The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-05-27
THE GREAT CONFLICT.
The Battle Of Tuesday. May 10.
The Battle and Victory Of
Thursday, May IL.
The Battle Of Tuesday, May 10.

Correspondence of the N. y. Times.
WASHINGTON, May IL.
The following dispatch has just come to
hind:
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE Potomac,
Near ,Spotsylvania @ H., Wednesday, May
1.-My ispatch dated p. NJ yesterday
gave an outline sketch of the operations
of that day ut to the hour named, and in
c!uded the announcement of the turning
of our right flank. This dispatch las not
yet come to hand.-ED. Times Iwould
gladly have avoided leaving the situation
suspended in this perilous condition, but
the messenger by whom had the oppor-
tunity to send my dispatch left just as the
courier bearing the tidings arrived.
hasten to add that the menacing break was
speedily repaired, and that the army holds
at present position not differing greatly
fro IN that We have held for the past two
days, with the exception that our right is
50 newhat strengthen ell
Yesterday g operations now assumed the
character of the most bitter and perhaps
the most bloody of the series of battles
which have been fought since we crossed
the Rapidan. Knowing, as we do, that
oar cavalry force has been working havoc
with Lees communications, that his sup
plies are almost exhausted, that the lines
of investment are being drawn around
Richmond, and that echoes of disaster
reach his ear from afar-off Tennessee, and
presage the downfall of the fabric of the
rebellion, we are left to infer that the at
tack of yesterday was a desperate, and,
let US hope, final attempt to retrieve the
rebel fortunes by dealing crushing blow
at this army l. is enough to say that it
failed and though he inflicted severe
loss of life upon us. he suffered not less
himself, and we still hold position against
which the rebel fury may dash itself in
vain.
1t would seem to have been the policy
of Lee, in the series of battles which he
has delivered during the past week, to
C. NEST the advance to Richmond at every
available point, to wear US away by de-
grees, ard then, perhaps, to fall upon the
Union forces under Butler, and endeavor
to annihilate them. This plan he has car
ried into execution with a mastery skill,
inspired by fury perfectly diabolical.
We are steadily pressing the rebels
sou'hwa,d The enemy have been greatly
favored by the nature of this country, in
whose dense woods and tangled chapparal
the 1.-the and wary are much more at home.
Fortunately, if we once carry the position
which they now hold in front of Spotsyl
vania Courthouse, We shall be out of the
Wilderness "and reach open country
The operations of yesterday were open
ed by reconnaissance on the left
by Burnslde's corps, which developed the
fact that the enemy was in no force there
nothing but cavalry disp1ting the ad-
vance. This caused the division of Mott
to be withdrawn from its position on the
extreme right and it was sent to the left to
connect with Burnside. The rebel posi-
ton now very much resembled ours at
Gettysburg, curved interior line, we'll
protected by breastworks, with the add.
tional defence of a marshy run in front
Holding us at bay in the centre, they dis
covered the weakness of the right, now
held by Barlows division. This division
of Hancock's command, as l yesterday
mentioned, had made the passage of the
Pc, throwing out skirmishers on the east
bank. This gave it coigne of vantage,
from which it not only enfiladed the entire
rebel position, bat commanded the road on
which their trains were passing At the
same time. however, it isolated it from
the rest of the army-a false posi-
ton, of which the rebels could hardly
have failed to take advantage, as we shall
presently see.
Gen. Warren's corps held the centre of
md 81
GUS assault should be made there, while
Hancock and Burnside endeavored to as
sail and turn the two TANKS of the enemy
With this view, two divisions of the Eco
ond Corps were thrown over to connect
with the right of Warren and support
him. In execution of the projected de-
sign, Warren's corps moved forward DUR
ing the day, pressing the rebels through
the woods to an open space behind, close
to the enemy's treastwOrks. This was at
tended by very heavy Smelling from the
enemy, and it was three or four O'Clock p.
M before the woods were cleared. After
this, the corps advanced to assault the
breassworks. In this, however, it did not
succeed, although the attempt was gal
lantly made. CAROLS brigade went in
w oii0 CudI&o anu IOSt CiS III uOuu' Ou AiCu.
Gen. Meade realizing the critical posi-
ton in which tho extreme right of our line
tBsrlox's division) was placed, had order
ed it to draw back The rebels had, how
ever, anticipated us, and making detour
came in on its rear, making it a matter of
considerable difficulty to withdraw; sup
ports coming up, however, it was success
fully accomplished. A general attack was
ordered along the line, to take place at 5
O'Clock, but owing to the hardness of some
of the commanders to get into line it was
postponed. first to O'Clock, and then to
half-past. A furious cannonade from our
artillery preceded the charge. The worst
of it was that the lateness Of the hour pre-.
vented its being perfectly successful.
Gen. Wright advanced the flower of the
Sixth corps. NobIy and we'll they sus-
tanned their reputation. Upton's brigade
leading. they advanced rap div upon the
enemyt breastworks without firing shot,
capturing them at the point Of the bayo.
net As they rushed on they captured
the enemy by hundreds, rushing upon
them with fury that nothing could WITH
stand - To the numb r Of twelve hundred
they run them back into our lines At full