Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-05-17

J
The battles Of the Wilderness were continued
yesterday in the most sanguinary Of the bloody
engagements which have dstine uished this ca m.
paign. The army was disposed at early morning
n follows. slightly in advance of the position
occupied the previous day. The 81 corps on the
right. vest OF the river Pc. and nearly in a line
with the road running from Shady Grove Church
To Spottsylyania Court House; the 5th corps ia
the center, east of the river and facing south
westward Of Spottsylvania, and the 9th corps on
the left. facing toward Spottsy lvania Batteries
we're posted In the rear At all available points
Burns, Arnod's, Sleeper. Rodgers and AyeIl's
batteries supporting the right and protecting the
bridge across the Pc river. formed of three pom
toons.
Meade's and Stewards batteries we're disposed
toward the left of the 9Th corps. in front of
wood. The country il quite as wretehed and
barbarous Tor lighting purposes that beyond
the old Wilderness Tavern, on the Germania
plank road
There are a few scattered openings across
which our lines of battle could be seen at inter
walls. but the main position of our own army and
that OF the enemy was concealed a. heretofore
by the dense forest which made the battle almost
mystery. Desultory fighting began early IN
the day Our artillery at from eight o'clock
A. Nj. until after dark, was never silent. From
every position wherever the euemy's lines were
at all exposed the guns belched forth upon the
a tempest OF shrieking shot and shell.
Mink's battery, attached to the 9Th corps and
posted on the edge of the forest mentioned evil
IDENTIFY did terrible execution; aud about eleven
o'clock in the day a charge OF the enemy. in
tended To effect its capture. repused. Mus
kerry firing by sharpshOoters and fierce skirmshes
continued at different points during the fore
noon.
The enemy bad evidently massed the greater
portion OF his troops on his left and left center
IL having been determined to assault his center,
the divisions of Gibbons and Birney. belonging
To the ID corps. were Withdrawn across the Pc
river to assist in the attack. The lat brigade.
Robinson's and the Cd brigade of Cutters divi
sion, 9th corps. General Rice. commenced the
fighting Grifiin's division and the main portion
OF the 9Th corps. and Gibbons division OF the ID
then advanced. driving the enemy into their rife
pits after several hours of battle, during which
the roar OF musketry Was louder and more con.
tinuous than AZ Getty sburg. The works were not
taken.
Gen. Rice was killed early in the fight, while
getting his column into position.
Meanwhile. Barlow's division Of the second
corps. left across the Po river. and facing in
line nearly perpendicular to our general line, was
attacked by heavy body OF the enemy in flank
and forced to swing round. A second charge of
the rebels in overwhelming force drove the
right OF the division still further around. its rear
in line with the river. Holding its own for
time. il finally withdrew across the bridge, still
fighting.
Officers returning from the right exaggerated
the occurrence into position very dangerous to
army headquarters, tents, &c which were sud-
denly struck. aud the force evacuated at double
quick.
The loss in all this fighting was very severe,
both in men aud officers.
General Barlow being still pressed after re-
firing across the river, kept OF fighting until
dark
Meanwhile the dispositions for "a general as
sault by our whole line which had been made in
the afternoon TO take place AZ 5 o'clock, were
postponed until nearly dark At six O'Clock
whitening fire upon the enemy's line. was opened
BY all our batteries in positon-the roar and
shrieking OF shell and grape shot awful.
Sens Grant and Meade. with their stats. took n
position on n hill overlooking the woods. but
from which very little of the battle itself could
be seen
At 6is CLOCK. precisely, the engagement be-
gan with vindlctive vigor A portion of General
Uptons brigade, of the Sixth corps. consisting OF
the One Hundred and Twenty First New York.
Fifteenth Maine. Ninety Sixth and One Hun
bred aud Nineteenth Pennsylva the Fifth
sylvana. OF General Russell's old brigade. aud
the Seventy Seventh New York. Forty Third
Wisconsin. Second. Fifth. aud Sixth Vermont
with the Ninety Fifth Pennsylvania, Sixtieth
New York and Second New Jersey, partially
in reserve. moved against the enemy = rifle pits,
some three hundred yards in their front. A por
ton OF the route was across an open space, where
the lines we're subjected to deadly fire OF grape
aud canister. They moved steadily forward
however. without firing shot until they reached
the bresstworks, which they scaled with their
hands and knees. driving the enemy out and cap
turing nine hundred prisoners The assault was
nj the same time made by the Fifth and a por-
ton Of the Second corps 10 the right and center
in the following order: Wards brigade. of Bir-
ney's dlvirion, in rear on the right: Crawford's
division. Pennsylvania Reserves, in two lines in
front of the right; Gibson's division next on the
left: the Fifth corps troops in the center: Crit
fms division on the left The assault was I'M
dertaken with varying enthusiasm. bat failed
Our men were nearly exhausted, and tell back
We did not take any position OF the enemy
General Upton. whose achievements on the
left are described. finding himself so far in ad
vance Of the main army hard pressed and un
supported. retired from his position. cannot
perceive that the days fighting has brought W.
any substantial advantage We had not ad
vanced beyond the line occupied by Us the prev
Gus night Our right wing. at least. had been
forced from It's position; the enemy still hold
their own. and We rest on our arms this morning.
having suffered since the same hour yssteriay.
loss which to estimate is now quite impossible.
1t noteworthy that ia Yesterday engagement.
in which we suffered 80 severely. the enemy did
not employ much artillery. W e had the advantage
of position for artillery, from the fire OF which
the foe must have greatly suffered. but in posi-.
tious for troops they held that dreaded advantage
which the formation OF the country enables them
to maintain | believe shall get Richmond
in time Not even General Grant csa quite
overcome the difficulties of this route The
enemy retiring before our troops select their own
fighting ground. are covered by the woods and
protected by absttis and entertainments while
our own troops. A. during Yesterday. forced
10 expose themselves in charges open fields,
where both artillery and musketry do tremendous
execution
An ENTRAORDINa STATEMENT.