The Smoky Hill and Republican union. [volume] (Junction City, Kan.) 1861-1864, 1864-05-14
ON TO RICHMOND!
TIE FIGHTING OF FRIDAY AND
SATURDAY.! s.

lTHE FIGHTING OF FRIDAY AND
I SATURDAY. s = T
Critical Condition Of Grant-Suc.
cessfal Strategy.
Butler drives Beauregard
he HOLDS the KEY to RICHMOND
NEW YORK, May 10.
The Herald has the following relative to
the battles of Friday aud Saturday:
At 5 o'clock in the morning the contest
vas renewed along the entire line, and the
hum of battle came from every quarter.
From certain indication it was concluded
Lee was reinforcing Longstreet on Han
cocks front, and part of Burnside's corps
was accordingly moved to bis support, TAX
ing position to the left of Gen. Warren
and completely filing the gap into which
the Second Brigade had been thrown into
the preceding evening.
% moving at daylight towards the as
signed position through close forrest, they
found it occupied by rebels prepared to dis
pute its possession. The fighting at this
point was over by nine o'clock, finding it
impossible to dislodge the rebels from their
position.
In the morning Hancock was driven
back close to bis breastworks BY a superior
force, but subsequently rallied his men and
succeeded in regaiuing most Of the lost
ground. Between ten and eleven o'clock,
however, Longstreet succeeded in turning
the left of his advance and throwing it into
confusion. This extended along the entire
line aud came near involving the whole
corps in inextricabIe confusion. He was
once more forced back to the breastworks
and the rebels actually planted their colors
inside them, but could not sustain them
selves and were elected.
At this time heavy reinforcements we're
thrown to his support from Burnside's
CORDS, and bis men were rallied and taken
we'll in hand and all danger Of further dis
aster removed.
The charge of Longstreet was completely
overwhelming. Solid masses of infantry
we're hurled upon Hancock time after time
with an impetuosity nothing could with
1t was exceedingly fortunate for
the Sixth corps and the whole army that be
was checked at this critical period and
driven back with as much precipitation as
he came.
The ground in front of Hancock had been
fought over a number of times, and the
wounded and dying en- the field we're vast.
At night Hancock occupied bis breastworks
and bad nothing but prisoners aud rebel
dead to show for the slaughter Of two days
fighting. lie behaved with conspicuous
throughout, and was on the field
in person where the dangers were the
thickest. General Warren was also assailed
along the whoe line, and the utmost sur
prise was manifested at the number of troops
Lee was able to bring into action. This
corps retained its first position, however,
until darkness. About midnight charge
was made and it gave way and was unable
to regain the ground they lost. This. Of
course, compelled the abandonment of
great portion of the line of breastworks in
front of the corps. and brough: the skir-
mish line within half mile of Grants and
and Meade's headquarters.
Sedgwick' S corps maintained itself against
vigorous assaults by superior numbers al
different times during the day. and had no
serious reverse until late in the evening,
when charge was made on its extreme
right, for the purpose of turning it as done
With Hancock in the morning. Milroy's
old division was driven back in great con-
fusion, and at length the enemy succeeded
in efFectually turning our right flank. The
behavior of this division is severely criti
cized by those supposed to know more con.
corning affairs. This probably necesstated
the transfer of our sick and wounded and
all the supply trains from the Germauin
ford road to Charlottesville. The latter
we're in motion the whole night and at day
light, bad Lee occupied the Germania Ford
road and cut off the retreat of our army by
that route, it would have given him the
advantage for the night, and had worked
mischief, causing an undue
extension of the line and correspondingly
weakening it.
The contest of Friday was unsatisfactory.
Many officers despondingly feared Lee would
in some measure defeat Graot, and that
superficial observers might construe our
repulse that day into defeat, tut no such
found q resting place in the
minds of those who knew the senaeity Of
purpose aud fertility of resources which
Grant, and the advantages of
the next day verified their hopes.
The battle RECOMMENDED at daylight on
but the firing was scattering, and
no fierce attacks we're made on either side.
Both Generals we're intent on strategy and
neither anxious to bring on general en-
Lee seemed intent on cutting
onI communication MIA GaImania Eord