The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1864-05-18
WHOLE NO. 396.
THE MOVEMENT AGAINST RICH
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THE MOVEMENT AGAINST RICH.
MOND.
Special Dispatch to the Cincinu natl Gazette.
WAsnINGToN, May 8.
The following are full particulars of the
movements across the Rapidap, from Tues
day night down to Thursday night, the end
of the first days great battle.
The march began at midnight on Tues
day. Gregg's division Of cavalry led the
way to Elys Ford, and Wilson'S division
to Germania. The I'd Corps, Gen. Han.
cock, took the road to Ely's Ford; the 9Th
Corps, Gen. Warren, marched for Germania
Ford; the first divisions Of both corps
breaking camp at midnight. The 9th corps,
Gen. Sedgwck, followed the 9Th at four
hours interval. In the afternoon of Wed.
nesdsy, Hancock had his whole corps across,
and had established his headquarters at
Chancelorvle Warren advanced by the
road from Ely's Ford to the Wilderness,
and got into position on the nights lying
over against the defences Of Nine 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 dispatches from the rebel Gen.
Rhodes to Ewell, with the announce n ent
that Meade was across the Rapidan, and
wanted to know what to do. Other dis.
patches were also taken. Early on Thurs
day morning Sheridan went in search of a
fight with Stuart, and on reconnaissance
to the left for the main body. Precise
marching orders were issued. Warren vas
to advance to Parkers Tavern, five m lies
ahead; Hancock to pursue road leading
southwest from his camp near Chancellor
vile, and to go into line Of battle On the
left of the whole army; Warren was to put
himself in connection with Hancock's right,
and Sedgwick to occupy the ground in the
rear Of Warren as before. The order Ct
battle, therefore, subsequently stood thus ::
Hancock, I'd corps, forming the left; War
rem, 9th corps, the centre; Sedgwick, 9th
corps, the right and the reserve.
The first intimation Of the opening of the
contest came from Gen. Griffin, command
ins the lst Division, 5th corps. He had
the enemy close in his front. and the order
to move to Barker's Tavern IS suspended
1t becomes evident Lee is ahou: to repeat
his old strategy, and will seek to st1;ke the
head of Grants columns before they s-e
all in position, in order to defeat tn, m in
detail
Gen. Meade comes up as soon as he hears
the news, and says quietly to Warren, "If
the enemy attack, go at once into battle
with every man you have.' The columns
meanwhile are at 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
| irl. ha -. hot T
should try it. To the Rapidan is only six
will presently, if need be, face to the front
and offer Lee such a lire Of battle as he
little expects.
This delicate man9uvre Meade will trust
to an army which is quite able to execute
it, for ii has been marching in perfect order,
with precision and with q total want of
straggleIs unknown in its previous history
Thy roads, too, arc good, though on the
side of them is everywhere the Wilderness
forest, and amid its huge trees and thick
underground the battle is mainly to be
fought.
While the halt continues, Burnside is
coming up, and is expected across the
Rap'dan ojoin the main army before night
Griftin's division, when halted, was deploy-
ed in line Of battle at right angles to the
turnpike, and stretching across on either
side. His skilmishcrs soon became engag-
ed, and it was beyond doubt Lee had NOV
ed out from his intrenchments to battle
Griffin's advance, the 18th Massachusetts
and SD Pennsylvania, was we'll forward on
the turnpike when the first shot was fired
The skirmish fingered little, as if neither
side vas quite ready, when Warren himself
| fn hO n.la fha lin
ward. The right of the road was taken by
Ayers brigade, Bartlett on the left. The
underground and the low pines were so
thick thai the officers dsmountcd and went
forward with their men on foot half a mile
further on. A sharp volley opened the
fight. The two brigades went handsomely
forward, drove back the enemy, and carried
the first hill in front Of them but, becom.
ing little disordered by the unevenncss
of the ground and the close forest, the line
got disconnected in the middle, and the
rebels poured into the interval, tlanking
both forces, and forcing them to retreat.--
They fell back, fighting Col. Hayes facing
his regiment to the front and aank.-
Shortly after he was wounded, but not
severely.
AS the retreat drew slowly back, rein
forcements began TO arrive. The battle ex-
tended its line on either hand, and again
the rebels were driven. Before 3 o'clock
the engagement died away; the enemy be-
came quiet, and Warren remained drawn
up, comparatively safe, but anxiously wait.
ng to hear Of Hancock, On the left.
Gen. Grant was on the field. The inc.
vitable cigar was gone, and he is smoking
a pipe. His face is undisturbed, but he
knows well that Hancock's quick arrival is
essential to the safety Of his line. Until
Hancock connects with the left of Warren,
nothing is safe. In the anxiety to extend
Warren's line to the let, Getty's division,
of the 9th Corps, was ordered up, and took
position between the turnpike and the plank
roads. Very soon came the 4th Division,
Gen Car Of the I'd Corps, and closely fol-
lowing were Hancock's other three divis.
ions They had scarcely reached the front
and gone into line, not an easy operation
in such forest, when the attack Of the
enemy burst upon them. 1t fell heaviest
on the left flank, where the troops wer,
Longest in coming up, and was so impetu
Gus that for while it was doubtful ii ;
steady line could be formed. Quick re
quests for aid went back TO the rear, ant
Gen. Meade heard from those hurried mes
sengers that tue enemy had massed again
D as so often before, in one solid body agans
his line, and was striving as never before t.
l break through, but the line still held
Fresh troops came up and went straigh
: into the fight, and brigade after brigad'
:. opened it's thick voleys. 1t seemed ss
!, the rebels must des,st from their attack
9 but still they persevered. On u line Of no
! more than mile, the struggle went on fo
u three hours. Not less than twenty thous