Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1864-05-20
SEVERE FIGHTING.

after advancing about three quarters of mile
they suddenly found themselves confronted by a
well formed and strong rebel position on thickly
wooded ridge.
"a severe fight ensued Our two brigades held
their ground against evidently greater numbers
for nearly an hour, but the enemy succeeded in
overlapping Ayers's regular brigade and forcing
it back precipitately The flank of Bartlett br-
gade being exposed, it was also soon forced back
for some distance. Two pieces of the Third Mas
sachusetts Battery had to be left behind in eonse
ouence of the killing of nearly all of the horses and
fell into the hands of the enemy. Sweitzer,s bi-
gade, and Wadsworth's, OF Robinson division,
were ordered forward, and relieved the two bri-
gades The enemy soon attacked these, but we're
held at bay. Brisk musketry and artillery firing
were kept up for an hour or so longer, when the
enemy drew off from that part of the line. Our
loss in this affair was quite severe-Ayres' and
Bartlett brigades principally suffering. Nodef-
mite figures can now be given. But the tota will
probably not exceed six hundred in killed. wound
ed and missing.
Among the wounded are General Bartlett
slightly; Col Hays, Eighteenth Massachusetts,
slightly; Col. Gwin, One Hundred and Tenth Pa;
| Col Lombard, Fourth Michigan. We took about
three hundred prisoners.
FRESH TROOPS ORDERED UP.
| Hancock corps had been ordered to turn off
the road he had started out on, and march over a
cross road as rapidly possible for this point to
complete the formation of the line OF battle. =
About three o clock in the afternoon, after the
! fight on the centre had closed, movement by the
enemy was discovered, evidently meant to throw
! a force between Hancock and the remainder of the
army Getty's division of Sedgwick' S corps was
ordered at once to stay this dangerous denonstra-
ton Hancock sadvance, Mott division arrived
Just in time to form with Gettys, to theleft and
| right of the plank road leading directly from
| Charlottesville to Orange Courthouse. General
Grant ordered them to attack the advancing enc
my, in order to give the remaining divisions of
| Hancock's time to come up and form. They did
so, and became at once hotly engaged in woods so
thick that it was almost impossible to advance in
line. Birneys division of the Second corps soon
came up, and quickly formed on the rghtOf Getty.
Burlow's and Gibbons division formed second
| line as they came up.
TERRIBLE MUsKETRY FIRE.
'VThe enemy in vast force pressed energetically
! and repeatedly upon the front, and most furions
musketry fight continued for nearly two hours
The heavy timber and dense underground render
ed the use of artillery impossible, and only few
rounds from heavy pieceswere fired on either side,
but as to violence the musketry surpassed every
thing in the history OF the Army OF the Potomac.
Our line steadily held its ground until she whole
corps was forward, when nightfall prevented an
advance on our part, and put an end to the fight.
| Wadesworth divisionand Brigade of Robinson
division, under command of General Robinson,
we're ordered to take the enemy in front of Han
cock by the right flank but darkness prevented
i the full execution of this plan The bss on our
left viii probably reach one thousand including
General Alexander Hays, killed; Cobnels S. S.
Hicks, Carrall and Tyler among the wounded.
FAILURE OF LEES TACTICS.
| Hancock men behaved most admirably Thf
Fifth New York cavalry, in advance en- the road
to Parker's Store, was attacked BY superior force
in the morning and driven back with considerable
loss General Sheridan sent message to Genera