The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-05-14
The Battle Of Thursaay.

| The Battle 81 ThuReday.
WILDERNESS TAVERN, HEART OF TIL
WILDERNESS, 8 A. NJ, Thursday, May
1064.-Late on Tuesday the whole army
became aware that it would be moved with
in . few hours. During the night and thu
first daylight Of tho next morning, every.
thing was put in motion. Greggs Division
Of Cavalry crossed Ely's Ford, without op'
late Kilpatrick's) crossed Germania Ford
Hancock's, I'd Corps, followed Gregg, and
Warren's, 9Th Corps, followed Wilson,
Long before night Hancock had posted bis
corps and established his headquarters ai
Charlottesville, while Warren had pushed
on to Wilderness Tavern and occupied the
ridges facing Mine Run and the enemy
By, sunset eedgwick, with the 9Th Corps,
had crossed Germania Ford, and last night
encamped along the road In the rear Of
Warren. Sheridan, with the Cavalry Corps,
thoroughly secured the country In Ill di-
rections. He intercepted dispatches from
the Rebel Gen. Rhodes to Ewell, stating
that Meade had effected . crossing, and
asking instructions. Another intercepted
dispatch apprised us that Stuart was hav-
ing cavalry review at Hamilton's Cross
the spectacle, but it was not thought expe-
dent.
Gen. Grant left Culpeper and Gen Meade
Brandy early yesterday morning, and ear
ly in the afternoon pitched headquarters
just this side of Germania Ford.
Atdaybreak this morning, Sheridan NOV
ed with all his force with two purposes-to
find and fight Stuart, and to push . recon-
noissanee far 10 our left on the enemy's
right flank. The order of march to-day, ~
fixed since midnight, 10 for Warren to ad-
vance to Parker's Tavern, I'VE miles to-
ward Mine Run, for Hancock to take road
leading from Chancellorsville, that win en-.
able him to establish line on the left Of
Warren, connecting with the latter, while
ren's present position.
It 10 possible. however, that Lee may
cause > change in the programme. Gen.
Grimm reports the enemy menacing his Do
sition ON the ridge south Of this point, and
not mile away. Warren orders him not
TO move Of toward Parker's Tavern until
Sedgwick can come mp and relieve him.
Gen. Meade rode up ten minutes ego and
said, IF the enemy comes near you, pitch
right in with al you've got!' The DISPOSE
tons necessary to sustain an attack If such
be Lees purpose, have caused halt of the
columns-and now we are listening for the
first gun. If the enemy does not choose to
fore night will hold the position contem-
plated by the morning order. On the other
hand, We can well afford to fight him now.
1t is six miles back to the Rapidan-if we
are attacked it will be with the hope Of
breaking through the moving columns by
q vigorous assault upon the aank. Gems.
Grant, Meade, Warren and Sedgwick will
see to it thst what the enemy supposes 70
be weak flank he shall find to his cost is
nothing less nor else than formidable
front. @
have never seen the army move with
more exact order. with less number Of
and with SO little apparent IA
tigue to the men. All had q full ration of
sleep last night which is better augury
of victory than . reinforcement of thou
sands. The roads are in excellent condi-
ton, the weather delightful and 50 warm
that whole divisions abandoned their over
coats and extra blankets on the march. At
one point noticed some hundreds of over
coats had been thrown into . stream to i'm
prove the CRUISING. Overcoats and blan-
kets are decidedly better for the purpose
than rails.
understand that Burnside marched last
night to join this army, and will reach Ger
mania to-day. It 10 understood Gen. But
Ter 10 making . simultaneous Coward to
and will first occupy City
Point, James River. That thsse two move
ments are being made n generally known
in the army, and has . most inspiring
effect.
Rest your confidence not only in what
may be predicted upon the records of its
Generals - to how this army will b. ham
died, but in this the rank and file aUll fght
this fight NTH more than the elan Of the
French, with more than the pluck Of the
British. They feel it in their bones that
sonaetAtxg allied to these, but better than
either or both. a49 c. A. p.
WILDERNESS BArTLE-F1ELD. Thursday.
May 5, p. M.-How perfect have been the
how completely ON time
they have been executed, how well in hand
the army has been every hour, and is now,
how mastery and successful thus far has
been the movement-all this is SO clearly
apparent that can but notice it here, even
while spirited battle is being fought only
half a mile from where write.
Let me here pay tribute to the first SOL
der killed in this campaign. Let Charles
Wilson, of Franklin, Mass, private in Co.
1, 18th Mass, Col. Jos. Hayes command
ing, be remembered as the first man to
give his life in this (God willing last grand
of the war.
Immediately after "writing up" this
rode out TO Griffith's lines. then
reported to be menaced by the enemy
His division was in line Of battle at right
angles with and on either side of the Old
Turnpike. The enemy had evidently dis
patched force from his lair on Mine Run
70 worry anu Oelay Oub m0ICl Oy t0r00t-
ening in flank. Gen. Griffin had sent the
18th Massachusetts and SD Pennsylvania,
under Col. Hayes, of the former, to feel
well ont on the turnpike. II was here that
Charles Wilson fell, the Rebel skirmish
line opposing . vigilant front. Finally,
after some little firing, Gen. Warren, who
had come up IN person, ordered IN id
vance down the road in force. Ayre's
brigade moved on upon the right Of the
R0FtIAtfSA vsyif
each flank well supported.
Field officers were obliged to dismount,
% dense was The growth Of dwarf pines.-l
An advance Of leas than half mile and o
smart fnsilade opened the action. The
two brigadee carried the flrst eminence,
and were pushing up : second, when. ow:
Lett to connect, and form . continuous
line, the Rebels hanked them on both sidee.
Col. Hayes, 18th Massachusetts,, 6ndine
himself In command Of several regiments
and the enemy Ill around him, formed .
line facing to tho rear and fought in both
diroctions. At length he gave the order
to fall back, and the movement was beinn