Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-05-19
From the Richmond Dispatch Of yesterday
ACCOUNT OF TIE BATTLE OF THURSDAY NEAR
SP0TSYLVANIA O. II.
Army OF NoRTHEkS VIRGINIA,

4
ACCOUNT OF TIE BATTLE OF THURSDAY NEAR
SPOTSYLvANIA O. II.
| Army OF NoRTREkN VIRGINIA,
| Spotsylvana O. H., May IL, 1864
On Yesterday vas fought in front of this me dest little
/ viage-henceforth to be famous through all coming
time-ODe of the fercest and most obstinate battles of
| modern times. Ii commenced at daylight and ragged
and reared with Tremendous fury until two o'clock in
the afternoon when the enemy retired from tie bloc dy
conf CT Grant made the attack again. he did at the
Wilderness and gained considerable advantage by the
suddenness ard Eigor of the assault early in the day
but with this exception, he repulsed with loss
that will carry mourning to thousands OF Northern and
European hear:hstones, and dsmay aud coafuson to
the tyTanIs and demagogues whose hosts he lesds-
The Coniedeates failed at one point only-party from
accident, partly from mistake, and partly, fear from
lack Of spirit but on all other parts Of the field they
we're victorious, aud rs frmaud resoute ever. The
enemy beaten, but not routed or driven from the
| field
IL is not my purpose TO 60 much into the details Of
the ba;te-frst because the letter. il captured between
this place and Richmond, mght give the foe desirable
information in regard TO the strength and position of
forces aud second, because t is almost impossible
TO prepare any account OF battle that will give ssts
faction to subordinate officers and If makes the
attempt and fails, he certainly will be is oil nest
to have his motives impugned AMI bScome involved in
| a controversy in the newspapers.
The battle fou yht the north eide OF Spot VI
/ vania Court House. undusting ground, diversified
by fields pine thickets, and patches of woods. Our
line is crescent chapel, or perhaps it would be more
correct TO say that it il nearly p the form OF horse
shoe and extends around the Court Hou or village
the North and Northwestern sde all the
approaches from those q1arters. Slight ntenchmenis
had been thrown up along entire trout extending
from near theShldy Grovs (or Catharpen rod con
tru ed on the West around and beyond tie Fred
ericksburg roai the Northeast side OF the village
A. o point the right is en- eminerce few hundred
yards in advance of the general direction Of line,
and in Greer prevent the enemy from getting POSES
sUu of it for his artillery, sharp angle prOsced
so as to include the hill within our intrenchments.
Toe result SHOWS that this unfortunate piece OF
engineering Past the foot of the bill on the North
side sweep a ravine which presents convex lire 10
the hill the two approaching each other like circles
tia touch but do Lot cut each other. The en- my
awaited himself Of this ravine in his Assault upon the
ange W ch was the weakest poilt in our linc5 being
considerably in advance Of the neral line and beyond
the reach of support from the forces operating tho
| right aud l3fL
Inorma ion was received night before last that Grant
retiring in the direction OF Fredericksburg and Ger
mama Ford; re- OFT TO this effect noised abroad
through the army though sub qlent events show at
It was Without the lGast foundation. Through mis-
take nh ch cannot trace TO its soHJce but which grew
out Of this mschievous report the ar cry which had
been posted on the bill in the Gle alluded 10 above
was withdrawn during thu night. This left N jor Gen
eTa Johnson, of Ewels corps, whose DIVISION teretc
foe considered oil tbs BIS, in the army occupied
this part OF the ne without any artillery support lie
communicated this fac: to his corps commander at Md
night with the additional Intelligence tina. the eneny
was massiDg heavy force in bis immediate front for
The purpose, be believed of assaung him (ys.
| terday} .rniDg Toese guns, others, were sent
back and just moving ioto the angle at o'clock
yest rday morning, when the force which johnson
ported to be massiDg in his front, made vigorous
saut npon his position and carried it,
The assaulng force had been assembled in the ra-
no of hp atrn a
vanced oCe report says, IN column OF regiments. II
had rained the evening before, and considerable fog
prevailed uuder cover o. which the attack was made
One two guns got into posi- ion and f,ed but
the horses & aGhed 10 the other pieces were shot down
before thsy could be unlimbered and most OF he
noneeIs captured. Jones Virginia brigade, whose com.
mander was killed at The wilderness while try 10
rally bis men, was the first TO break the old Sonewal
and oher br g,des belonging to the DIVISION becoming
Involved followed its example, and the last #
Gen. Johnson the hero of Allcghany he was standing
almost alone With musket in his land contes.ng tie
ground single handed with ths multudinors foe. Too
brigades composing the division the StoneSa bril-
gade, an James N. Walker aud Jones brigade, both
of this Safe S,euars brigade OF Virginans and Ntrh
Carolinans, and StsHJrds brigade Of Loueianians-
Jones and Stafford ie at The Wilderness, Walker was
wounded yesterday Sseusrt, and johnson, the COM
mander the division, taken pr soners aud the
Colonel, commanding jones brigade il reported killed,
with many other officers. The guns left on the feel J.
but which neither party has been able TO move on sc-
count of the fire Of the ohsr-some eghtesn or twenty
are said to belong to Cutshas and Pages battsorf
thousand Twelve hundred prisoners lost at
game time.
This occurred at a very early hour in the morning.
II Jones'S brigade had not gwen way it is possible
though not probable that Johnson would have been
abe 10 msintlin his ground He Is one Of the best Off
GERS in the army and the sublime spectacle he
ed when battisg alone with the enemy though desert
ed by his command should excite our admiration |
rather than provoke criticism. But il should not he
imagine that the enemy gained the bill without cppo-
sitien sudden and vigorous his assault was He VAS
received with volleY after voley, and the ground Wis
covered With his slsn; but he had ma,sed such heayy
force upon a single exposed point some distance in
advance OF the general line aud incapable of being ir
simultaneously supported, thai it was found impossible
to repuse him. 1t is but to AID too that the
mys charge spirited it was euccessful, and
ref cts no little credit upon his troops He was aware
Of the weakness of the point from It's comparative so
atiol, having effected temporary Judgment in the
angle days BEFORE as detailed my letter of yes-
tsrday, aud it would have been wonder If be had not
been successful with the preparation he had ade.
The Coniedeates suffered severely as thew retrca.ed
across the intervening space TO our second ne or Ia
Their 70 the lne which subiends the angle and which
may be consd red the base of tho rianes covering the
hill Even this line is somewhat in advance of the d.
rection of the general line. But the broken diyii
did not STOP here they continued their retreat far 10
he rear. Fortunately the gallant Gordon, command