The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1864-05-20


lines, Killing and capturing several OF
their number
Ia the afternoon rain fell 10 seme ex>
tent, continuing until after dark, aying
the dust and cooling the atmosphere, and
raising the spirit. OF our troops Fires
were built and supplies cooked, the bands
began playing in the forest along the
lines, and undisturbed by the enemy's
shells, our soldiers ale heartily, and rested
sweeUv.
Tie enemy had no ammunition 10
waste.
Meanwhile news arrived towards even
ing that Sheridan had penetrated 10 the
vicinity Of Beaver Dam, on the Orange
G. II. Railroad, torn up about ten miles Of
track, captured rebel supply train, and
recspturiug above 800 of cur man Who
ties.
This news so insp;rited the men wherev-
er it was known that Il general jubilee Of
cheers succeeded the announcement, aud
during the night arrangements were
pushed fer an attach on our side this
morning
The enemy had been seen pushing
troop toward, or right, and ostentatious
Iy erecting abattis in front ct Iiaucock's :
sroops 1t was sLrewdlv aud rightly sus
pected shat this wss only blind TO the
real intention OF the euemy. Ii ras there
fore anticipated.
The % corps (Hancock's) pushed to the
left Of the 9th corps (Wrights) between
shAt and Burnside. who eommsadsJ On
the lef' Of the Sportsyivanis road.
A; $50 this morning Hancock attack
ed the enemy fronting him in force, open.
ing a whitening capnonading and making
resistess assaults against every par: 0: lis
position
The cannoaading was replied to with
vigor and the charges Of our men we're es
vigore eusly resisted, but the determination
of the onset overwhelmed everything-
The troops rushed in on the riie-pits of
the enerav, bayoneting them il their
works, cutting their lines, and capturing
on the fret. charge over eco men and
several guns, including greater portion
of Ssonewsil Brigsde, and division COM
msndet by Gen Ned Johnson, and form .
ing a part Of EwelI, corps. Gen. John
son was himself taken prisoner. The AZ
sault continued till nearly the whole divi-
sion Of tie corps ~ss captured, and other
troops amounting to loco men.
New York, May -.
The Times Washington special says !:
" A distinguished officer, who left Grant
in tho saddle as late as 10 o'clock this
"wednesday morning, sums up the
bloeds work of Tuesday thus:
The fight opened all along the lines
Longstreet's corps, under Hill, held the
rebel right, resting about two miles north
east Of Spottsyjvania, aud Grant pitted
b Brnside's 9ih Corps against it, At a
given moment. later in the afternoon,
Burnside preciHitated bis entire command,
except lie colored troops. upon The rebe,
front, driving and completely crushing it,
capturing three rebel trigades and four
pieces Of cannon. The fight continued,
with a ferocty never before witnessed,
until 9 o'clock when night closed upon
the bloodiest field produced in this var.
The losses on both sidos are stalled te
be very large.
&" OF the rebel brigades captured, some
escaped during the awful carnage which
followed, hui ] 900 were sent to tho rear
this Wednesday morning. Our informant
ta kei with some of them before leaving
and they said they bad been in every prn>
eipal battle Of the war, but nsver expert
enced such terrible fighting.
The battle ceased AL 9 o'clock. our
line having advanced, Burnside eccup.
ing, at the end Of the conflict, TIE intreuch.
ments held by Longstreet's forces at the
beginning
This (Welnesdey) morning the fight
was renewed up to 10 o'clock at which
time Burnside he'd the same position
Lees army was then contracted into 8
sort of horse-shoe form in and sbou. the
town OF Spo,tsyIvsaia c. II.
, Headquarters Array Of the Potomac
May 1.-THE most desperate Of al! the
fights was fought yesterday, commencing
at 10 80 and closing at S o'clock II
doggei stubbcrness, Waterloo and SoIfsr
inc were behind the battles of the Po-
Our line stretched SIX miles to the north
t west Of the Po, the rehels occupying III,
southwest bank and the village Of Spots.
, s7vania. Our artillery, which 60, in gcoC
range, poured shot and shell into them a
they charged forward upon our infantry
} lines. The enemy used bu, little artil
ery 10 reply. Prisoners taken ssy thx
hey were deficient in ammunition ant
could not.
Gems Gran, and Meade were in ,b,
saddle conss.u,lv.
1t was arranged that ,he 9:h Corp
shoul charge the .nefny's right flank
I but. just betore dark it WAS discovered
: that Lee had advanced around our righ
flank, and VAS moving down in dense col
= umns for the east, 10 make struggle 4
: break through our lines and dash upo,
our supply trains known TO be packed o.
t the plank road to Frede7ick.hury. 1hi
enan sd Gen. Burnsde's purpose, and h
e held his ground and threatened the en
= emys right, while the 9Th Corps chsrg.
n his right and centre, mud al Z o'clock drov
him from bis frs; line and rfapits, cap
g ruriag between 1000 Aid 5000 prisoner,
+ Our men were quietly faced about q
: the trains moves 10 the rear Eew pos
J. lions taken; and the expected approac
Of tie elenI Paiiel'!r awa.;el. No Ie