The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1864-05-18

the statement to the latest telegraph dispatches:
FRIDAYS BATTLE.
The day saw fourteen hours Of fighting. Gen.
Grant, having his army in position, was ready IN
the morning 10 open the engagement, but was
anticipated. Ewell attacked Sedg~ick on the
right at quarter before Eve, aud Longslreet at
tackled Hancock on the LETT, at nearly the same
moment. Both attacks were resOlute but both
we're repulsed and since our men were only
anxious to hold their ground, the line OF battle
s9ayed neither forward nor back. From seven
or eight till eleven there was Toll, broken Only
by skirmishes at diff, rent points. The line winch
Grant held was nearly the same as on the prev
Gus day, and stretched nearly SIX miles IN lenet-.
The disposition Of the corps also the same,
except that Barnsde's corps was now on tie
field. and that parts OF it were irou tine 10 time
brought into action.
AT eleven, the enemy began TO press closely
I'D 10 Warren, ia the centre. and Srdgwick OF
the right Sedswck. not king 20 be crowded,
advanced drove Eseli back TO Ms second line,
aud there iet Lim. having taken not more than
an hour for the wOrk Warren IS emulOus Of
the example. bnt in front OF Warren's right Il
an open field woods beyond, and the edge OF
the woods frowning with hasty earihworks, be-
bind which the compact masses OF the euemg,
and the enemy's guns are sheltered. The corps
Il A. P Hills the same against which he fought
on Thursday. Resolved that he viii not lie Idle
Warren goes over 20 the lrft, thinks the srOsnd
little more favorable, and sends in WadSOTth :
and Robinsoa's divisions The two divisions 20
steadily for~ard for space, and there IL prom
ice OF their success, but the rebel forces are
moved rapidly against them, their advance dice
a~sy into halt. and the bas becomes retreat
Cen w ads~orth is not willing that his division
should retreat so he rides out IN front OF their
Waveriug la e., and shows before them for mo
nent the brightness Of his personal courage but
IN another moment tails with a rebel bullet
through his brain. His division makes no iur
Their effort but falls back 10 iFs old g'Ound, and
be advance IS at an eud
From twelve tl Eve IN the afternoon there
we're occasional assaults, but 10 fighting OF COLI
sequence. Both sides gathering myth Tor
another effort and at halt past five, Hsrcotk
on The LETT, while preparing and just ready TO a.
saut, is himself as in the moruLg, attacked sud
enly aud with extreme energy. The momentum
of the rebel masses carried them at Il So through
portions OF dancOck's forces. Then they were
checked the attack changes sides, and Long
street for the second time IN one dav was repus-
ed With great slaughter. Then came two hours
Of quiet and, aud then wHen the battle was
thong TO be over Tor the night. another and hnal
attack far on Sedgwick's right, falling with its VI
must force on Two bresdes just added u the Old
9th Corps. They we're driven back some distance,
Two generals we're captured aud TOR half an hour
It seemed II the enemy were about 10 gain IA
dangerous advantage. Gen. Sedgwick rode 60
The field, arrested the growing disaster, ordered
up re-enfOrcements and with ms SOnted tenscity
Of purpose, held last to tho ,ine which his corps
mad occupied. So much the new brigades
covered bad to be given up But il appeared
aiterwsrd that the slight success OF the enemy
was not important, nor even encouraging 10
them, for il could not persuade them TO postpone
their retreat.
The negro troops of Gen. Burnside, command
Oy Gen. FererrO, bad been placed at the sposal
Of Gen. Sedg" ick, with the request that unless
absolutely necessary, they should not be put in
TO the fight.
The negroes remained within a mile and halt
Of the front during the entire day until dusk aud
we're not brought into action.
But very hItle artillery was brought into re-
QUESTION, owing 10 the nature of the battlefield
which is covered with an almost impenetrable
growth of scruboaks and underbrush. TIE fight
was altogether one of muske;ry, and although
not continuous. was one of the most determined
and desperate battles Of the war
SATURDAY, May 7, 1864.
At precisely quarter to FIVE o'clock this
morning oUi batteries, placed In pVeison DUNG
the night on our right, ushered ia the daylight
with an awful anthem Of shot aud she'll remind
| ing one OF the sublime terrors of Gettysburg
This cannonadng was Continued for half an hour
and was directed upon The foe occupy ing our
lost grounds OF the night previous, but DO reply
could be provoked. The occasional shot OF our
pickets then only eDsued, aimed at some uckless
straggler in rebel gray.
TITUS matters continued up to half past nine
in the morning, when IL was definitely ascertain
ed that the redouOtabIe rebel Gen Lee had most
incon.nently skedaddled.
The troops were occupied OF Saturday IN
making an advance on the enemy. The rebels
took the direct road to Richmond. Our head
quarters at noon on Sunday were twenty miles
south of the battle field.
SUNDAY. Nav 8.
Gen. Wauen's corps passed on by Todd's
Tavern on Saturday night towards the front, ADD
AZ sunrise were within two and q half miles Of
Spottsyvania Court House, and Immediately
we're pnt into action 10 relieve the cavalry. The
enemy we're also just ia time for d similar move
ment, and Stusrt's cavalry simultaneously
relieved by Longstreets corps OF infantry The
Fifth corps, tired with long niRht-na'~n. rush
ed into action on a double quick Gen. r. ninson's
division leading the charge. The rebels sir'iled
0riore them. aud We pushed them on iof iin ee
miles. The last engagement OF this morning :
hight was severe. Our losses were sreat. Grn.
Robinson was severely wounded But we charg
ed them so far and 20 impetuously that our men
we're ouihsnked the LETT, and had TO fall bach
n short dlsta &c to form their lines anew. The
enemy gained no advantage thereby, for our
| Jillery Was brought iatO action The rebels we're
unatle TO occupy the position which men
mad abandoned The Fifth corps had suffered
in the previous fight so severely, that there was
not single division of 1t in perfect lighting trim;
| out Gen. Augur, commanding the regulars, filed
m from the right, snd the position held
| Another desper ate effort must be made before
/ Spotty Court House will be in our possess
SION That point once reached, open country
and fair battlefield lie before Us. About noon
the batteries were posted ours on the edge OF
piece OF wOod-ther's on the opposite hill I be
discharge OF shell for seine time was quite brisk
and severe. As evening approached. General
Grant started 10 the front 10 take another glance
At the pos ton and inspire our troops for the
grand onset which was soon to be made Before
he arrived at our left htnk, the rattle Of
musketry from the advance skirmishers aud the
struggling back of wounded mer Indicated that
| the moment had already arrived. Troops from
the Fifth aud Sixth Corps, in small heavy lines,
were concentrated in front of the position 10
which the rebels had fallen back After the en-
gsgement ID the early part of thedsv. General
virgins division, already distinguished By the
most gallant conduct took the lead at a quarter
TO seven o'clock a shout vas raised, aud the
!