The free South. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1863-1864, 1864-05-21


An order from headquarters to the
troops, announcing our captures, was read
this morning, and produced the greatest
enthusiasm.
Rebel prisoners states that their army
is fearfully demoralized, anl that if the
fight continues but few will be left to tell
the tale OF the battle of the Wilderness.
The fight has ragged desperately all day.
At about 9 o'clock A. NJ, the enemy
charged upon the works taken by General
Hancock earlier in the morning, and for
three or four hours endeavored to repos-
sess their rife pits. They were in every
instance repulsed with great slaughter,
and our men are now in undisturbed pos
session of their works.
Burnside occupies the extreme left OF
our position and has been engaged to-day.
Considerable cannonading on our right
is still going on. The bands along the
line are playing national airs and every
one is confident of success.
Mai General Sheridan commanding the
Cavalry Corps has destroyed ten miles Of
the Orange and Alexandria Railroad near
Gordonsville, also two locomotives and .
large amount OF supplies near Beaver
Dam, lie also captured 500 of our men
! taken prisoners during the late battle, say
he has been annoyed by flank and rear
attacks, which he invariably repulsed, and
that he expects to tight the enemy's caval-
ry on the other side Of the South Anna
/ River.
It has been raining very hard at inter
valg all day. The fighting has neverthe-
less been incessant. Gen. Rager, with
re-enforcements, is expected up tonight
OF tomorrow morning from Belle Plain
and Fredericksburg.
: Our lines have been concentrated, and
are now not over two miles in length.
Our losses to-day have been very heavy.
| SroTTsrLvaNn CsUDr HorsY, Va,l
| Friday May 13, sA. NJ, 1854. :
Hon. Z. NJ. Stanton, Secretary Of Var:
Lee abandoned his position during the
night, whether to occupy a new position
! in the vicinity, OF to make thorough re-
treat, is not determined.
One division of Wright's and one of
Hancock's are engaged in settling this
question, and at 711ssrA. NJ. had come up
on his rear guard. Though oul army is
greatly fatigued from the enerTAous efforts
of yesterday the news of LeA's,departure
inspires the men with fresL energy. The
whole force will soon Le; in motion, but
the heavy rains Of the iast thirty six hours
render the roads very difficult for wagons
and artillery: The proportion Of severely
wounded is greater than on either Of the
previous days fighting. This was owing
| to the great use made of artillery.
~ wAulse1oy, o;, Friday, e:4o p NJ, May 49, 1864.
A dispatch. from Lieut.. Gen. Grant has
inst been received, dated Spottsylyania
Court House, May II, $50 P. N. 1t is
as follows:
The eighth day of battle closed, leaving
between 1900 and LOCO prisoners in our
hands for the day, including two general
officers and over thirty pieces of artillery.
The enemy are obstinate, and seem to
have found the ''last ditch" We have
| lost no organization-not even COM
pany-while we have destroyed and cap
tured one division (Johnson's), one bri-
gade (Dobb'~). and one regiment entire
OF the elemy's.
E, NJ. STANTON, Secretary ofW:r-
wAsunorox Friday, May bpm.
| An Extra Stu. has the following:
"We learn from bigh authority that
dispatch received in this city last evening
! from Gen. Sheridan stating that he al
cut off communication with Richmond
by destroying ten miles of railroad 'e-
tween Gen. Lee and Richmond-capt red
three rebel trains, and released 500 L ion
prisoners who were on the train"
A little daughter of proprietor OF
coal mine in Pennsylvania was inqnisitiye
as to the nature OF hell, upon which her
father represented it to be large gull OF
fire of themost prodigious extent. Pa,
| Il sI,a,,11,3& tba IpyiI tn