American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-05-25
The American Citizen,
Interesting Incidents of the Battles.

w ASHINGTON, May II; T. M'--OHe VI
the greatest battles Of the war was fought
yesterday near Spottsylvania Court House
| left the field at $50 this morning, and
am able to give statement of what took
place. One week ago to-day the army
moved from Culpepper. 1t has had six
days of continued fighting, in which there
have been three great battles.
On Saturday l.:yrning Lee retired from
the Wilderness, leaving but small force
to keep up appearances. Grant imme-
diately ordered an advance to Spottsylva-
MIA The 5th Corps taking the lead, con
fronted Longstreet three miles northwest
of the town early on Sunday morning,
skirmishing all day ending in hard
fought engagement. Sunday night the
rebels were pushed back a short distance.
The Sixth Corps arrived near the close OF
the battle and participated. The Second
Corps arrived in the evening, The Ninth
Corps, marching by alonger road, did not
arrive till Monday morning.
The battle field is series of ridges
mostly covered with woods and fine thick
cts, in which the rebels lay concealed
with batteries masked. Standing in the
centre of our line, between the 5th and 9th
Corps on Piney Grove road, looking tow
ard the Court House, you see gentle
slope with series Of undulations, marked
with rife pits and batteries, which defend
all approaches. To gain them, there must
be hard fighting at every step. The
thickcts are not quite so dense as the
Wilderness. but most Of the ground is coy-
cred by atorest General Robinson, COM
mandng the second division of the 9th
Corps was wounded in this engagement.
Skirmshing commenced again on Mon
day morning, and by reports Of prisoners
it was ascertained that Eweil was also ia
front Ice had pushed his troops rapidly
into strong position on the south bank
OF the Po. The court house is oman
elcvatedland, and the village isa collection
OF halfa dozen houses. Three roads radi-
ate-one northwest TO Todds Tavern, one
due north to fincy Grove Church, and
one northeast to Fredericksburg. The I'd
and 9TH corps covered the way to Todd's,
the 9th the road to Piney Branch and the
9th the road to fredericksburg The
Gathargen road leading westward was
used by Lee to reach the position
A. Z. Hill reached the battlefield on
Monday night and took his position on the
rebel right confronting Burnside. Ewell
had the centre against Sedgwick. Long
street stood against Hancock. The lines
were in form of horseshoe. 1t was Get
tysburg reversed-Lee having the inner
half circle.
Skirmishing commenced on Monday
morning and continued through the fore
noon. Sedgwich, while planting a bat
terry, was picked of by rebel sharpshoot-
er, at half mile distance His death
cast gloom over the whole army, but did
not diminish the ardor of our men. They
burned for revenge. Gen. Wright was
placed in command.
Greek Branch of the Po River, turned
the flank of Longstreet, and pushed him
toward the town, and held his grounc
(Longstreet's).
Yesterday Tuesday skirmishing com
menced at sunrise and continued through
the forenoon along the whole line with in
.creasing intensity. The pickets on bott
sides gradually approached nearer, shor
tening the distance between the two ar
mics.
Gen. Grant spent all the forenoon ex
amining the positions, and was frequently
o on the line with the pickets. He issueC
orders for general attack at 5 o'clock, bu
the rebels grew uneasy, took the matter
into their own hands and moved in heav,
columns against Hancock's left and War
ren's right The first division, I'd corps
(Barlow's) was fought back to the nortl
side of the Greek to strong position
The rebels were elated and attempted t,
cross the Greek, but were repulsed.
@ Up to this hour there has been little ar
tillery used on either party, but battery af
ter battery was brought into position, ant
the wild general uproarat last began. A
"a O'Clock the rebel infantry surged agains
Hancock and then against Warren, bu
were Immediately rolled back. Gibbon
c commanding the I'd Division of the 2,
: Corps, was withdrawn from Todd's Tav
ernroad and sent to Warrens aid
AT $3.50 the rebels made a terrific charg,
against our right centre. Their hurral
was the war-whoop of the Indians, but i
did not intimidate the brave men of tn
I'd and 9TH Corps.
= | never heard heavier fire than tina
which burst from Barney's, Cutters, Glib
bon's, and Barlow's divisions The rebe
columns pelted away, and, after one 0
{ the most desperate fights of all time, wer
z forced back under the tremendous fir
and unfinching bravery of the division
: already named. Parts of other division
were engaged, but not to such an exten
as these,