The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-05-24
S8estern g8emoerat
CHARLOTTE, N. C.
Tuesday, May FL, 1854.
THE LATE BATTLES.
LOTTE, N. C.


We publish to day as connected an account oil
the late battles in Virginia have been able to
gather from various sources. The fighting between
Lee and Grant commenced on Thursday, May 5th.
and continued at intervals till May 18th. 1t
appears the hardest battle fought at Spottsyva
MIA Court House on Thursday the 18th, the fight
lasting for 10 hours The enemy made repeated
assaults upon lines, but were finally defeated it
is said with loss of 1000 men. Piles of dead and
wounded yankees were left in front of our breast.
| works. BY a sudden and overwhelming charge of
| the enemy, early in the day, they captured Major
Gen. johnson and about $500 of his men. but our
troops rallied and drove back the assaulting
party, and released many of our men,
| That the 6ght resulted in our favor is GER
session of the battle field. The official dispatches
of Gen. Lee show that our troops have been sue
ce!;sful in every engagement
On the 10th, Gen. Lee issued congratulatory ad-
dress to his troops, concluding as follows:
'The heroic vaor of this army, with the blessing of
Almighty God, has thus far checked the advance ofthe
principal army of the enemy, and inflicted upon hea
Wy loss The eyes and hearts of your counrymen arc
turned to you with confidence and their prayers attend
you in your gallant struggle Encouraged by the sue
blythe great interest that depends upon the ISSUE let
every man resolve to endure all and brave ALL until by
the assistance of just and merciful God, the enemy
shall be driven back and peace securedto our country.
Continue to emulate the valor of your comrades who
have fallen, and remember that it depends upon you
whether they have died in vain. 1t in your power,
under Cod defeat the last great effort of tie enemy
Resolve the independence of your native land and
learn the love and gratitude of your c0untrymen and
the admiration of mankind"
1t is estimated that the enemy's loss is $4,000 men
since the fighting commenced. Our loss is estimat
ed at $1,000. In fact it is stated that Gen. Lees
Chief Medical Director says our loss is not over
5000 altogether. Our men fought, mostly, behind
breastworks which accounts for the comparative
small loss. :.--.
In addition to the victories of Lee in northern
Virginia, it will be seen that Beauregard and d. H.
Hill have achieved great victories over tho enemy
between Petersburg and Richmond and driven But
Ter and bis army to their gunboats
The yankees acknowledge a loss of 81 Generals
Among them the following:
Killed-Major Gems. Wadsworth and Sedgwick,
Brig Gems. Hayes, Webb, Taylor, Bailey. Owens
Rice. and Ames treported).
Wounded-Gens. Stevenson, Getty, Talbot, and
Robinson.
. Captured-Gens. Seymour, Shaer Neal and
Hickman. .-% -'s -
The Confederates haze lost about 20 Generals
some of whom are only very slightly wounded. We
give list as far we know:
Kiled-Gens. jenkins, Jones, Stafford, Daniels.
J E Stuart, and Perrin --.- .>.-.-.~ -.. e..
Wounded-Gens Longstreet. Ramseur, Robt ID
Johnston, MCGOWAN, Psgram, NJ W Ransom and
Benning. ..E. ...s.s..,a. =. II, Il 80 ..-.
Captured-Gen. Edw'd johnson and G H Stuart.
We have lost in prisoners about 5000, and have
captured at least 6.00O, about 1000 Of whom have
already passed through this place on their way south
OUR YOUNG GENERALs.-A great deal has been
said, and justly too, in praise ofHoke and the gal
liant manner in which he has managed his command.
Hoke, Lane, Ramseur and II. d. Johnston are all
young Generals and young men, Johnston being
the youngest of the four-and they have all distin
guished themselves on the battle field. In reading
the accounts Of tho late battles in Virginia, the
reader will be struck with the frequency with which
the gallant conduct of Johnstons N. c. Brigade is
mentioned. At time it made an important
flank movement, capturing several hum red yankees;
at another it rcpused superior force of the enemy
and greatly aided in securing the victory of the day
Ramseur and Lane no doubt did their full share OF
fighting and did it well. Well may North Carolina
be proud of her young Generals and her noble sol
ders of all grades. --..
Hoke. Ramseur and Johnston all natives of
Lincoln eounty--Lane is Virginian by birth. but
North Carolina is his adopted State, and he entered
the service in 1861 in command Of n. C.. troops.
Neither of the four over thirty years DID,
Since writing the above, have learned that
Gen. Johnston was slightly wounded in the late bat
ties. He has been wounded, we bteVe in every
battle in Which he has Teen engaged.
GEN. d. Ell. HILL 1t will be seen by the news
in another column that III" gallant ID Ii Hill is again
on the war path. For several days he fought in a
subordinate position in the battles around Peters
burg until Friday. when, it appears, he commanded
our army in person and gave the yankees com
plete drubbing ID. I'll. Hill is tho equal in fighting
and managing qualities to any OF our Generals, al
ways excepting Gen. Lee.