Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-05-14

cure the Etght Over for the Ddy-Lee IN
Perttous Positton-He Makes his Slightlu
Wounded go into the Rqnks-Cars of our
Younded-Heroism Of our Troops-We
hare Los! thus far 40, 900.
Special Dispatch to the N. Y. Tribune.
HEADQUARTERS Army OF Tus PoToMAo, !
"Wednesday, May l1-s A. At.
at u o'clock yesterday, the most .des.
peraIe of oil the battles yet fought was
commenced. II continued up to nearly 6
O'Clock. In logged stubborness, Water.
loo and SUFFERING pale before the terrific
onslaught of Tuesday afternoon on tile
banks of the Po. Two divisions of Burn.
sId's Corps held the right, the 9Th and 9Th
Corps the center, and the I'd Corps the
left. Our lius stretched six miles on the
north. east bank OF the Po, the rebels oc.
cupyiug the southwest bank and the viii
lage OF Spottsylvania.
At our urtillery gained good range,
aud poured shot and she'll, grape and can.
lister into their ranks, as they, with frantic
recklessness OF lifc, charged forward upon
our infaHtry lines. The enemy used but
little artillery in reply. Prisoners state
that they were deficient in Ammunition,
and could not.
The impression prevailed at headpuar-
ters during the fore part OF the day that
Eweil's corps had left for Richmond on
Monday. All prisoners taken were from
Loogslreets aud Hills corps, but before
yesterdays battle closed, Ewell returned.
If he had lef', as is probable, Lees entire
army aud our whole force were pitted fO
three hours ut hand. to-hand struggle
without parallel in history.
Gen. Grant and Gen. Meade were in the
saddle constantly personally directing
movements. 1t was arranged that the en-
tire 9Th Corps should charge the enemy's
right flank, but pending tbs seyerest on
slaught made by Lee just befJre dark, it
was discovered that he had advanced
around our right flank aud was moving
down in dense columns for a last after
dark struggle to break through our lines
and dash upon our supply trains, then
knownftU be packed on the plank road to
Fredericksburg.
1 This changed Gen. Burnside's purpose.
and he securely held his ground and
threatened the cnemy's extreme right,
white the Sixth Corps charged his right
center, and (at Z o'clock) drove him from
bis first line OF rifle pits, capturing five
guns aud between two and three thousand
prisoners.
The quick eyes of our chieftaius, how
ever, snW the rebel maneuvre. Our men
were faced about, our trains all moved to
the rear, new positions Instantly secured
tor our artillery, aud lhe euemy's expected
coming patiently awaited iuriug all the
loug bOurs of last night. No demoustra.
tious were made, however. and except the
occasional shots of pickets all was quiet
up to o'clock to day, when left.
II was believed that the enemy had sut.
fered SO severely that he could not 10 his
crippled condition avail himself of the
declded advantage he had gained. By
others it was supposed he had attempted
another flight, but as his communication
with Richmond is believed to have been
severed by Sheridan, aud his fAuks and
rear constantly harrassed by our forces, he
must surrender or kill his .'iast man" in
battle as he seems determined in frantic
rage to do.
lu so horrible strife it must not be
supposed that VIC escape the severest pun
ishnent. Our losses in yesterdays fight
were much greater than in any OF the bat.
ties OF the previous week. 1t is true there
is smaller percentage of killed in pro.
portion to the number wounded than in
any previous battle, and a very large num.
Der are but slightly wounded. Roads.
fields. and woods are literally sWarmiug
with these suffering heroes, who have detied
wounds aud death that the nation might
survive.
So incessant havo been the marching
and lighting that many are being overcome
with fatigue, ani several have been sun
struck; yet never was seen SO cheerful, SO
rssolute, asd even exultant a body of men
on any of the worlds great battle Gelds.-
All honor to this sublime heroism, which
so nobly welcomes death and wounds.
Rebel prisoners assert that Lee ordered
all his wounded men able to hold musket
to take their places in the ranks again for
yesterdays battle.
Our wounded are being conveyed with
all possible dispatch to fredericksburg,
and thence, via. Belle Plain, TO W Washing-
tom q 81 80 EEas s4 &Ea
But for tender regard for these disabled
heroes, abandoned TO their fate aud burn
ing up in the woods lett on FIRE las the
rebels also leave their dead unburied, y our
army would ere this have been laundering.
before the Rebel Capital but we can Af-
ford to wait. Men who have faced mus
kerry aud cannon for q week, aud fought
better each succeeding day, are inVincibIe,
and they will soon win the complete trl-
umph their yaIor so richly merits
Time after time did they hurl back in
disorder the solid massed columns OF the
foe, aud if perchauce they staggered with
the shock, It was only for more superhu-
man energy to charge back upon him.
The old guard at Waterloo pales before
these men.
oor entire loss thus far, in killed, wound
ed, missing, &cD must reach near 40, 600.
Tue enemy 's loss in killed is much great
er than ours: his wounded about the same.
He is supposed 10 hold some 1000 of our
prisoners and we must have al least 900
OF his men, while our scouts report the
roads literally alive with his straggIers. Il
is mathematical question requiring only
few days more to determine the limit Of