New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-05-12


ing the fore part of the day that Ewels corps
had left for Richmond on Monday. All prison.
ers taken were from Longstreet's and Hills
corps, but before Yesterdays battle closed,
Ewell returned. IL he had left, as is probable,
and Lees entire army and our whole force were
ptted for three hours at hand-to-hand Strug-
gle without a parallel in history.
Gen. Grant and Gen. Meade were in the sad
die constantly personally directing movements.
TWAS arranged that the entire 9th Corps should
charge the enemy's right flank, but pending the
severest onslaught made by Lee just before
dark. it was discovered that he had advanced
around our right flank and was moving down in
dense columns for last and alter-dark struggle
To break through our lines and dash upon our
supply trains, then known to be packed on the
plank road to Fredericksburg.
This changed Gen. Burnsides purpose, and
he securely held his ground and threatened the
charged his right center, and Cat o'clock
drove him from his first line Of rife pits cap
turing five guns and between two and three
thousand prisoners.
The quick eyes of our chiefains, however,
saw the Rebel maneuver. Our men were faced
about our trains all moved TO the rear, new
positions instantly secured for our artillery and
the enemy's expected coming patiently awaited
during all the long hours of last night. No de-
monstrati0ns were made, however, and except
the occasional shouts of pickets, all was quiet
up to o'clock to-day, when / left.
II was believed that the enemy had suffered
so severely that he could not in his crippled
condition avail himself of the decided advantage
he had gained. BY others it was supposed he
had attempted another fight, but as his COM
munication with Richmond is believed 10 have
been severed by Sheridan, and his TANKS and
rear constantly harrassed by our forces, be must
surrender or kill his "last man" in battle as
he seems determined in frantic rage to do.
In so horrible strife it must not be supposed
that we escape the severest punishment Our
losses in yesterdays fight were much greater
than in any of the battles Of the previous week.
II is true there is q smaller percentage of killed
in proportion to the number wounded than in
any previous battle, and very large number
are but slightly wounded. Roads, fields, and
woods are literally swarming with these suffer
ing heroes who have defed wounds and death
that the nation might survive.
So incessant have been the marching and
fighting that many are being overcome with
m iSaxu y. yNt
never was seen so cheerful, so rcsolutc, and
even exultant a body Of men on any OF the
worlds great battle-felds. All honor to this
sublime heroism, which SO noby welcomes
death and wounds.
Rebel prisoners assert that Lee ordered all
his wounded men able to hold musket to take
their places in the ranks again for yesterdays
battle.
Our wounded are being conveyed with all
possible dispatch to Fredericksburg, and thence
via Belle Plain, to Washington.
But for a tender regard for these disabled he
roes, abandoned to their fate and burning up ID
the woods left on fire Gas the Rebels also leave
their dead unburied), our army would ere this
have been laundering before the Rebel Capital;
but we can afford to wait. Men who have
faced musketry and cannon for week, and
fought better each succeeding day, are invlncl-
bic, and they will soon win the complete trl-
umph their valor so richly merits.
Time after time did they hurl back in disorder
the solid massed columns Of the foe, and If per-
chance they staggered with the shock, 1t was
only for more superhuman energy to charge
back upon him. The old guard at Waterloo
pales before these men.
Our entire losses thus far, in killed, wounded,
missing, &C., must reach near 10000.
The enemys loss in killed is much greater
than ours; his wounded about the same lie
is supposed TO hold some 1900 Of our prisoners,
and We must have at least 5000 of bis men,
while our scouts report the roads literally alive
with his stragglers. 1t is mathematical cues
ton requiring only few more days to deter
mine the limit Of his endurance.
AS your reporter neared Fredericksburg about
10 o'clock this morning cannonading had been
resumed, and our army was unquestionably en-
gazing the enemy again.
We crossed the River Pc on Tuesday, but
withdrew. We charged across it again last
night, after the enemy had weakened his right
in order To mass oil his force on our rght.
II was the Vermont brigade which charged
the enemy at the rife pits, and the I'd Vermont
held them till midnight, when Gen. Meade re-
called them.
Thus far we have not lost gun since the
second day at the Wilderness, nor single
wagon, since the campaign opened. =.