Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-05-19
THE ARMY or THE POTOMAC
The Great Battle Of Tuesday.

ASsstuht Oh tue tteuCt
FrOnt--The Enemy Driven to |
their Third Line Of Defenses |
--TerrifiC Slaughter--T n r Q Q |
Rebel Brigades Captured.
WASHINGTON, May 1l.-Accounts from
the Army Of the Potomac concur that there
was heavy fighting yesterday, and about s
O'Clock in the afternoon an attack was made
upon the rebel batteries. 1t is stated that
after the assault had continued some time,
it was found that the rebel batteries could
not be carried without probably great loss OF
life, and the effort was for the time aban-
doned.
The fighting yesterday afternoon is said to
have been very severe, as heavy artillery
was brought into action on both sides. The
result, so far as known this morning, was to
our advantage.
The rebels attempted to get in the rear Of
a portion Of our army to obtain supplies, but
were driven off with loss. Fighting was re-
newed to-day. 'a@
Herad's Special.
New YORK, May 12-Tuesday, Glib
bon's and Barlow divisions were Withdrawn
from the south bank-the latter's division
closely followed by the enemy, who were
checked by our ARTILLERY posted along the
Early in the day the whole army began to
straghten out in line of battle for a renew
al of the engagement. Skirmishing was
kept up during the time between the ad-
vanced lines OF the two arinies-the enemy
bestirring himself as though he intended Of
fensive operations. One line formed with
the ID Corps on the right, 5th Corps in the
center, and 9th Corps on the left, with
Burnside's Corps in the rear of our left, for
the protection Of our immense trains and to
act as reserve in any emergency. The
country here is quite rolling, and studded
with groves of pine and hard wood, and af-
fords much better facilities for handling
troops and the use of artillery than the
/ Wilderness.
The enemy during the night strengthened
! their formidable position with rifle pits,
stronger than any line of defense occupied
by them since leaving the earthworks on
the Rapidan. Thus matters stood far into
the afternoon. Fighting became quite
sharp at intervals and at different points,
but without anything definite. Five clock
was fixed for the grand assault. General
orders announcing the success Of Sherman
in the West and Butler on Jamesriv were
read 20 the troops, producing the widest
excitement, and as the hour approached for
! the attack, the enthusiasm OF the troops De-
came almost ungovernable.
General Grant, surrounded by his staff,
and Generals Meade, Hancock and Warren,
were all stationed on an eminence, within
sight of each other, while vast columns oi
our army slowly gathered themselves to-
gether for great struggle.
Just as the attack was about to be made,
the enemy advanced on our right, threaten
ing to press back that portion of our line
discontinuing, for the time, our plan of as
sault Troops were hurried to support the
right, but Barlow succeeded in checking the
rebels sending back his re-enforcements
with word that he had men enough to spare.
At halfpast six, then we prepared fol
the assault; watches were compared by the
corps commanders, and finally all separated
with orders to attack at the appointed time
At the appointed hour, simultaneously
with the roar of the twelve signal guns, thu
whole front advanced with cheers from tn,
, whole line. The movement was indiscriba
: bly, grand. A portion of the forces move'
in solid column, while others advanced il
the usual order of battles the whole arm
, moving together and yet each command
fighting it's own battle.
The whole rebel line opened most mur
derous fire, against which our lines irresist
IDLY swept, driving the enemy slowly bacl
from his position, capturing nearly 2,00t
prisoners and three pieces of artillery. The
latter, however, were re-taken by the rebel
before the close of the engagement.
Night closed the battle with our forces il
possession Of the field. The loss is heavy
but judging from the killed and wounded
left in our hands, our loss is much less thai
the enemy's who fought to the last, ou
troops bayoncting them even in the rifle
pits, and forcing them by hand to hand con
flicts to yield.
General Rice was mortally wounded, ant
died under amputation of the leg.
Our loss of prominent officers is great
but the lateness of the hour, and my owl
wound, prevent the collection of names.
The engagement was renewed vigorously
and at the time Of my departure, was pro
crossing favorably.
HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CoRps. !
IN rHK FIELD May II, (
My dispatch yesterday afternoon left tn
army in the midst of terrible battle--a
terrible, for the time it lasted, as any in tn
recent series OF fights. Heretofore the con
tests have been invariably musketry. Il
this battle the roar of artillery was as fierc
and incessant and almost as deafening, a
, at Gettysburg The battle continued unit
night, and darkness closed the sanguinaI,
struggle. Our army added another list O
battles and victories.
In the morning change was made in tn,
disposition Of our lines. In the meantim
our men had greatly strengthened thei
earthworks, thrown up additional abatis
and everything cvinc,d determination I,
make the day one OF decisive results. Yer,
active skirmishing all the fore part of tn,
day had merged at length into general en-
gagement. AS the hours waxed on, hottie
and hotter and fiercer and sharper was tn
rattle of musketry, and louder the roar o
artillery.
The most determined and persistent ei
forts which have ever been made since tn
; commencement were made in the fight i
this locality TO turn our right.
Charge after charge was made by the en-
emy on our right in four columns. Gu
men repulsed each charge vaiantly. A
length the Fifth Corps drove the enemy
compelling him to fall back in his third lin
of defsnses. The effect ofthis repuse wa
apparent. The rebel dead at points lay pi
ed in heaps.
In enc of these gallant charges fell tn
brave Gen Rice mt the head of his com