The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-05-12
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THE WAR In VIRGINIA.
The Battles Of Thursday and Friday.
Terrific Fighting.

are full particulars of the movements
across the Rapidan, beginning with
Tuesday night Of last week, and down
to Thursday night, the end of the first
days great battle. q.
The march began at midnight on
Tuesday. Gregg's division Of cavalry
led the way to Ely's Ford, and Wilson
division to Germania The Second
Corps, General Hancock, took the road
to Ely's Ford; the Fifth Corps, Genera!
/ Warren, marched for Germania Ford
the first divisions of both corps break
ing camp at midnight
The Sixth Corps, Gen. SedgWick, fol
lowed the Fifth at four hours interval
In the afternoon Of Wednesday, Han
cock had his whole corps across, and had
established his headquarters at Chancel-
| lorsville. Warren advanced by the
road from Ely's Ford to Wilderness and
got into position on the nights lying
over against the defenses of Mine Run.
Before the sun was down Sedgwick got
over also, and went into position in the
rear of Warren. The cavalry OF
Sheridan secured the country on all
sides and succeeded in capturing dis
patches from the rebel General Rhodes
to Ewell with the announcement that
Meade was across the Rapidan, and
wanted to know what to do 1t is sup
posed he did not get the information
by that messenger. Other dispatches
were also taken. Early on Thursday
morning Sheridan went in search of a
fight with Stuart, and on a reconnois-
sance to the left for the main body
Precise marching orders were issued.
Warren was to advance to Parker 5
Tavern, five miles ahead Hancock to
pursue road leading southwest from
his camp near Charlottesville, and to
90 into line of battle on the left Of the
whole army; Warren was to put himself
in connection with Hancock right,
and Sedgwick to occupy the ground in
the rear of Warren as before The
order of battle therefore, subsequently
stood thus: Hancock, Second Corps,
forming the left Warren, Fifth Corps,
the ceutre; Sedgwick, Sixth Corps, the
right and the reserve.
The first intimation of the opening of
the contest came from Gen Griffin,
commanding the First Division, Fifth
Corps He had the enemy close in his
front, and the order to make to Park
ers Tavern is suspended 1t becomes
evident Lee is about to repeat his old
strategy, and will seek to strike the
head OF Grants columns before they
are all in position, in order to defeat
them in detail
General Meade comes up as soon as
he hears the news, and says quietly to
Warren, "If the enemy attack, 60 at
once into battle with every man you
have" The columns meanwhile are at
a halt 1t is for the enemy to say
where the fight shall begin, and he has
clearly the chance to attack our columns
on the flank, with the hope to break
them in two and divide the army
Gen Meade thinks he is willing that
Lee should try il. To the Rap
idan is only six miles, and the columns
moving by the flank will presently, if
need be, face to the front and offer Lee
such line of battle as he little expects.
This delicate maneuver Meade will
trust to an army which is quite able to
execute it, for it has been marching in
perfect order, with precision and with
a total want of stragglers unknown in
its previous history The roads, too,
are good though on the side of them is
everywhere the Wilderness forest, and
amid its huge trees and thick under
growth the battle is mainly to be fought
While the halt continues, we learn
Il 4 ~
pected across the Rapidan to join the
main army before night. Griffin's di-
vision, when halted, was deployed in
line Of bsttle at right angles to the
turnpike, and stretching across on
either side. His skirmishers soon be
came engaged, and it was beyond doubt
Lee had moved out from his entrench-
ments to battle. Grifin's advance, the
Eighteenth Massachusetts, and Eighty
third Pennsylvania, was well forward
on the turnpike when the first shot was
fred The skirmish fingered a little,
as if neither side was quite ready, when
Warren himself rode to the front and
ordered the line forward The right Of
the road was taken by Ayers brigade,
Bartlett on the left. The underground
and the low pines were so thick that
the officers dismounted and went for
ward with their men on foot half a mile
further on. 4 sharp volley opened the
fight The two brigades went hand
somely forward, drove the enemy, and
carried the first hill in front Of them;
but, becoming a little disordered by the
unevenness Of the ground and the close
forest the line got disconnected in the
middle, and the rebels poured into the
interval, thanking both forces, and for
cling them to retreat They fell back,
fighting, Col Hays facing his regiment
to the front and flank Shortly after
he was wounded, bat not severely.
As the retreat drew slowly back, re-
endorsements began to arrive. The bat
tie extends its lines on either hand,
and again the rebels were driven Be
fore , o'clock the engagement died
away; the enemy became quiet, and
Warren remained drawn up, coUl-
paratively safe, but anxiously waiting
10 hear Of Hancock, on the left
General Grant was on the field The
inevitable cigar is gone, and he is
smoking a pipe His face is undisturb-
ed. but he knows well that Hancock's
quick arrival is essential 20 the safety
of his line. Until Hancock connects