The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1864-05-14

heavier than ours.
Don't know the number of prisoners, or
their loss. They have started South and
Grant is after them.
The New York Herald of May 10th gives
the following particulars of the battles of
Friday and Saturday
At five O'Clock in the morning the contest
was renewed along the entire line, and the
hum of battle came from every quarter, in
dlcatlng that Lee was reinforcing Longstreet
on Hancock's front, and part of Burnsides
corps was accordingly moved to his sup
port, taking position to the left of Gen.
Warren, and completely filing the gap into
which the Cd brigade had been thrown the
preceding evening. On moving at daylight
towards the assigned position, through a
close forest, they found it occupied by reb-
els, prepared to dispute its possession.
The fighting at this point was over by nine
O'Clock, finding it impossible to dislodge
the rebels from their position. In the morn
ing, Hancock was driven back close to his
breast works By a superior force, but subse-
quently rallied his men and succeeded in
regaining most of the lost ground between
eleven and twelve o'clock However, Long
street succeeded in turning the left Of his
advance, and throwing it into confusion.
This extended along the first line, and came
near involving the whole corps into confu-
sion. He was once more forced back to the
breast works, ond the rebels actually plant
ed their colors inside these, but could not
sustain themselves and were elected. At
this time heavy reinforcements were thrown
to his support from Burnside's corps, his
men were rallied and taken well in hand
and all danger of further disaster removed
The charge of Longstreet was completely
overwhelming, solid masses of infantry
were hurled upon Hancock time after time,
with an imletuosty nothing could with
stand. 1t was evidently fortunate for the
9Th corps and the whole army that he was
checked at this critical period, and driven
back with as much precipitation as he came.
The ground in front of Hancock had been
| fought over a number Of times and the
wounded and dying on the field were vast.
At night Hancock occupied his breast
works. He behaved with conspicuous gal
lantry throughout. He was on the field in
person where the dangers were the thickest.
Gen. WoIdeu was also assaulted along the
whole line, and the utmost surprise was
/
able to bring into action. This corps re-
tanned its first position, however, until dark.
About midnight charge was made and it
gave way and was unable to regain the
ground lost This Of course compelled the
abandonment of great portion of the line
! of breastworks IN front of this corps, and
brought the skirmish line within half mile
of Grant and Meade's headquarters.
Sedgwick's corps maintained itself
against vigorous assaults by superior num-
bers at different times during the day, and
had no serious reverse until late in the eve
ming, when 4 charge was made on its entire
right, for the purpose of turning it as done
with Hancock in the morning.
Milroy's old division was driven back in
great confusion, and at length the enemy
succeeded in efectualy turning our right
flank. The behavior of this division is Sc
verely criticised by those supposed to know
more concerning affairs. This probably
| necessitated the transfer of our sick and
wounded and all the supply trains from the
Germauia Ford road to Charlottesville
The latter were in motion the whole night,
and al daylight had Lee occupied the Ger
mania Ford road and cut off the retreat of
our army by that route, it would have given
them the advantage, for the right had work
ed incalculable mischief, causing an undue
extension of the lines and correspondence
weakening it,
The contest of Friday was unsatisfactory
many officers despondingly feared Lee would
in some measure defeat Grant, and that su-
per6cial observers might construe our re-
pulse that day into defeat, but no such
foreboding found a resting place in the
minds of those who knew the tenacity of
purpose and fertility of resources which
characterized Grant, and the advantages of
the next day verified their hopes. The bat
tie recommended at daylight, on Saturday
but the firing was scattering. No fierce at
tacks were made on either side. Both Gen
erals were intent on strategy, and neither
anxious to bring on general engagement
Lee seemed intent on cutting our commu-
nication via Germania Ford. Grant appear
ed utterly Indifferent to this, and seemed
rather to court it, by Withdrawing Sedg-
wick's corps from his position, and throw
ing it back by Germania Ford, near his own
headquarters, and pushing Burnside out on
the Spottsy lvania Court House road, threat
ening Lees rear in communication with the
new line of battle formed by the change in
the position of the corps extended north
and south, and gave Lee the choice of be-
ing cut off from his capital and risking an
open battle field, or retreat.
At 2 O'Clock in tie afternoon Burnside
was we'll under way 10 Spottsylyania c. H.
Lee had thrown on our right, and drove our
pickets to the Germania Ford road. The
result could only be precipitate retreat on
the part of Lee, to prevent our army being
thrown between himself and Richmond, or
a deadly coceest in the open field, that
could only end in his defeat He soon dis
covered his error snd started in hast to eff