American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-05-25

1t was Hancock's turn. His troops ad-
vanced with cheers. Barlow's division
fell upon Heaths division of Longstreet's s
corps like thunderbolt, cutting it all to
pieces. Rebel prisoners say it was the
greatest charge of the war. The rebels
were literally piled in heaps. The advance
of other parts of the line not having been
made at the appointed moment, the advan-
tages gained were lost, and the I'd return
ed to its former position. There was no
further attempt on the part of the rebels
to push the I'd Corps.
Just before sunset Wright and Burn
side attacked the enemy with great fury.
Wright carried their rifepits. The I'd
Vermont held one against all the efforts
of the rebels to retake it. They said they
would hold it for six months-only give
them plenty of ammunition and rations.
Gen. Wright, at o'clock, went to
headquarters and reported their gallantry,
asking for instructions whether they
should hold it. "Pile in the men and
hold it all hazards, was Grants reply
Gen. Wright went back to execute the
order. but found thata subordinate officer
had ordered them back for fear they
would de cut Off Glorious sons of glo-
rious State Their honor is untarnished.
Their laurels can never fade.
Burnside pushed the enemy back almost
to the Court House, and held his ground
when [ left the field this morning. The
colored troops were not in the charge.
Umptons brigade of the 9th corps, cap
tured Dale's brigade of Ewell's corps, but
in the melee were able to bring off only
twelve hundred
Gen. Rice was wounded and his leg
amputated, but he died in the afternoon
Just before he died he desired to be turn
ed over Which way? the Chaplain
asked "Turn my face towards the en-
emy," " were his last words.
Capt B. f. Davis, of the 18th Mass,
captured the flag and was mortally woun-
ded, and died lastnight. Up to ten O'Clock
to-day there was constant skirmishing, in
dicating that he was goingto attack. Gen.
Grant was ready. The troops are in excel
lent spirits. They have fought six days
and gained all the time. Lee will fight
long, and with desperation. There will
be other great battles, but officers and men
alike feel shure that it is the last great
struggle. They have perfect confidence
in Grant and admire Meade as an execu-
tive officer.
We have lost twelve Generals Sedg-
wick, Wadsworth, Stevenson, Hays and
Rice killed; Bartlett. Getty, Robinson,
Morris and Baxter wounded; Seymour
and Shaler missing. Our loss of men are
very heavy.
Rebel prisoners report that they have
been on half rations, and that rebel officers
told them their next rations must come
from Grants stores. None has been is
sued except to prisoners up to ten o'clock
this morning. On the contrary, thirty Of
Lees wagons fell into our hands last
night.
We have about four thousand prison
ers.
An incident will show the enthusiasm
of our troops A soldierwith his arm am
putated said; Il am very sorry lost my
arm, for | want to be at them again -
He then sang Rally round the Flag,
boys" and a score in hospital joined in
the chorus
To sum up-the rebels tried to stop
Grant at the Wilderness but after fight
ing two battles, retroated. Lee has tried
to stop Grant at Spottsylvania, and has
had both tanks carried back-his outer
line of rife-pits carried-and has been re-
pulsed in all his attacks
| think it is Grants intention to 90 to
Richmond at all hazards, and have great
confidence that he will succeed