The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1864-05-13

O'clock, reports came in that the enc
my were advancing with infantry and
lartillcry, toward us from near Old
and New Verdiesville. The eevi,iencc
accumulating in the course OF the
next two hours, was that strong reb-
el columns were moving upon us from
the direction mentioned. Grant and
Meade came up from Gcrmania Ford
and orders were issued TO halt the
various columns OF inlantry conccn.
trate and form them for battle. At
this point, commanding ridges, run
ming from the north. west TO the
= south east, across both roads over
which the enemy were advancing,
: about half mile to the west of this
n point, offered fine position for tie
Z formation OF q line of battle, aud
I were selected for the purpose. Sedg.
wick was ordered 10 take the right,
' Warren the center, and Hancock was
|, exsected TO come up with the left
. Warren and Sedgwick got into line
: about III o clock, and soon after skir.
5 mishing was heard on the front.
e About noon General Warren was or
5 dered to push Griilln's division for.
1 ward to the right and left of the turn.
,Ipike, and ascertain what the enemy
/, were about. Bartlett's brigade mov.
!, ed up to the left, and Ayers regulars
to the right of the road Switzer's fol.
; lowing in reserve. After advancing
: about three quarters of mile, they
, suddenly found thcmselvhs confront.
ed by strong rebel force in possess.
ion of n thickly wooded ridge. A
severe fight ensued, and our two BRIG.
AIDES held their ground against cyi
identity greater numbers, Tor nearly an
f hour; but the enemy succeeded in
overlapping Ayers regular brigade,
and forcing It back; threatening thu
Hank OF Bartletts, which being ex.
posed, 1t was, also, soon forced back
some distance. Two pieces of the Sd
Massachusetts, Battery had TO bc left
behind, in consequence of the killing
T, ofnearlv all Of the horses, aud fell
into the hands Of tlIe enemy. Swift.
er's brigade and Whcswortl's of Rob.
/. ertson's division were ordered for.
ward and relieved the two brigades.
The enemy soon attacked them, but
/, were held ut bay. Brisk musketrv
!, and artillery firing was kept up for
an hour longer, when the enemy
drew of from that part Of our line
IOnr lors in this affair was quite Sc
we're, Ayers and Bartletts Lrigadcs
principally suffering. No definite fig.
ures can now be give, lui.thantatql
nj killed, wounded and missing.
We took about 800 prisoners. Han
cocks corps had been ordered to
turn Off the road he had started out
and marched over Il cross.road as
rapidly as possible for this point, TO
complete our line Of battle. About
| three o'clock in the afternoon, after
the fight on the center had closed,
, movement by the enemy was discov-
. cred, evidently intended to throw
: force between Hancock, and the Re
. maindcr of the army Getty's di.
c vision of Sedgwick's corps, was or,
2 dered at once to stay this dangerous
demonstration. Hancock's advance
| arrived just in time TO form with Get.
J, ~, to the lett and right OF the plank
1 road leading directly from Clarlottes.
T. vile to Orange Court house Grant
ordered them 10 atihcl the oavoncins
d enemy, in order TO give the remain.
. Ing divisions of Hancock time 10
; come mp. and they did so, and became
r nj once heavily engaged in woods 80
thick that il was almost impossible to
:, advance in line
l. Birncy's division OF the % Corps
soon came up and quickly formed on
. the right Of Getty's; Bartlett's, and
l. Gibbons divisions formed second
!, line. As they came up the enemy,
u in vast force, pressed cnergetically
l. and repeatedly on the ifent. and there
was n most furious musketry fight Tor
: nearly two hours. The heavy timber
V and dense undergl owth rendered tho
= use of artillery impossible, and only II
few rounds from heavy pieces were
:, fred on either side. But, as to vio-
l. lencc, the muskctry surpassed every
g thing in the history Of the Amy OF
l. the Potomac. Our line steadily held
a. its ground until Whites COZ ps formed.
nj when nightfnll prevented an advance
:. on our part and put an end to tho
al fight. Wadsworth's division and a
g brigade of Robinson's division, under
command of General Robinson, were
a ordered to take the enemy in front of
% Hancock by the right flank, but dark
I'd ness also prevented the full execution
is of this operation The loss on our
N left will probably reach one thousand.
u including General Alex. Hays, killed
id Coloncls Cortland and Tyler, wound.
cd llancock's mcu behaved most
admirably. The 9th New York Cav
N airy, in advance, on the road to Par
kcr's store, was attacked by supc
rior force; in the morning, and fcl
10 back with considerable loss. Gener.
an al Sheridan sent n message to Gener-
~ Meade in the evening, 10 the effect
90 that lie had met part of Stuart's cav.
airy and was driving them in every
al direction.
is The events Of this day may he sum
II, med up rs follows: General Lee mad,
IN, two attacks to cut our army In two
n / hoth OO the ripht and left hy ppt