The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-05-24
plying the line of the river, his main force being
apparently east of that stream. ~ r. Il. LEE.

INTERESTING ACCOUNT of THURSDAYS FIGHT.
Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.
| BArTLE-FIELD NEAR .SPoTsYLvANlA c. Fl,
May 18th, 1864. I
This has been an eVentful week. May not say,
without fear of successful contradiction, the most
eventul the history Of the and of the Southern
Conederacy-certainly such engagement as that of
Thursday last has occurred between the armieso
the Potomac and ofNorthern Virginia. 1 propose now
to speak briefly in regard to IL During Wednesday
skirmshing occurred all along the lines, but gene
raj engagement.
7 AS early on Thursday morning the first crack of
daylight the enemys artillery opened fire upon us and
very thereafter the enemy, having massed in ex
raordnary heavy force upon our right centre, which
was hedby the division of Major General Ed Johnson
advanced upon The first point OF assault was the
Virginia brigade of Brigadier General j. M. Jones'
The enemy attacked this point OF the Line most furi
| ousy. The brigade of Jones broke and gave back
The enemy at once pressed in and over our breast
works, causing the two other brigades OF Johnsons
dvision-Stuarts and the Stonewa under the gallant
Hayes-to fall rapidly back. Just at this moment Maj
Gen. Ed. Johnson rode up to his line considerable
confusion had by this time ensued, and In obedience
to the suggestion of his aid he dismounted, supposing
THAT dismounted he would be less target for the
mys sharpshooters, who were pouring minnie balls
thick and fast around. So soon as Gen. J. was dis
mounted he ran hastily to one of the guns of Cut
chaws artillery. in order to fire it upon the enemy; be-
FORE however he had succeeded the enemy had closed
| thickly around him and he prisoner in their
hands,.as was also Brig Gen. G. H. Stuart of the.
Maryland line with some twenty-five hundred officers
artillery twelve of which from Pages and the
rest from Cutshaw's battalions This temporary sue
greatly elated the Yankees and they pressed
with increasing numbers and zeal intensified by their
temporary success. Gordon, with Earlys division
however, quickly came to the assistance of the rem
of Johnson division, under command of Col.
Williams of La and fought the enemy for time
but gradually pressed back to second line of
works, when Rodes the assistance of Johnson
and Early, whilst further ON to the right Lanes brig
ade, of HIPS corps, also forced back dis
L.. enabled
when portions of all of HIPS divisions warmly
engaged resisting the enemy desperate assaults and
repelling their furious onsets.
For ten mortal hours the contest ragged with unaba
ted fury, and deadly and destructive the fire of
musketry that trees were cut down. Again and again
did the enemy, inspired by the little of the
morning, their whiskey rations, and Grants bragga
docia and lying, assault lines of works. each time
did they and give back, until finally at nghtfa
the Yankee wounded and dead strewed the field 'hick
as autumnal leaves in Vaambrosa." Their obstinacy
and courage this field cannot be gansaid. They
fought with courage and devotion worthy of better
cause whilst safe behind breastworks, reoic
ed in their ability to deal death to the accused foe
with such slight less. Night did not end the fight
Long after nightfall, until after midnight, the
lighting between the pckets continued with OCCASION
al discharges of artillery This grew out of the fact
that the guns lost by left nighfall by be-
tween the pckets and the enemy kept up the fight in
order to get possession of guns which they succeed
ed in doing.
The attack in Ewels front the persistent and
to extent successful That night the enemy held
the breastworks where Johnstons division was forced
back. Aid that night Gen Lee drew n>his lines this
point some three or four hundred wards in order straight
it. The line that morning formed almost with the
point turned towards the enemy. That night line
made almost straight
During the day charges occurred which deserve to
be mentioned About o'clock. whilst the enemy were
heavily pressing right centre Mahoncs Virginia and
the enemy in their front IL order to relieve the Inc d.
heavily pressed. This most gallanty executed The
result that captured some two three bundled
prisoners and four stands of ora Later in the day
Lanes brigade ordered to take the .ssautng column
and battery in flank division. Led by their gallant
General the noble brigade under concentrated CALLING
fire. charged tlfe battery of six 12pounder Napsleons
shooting down the cannoners and capturing the pieces
The fighting in several instances hand to hand,
officer having ussel with Yankee captain for his sword
The acts of individual bravery in this fight in that of
the morning were numerous. The battery horses not be-
ing at hand the guns could not be brought off, but
four hundred prisoners and three stand II colors
tured and brought back to our lines
During the melee Gen Lane ordered by some
of Yankees 20 surrender but, unarmed he was, he
decd them to throw down their his prisoners The
Yankees not readily complying, the General quietly
marked, Every well. wait a moment till my line comes
up, whereupon they quickly threw down their arms and
the General made his escape.
The extreme right and left of the lines We're not engaged
during this day but from nine until twelve o'clock in the
day OF Thursday the enemy made repeated assaults in
Fields 'front.' of Bennngs Laws and Gregg brigades
Each time however, this gaantdvision repused the
my with fearful slaughter to the enemy and with loss Of
a handful of our men.
During the day other parts of e line there more
In this fight we lost many brave officers and men,
among them Brig Gen Perrin of Alabama was shot dead
whilst gaantly leading his brigade in the thickest of the
fight; Brig Gen Daniel wounded on Thursday and
died to-day; Brig Gen Stuart of Stonewa brigade, was
also wounded His arm has been resected and be is
ing we'll. Brig Gen MCGOWAN wounded, but is bet
ter. The following few of casualties in staff
officers of which have heard: Gen Ramseur slight, did
not leave the field; Col NJ Garrett, 9Th c, Johnston's
brigade, killed; Maj Brooks goth C. do do, do
Capt Jacob Brookfeld 5th N G. do. do; Capt Wiong
18th c, do, do Brig Gen r d Johnston, slight wound
in the head
have taken pains to ascertain losses in the fights
of Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday last and skmishing
before and since until this fine and my estimate of is
$500 wounded and 500 killed, and perhaps have lost
5000 prisoners The losses of the enemy in these three
days fights put down the lowest estimate 80 900
The enemy surely must be well nigh exhausted |
but certainly true, it said Lee has expressed
himself that Grants whipped, but Grant is himself
not whipped Grant has two three lines of strong for
ticaons behind which to retire if pressed Gen Lee is
well fortified, as Grant knows by sad experience.
Yesterday there nothing of interest and to-day there
is nothing but skirmshing Our firm in their
their camp fires night Gen Lee stands the fatigue we'll
and his friends say he is most cheerful and buoyan
SUNDAY MORNING, May Is.
The enemy yesterday threw force of infantry on cur
extreme left and engaged cavalry. protecting that
flank. Our cavalry (Chambliss brigade} fought them
considerable time when they reinforced by infantry
driving the enemy back and capturing from him 20
so prisoners. Everything quiet at IL o'clock to-day
The roads deep in mud, thus enhancing the difficult
tensions the score of rations. forage Ammunition
The wounded being sent off rapidly possible.
The Yankee Generals Robertson and Stevenson
certainly killed, and rumor says several others.
THE BATTLES RETwEEN PETERS,