of ground OF that
mile and half along which troops advanced through
the wilderness covered with the killed and wounded
OF both armies To some places where tho rebel troops
would stand the positions OF the lines o battle
were distinctly marked by the lines Of the killed and
wounded Cen. Hancock vas careful not to extend
the left Of his lne because he held very strong post
ton, and he was--as II afterwards turned out to
be-very wisely appreheuslve that Longstreet might
make an attempt on his lett; and should he
hava shandonod the lat lne In
tho right instead Of swinging round pivot, as bo
had d,us he would have becn exposed TO danking
movement OF the enemy the left OF his position
as formed then strongly defended BY several
batteries artillery The grand centre Of attraction was
Hsncccks line Fining such fearful hre n ms 'front.'
General Meade ssnt staG officer 70 say that troops
from General Burusido's c1mmand would DO al BIS ds
posa they should be reguired aud presently another
officer announced that the Frst division Of Barnsdos
corps under command Of General Stevenson was close a.
hand. on ,ts way 10 report General Hancock immc
d,a,elv after its arrival masscd at the junction
of the Brock and Orange Court House roads. |
ready 10 be sent TO the support Of either
BIrpey or fGbbon. Al the same time two other dvi
sious OF Burnsdos corps marching out on anohef
road 20 Pskors store 70 attack tho enemy on the right
Burnside was develop the lines OF those divisions 70
me Ian the tendency Of which would be 70 engage the
attention Of shs::.reuy spa .bgs relieve our troops
Hancocks front. COL Franks brigade, which had been
sent cut O'Clock and made long detour towards
the enemys right flank had now met the enemy IN forcs
and become seriously engaged HIS attack was very spr
ed and was met with great determDaton by the enemy
The line Of Col Franks brigade aud the opposing forces
OF the enemy swayed and fro each alternately gaining
atemporary advantage. Meanwhile portions cf wads
worth and Robinsons divisions which had been ngnt
pG al he monoa bad retired 70 shs intersection Of 'hs