Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1864-05-20
THE RArTLE oF TrEspAY. mAY lO.
IIEAperAnrrRs Ansy !, OF ran PorosAc,

NEAR SPoTrSYLvANTA G. H., Wednesday, May II
It would seem to have been the policy of zee in
The series of battles which he has delivered during
the past week, TO contest the advance to Richmond
at every ayallahle point, to wear us away by de-
greeS end then perhaps, to fall upon the Union
iorces under Butler, and endeavor to annihilate
them This plan has been carried into execution
with mastery skill, inspired by fury perfectly
diabolical
We are steadily pressing the rebels southwark.
The enemy has been greatly favored By the nature
OF this country in whose dense woods and TANGLED
fehapparal the 1.-THE and wary are much more at
nome, Fortunately. II we once carry the position
which they now hold in front Of SpottsylYania
Courthouse, we shall be ont Of the Wilderness
and reach open country
The operations OF yesterday werR opened bv a
reconnaissance on the left Of Burnsde's eorng
winch developed the fact that the enemy was in
no force there-nothing but cavalry disputinr the
advance. This caused the division of Mott to be
Withdrawn from Its position on the extreme right
and IT was sent to the left TO connect with Burn
side. The rebel position now very much resem-
hed ours at Gettysburg, a curved interior line
well protected by breastworks with the additional
defence of a marshy run IN front Holding MS NJ
bay IN the centre, they discovered the weakness Of
the right, now held by Barlow's division. This
division OF Hancock 5 command had made the pas
sage OF the 20, throwing ont skir1nishers on the
east bank This gave it coigne Of vantage from
which It not only eniladed the entire rebel posi-
ton, but commanded the road on which their
| trans were passing At the same time, however
IL Isolated II from the rest of the ar1v-a false
position, Of which the rebels could hardly have
failed to take advantage. we shall presently sec
ten Warren corps held the centre of the line
and it was resolved that vigorous assault shoul
be made there, while Hancock and Curnsfle en-
deayored to assail and turn the two flanks of the
enemy With this view two divisions of tbe
3 'olsrac 4sr1.A Y T1ts,rr
the right OF Warren and support him. In execli-
ton OF the projected design, Warren corps 1nov-
ed forward during the day, pressing the rebels
through the woods TO an open space behind close
to the enemy S breastworks. This was attended
by very heavy sheling from the enemy, and it was
three or Tour clock p " before the woods were
cleared After this, the corps advanced to assault
the beastworks. In this however it did not sue
eeed. although the attempt was galantly made
Carroll brigade went N on the charge and lost
eight hundred men.
Gen Meade realizing the crit;cal position in
winch the extreme right of our line Barlows di-
vision, was placed, had ordered it to draw hack
The rebels had however, anticipated ns. and mai maI.
ing detour came IN on its rear, making II a mat
ter OF considerable difficulty to withdraw supports
| coming up. however, it was successfully accom-
plished. 4 general attack was ordered all along
the ilne to take place at 50'elock, but owing to
the tardlness of some of the Commanders 10 get
~ Nds pOsbpoHcu, UPSt TO ID o clock. and
then to halfpast A furious cannonade from onr
artillery preceded the charge The worst of it was
the lateness Of the hour preventing its being per-
feetly successful
Cen WRlGHT advanced the flower oftbe Sixth
Corps. Nobly and well they sustained their rer1l-
tatian- UPToN' brigade leading, they advanced
rapidly upon the enemy's breagtyorks witbout
firing shot, capturing them at the point of the
bayonet;; As they rushed on they captured the
enemy BY huncreds. rushing upon them with a
fury that nothing could withstand To the nun-
Der Of twelve hundred they run them Lack into
our lines at full speed capturing at the same time
three Of their guns. Earlier in the day one of tbe
enemy batteries had hcen disabled and all the
cannoniers driven from the guns, from which they
were Kept by the savage ire of oar skrmishers.- =
It was hoped that all the guns would be brought
on, bat the charge not successful on the other
parts Of the line, and the gallant Sixth had to
fall back Our loss during the day must reach
from elghtto ten thousand men.
WERB's Brigade, Second Corns. lost be.viir
the Twentieth Massachusetts, particularly. Col
MACY was dangerously wounded. MAJ hRgoT