Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-05-19

sEssp. 10 pn.sasr ny 70 - ealoss ma wsaSS zee a,
10 sum up ths rebels tried TO stop Grant at tho Wilder
mess but after fighting two battles retreated Lee mas
tried to stop Grant at Spottsyvana and has had both
TANKS folded back his outer line Of rhePs carried and
has been repustd in all his attacks think u Is zen
Grant intention to 70 to Richmond at all hazards, ana
have great confidence that he will succeed
despatch to the New York Tribune gives the follow
ing account of this terrific engagement:
At half past one o'clock yesterday Tuesday) the most
desperate of all the battles yet fought was commenced
1t continued up to nearly eight O'CLOCK In doggea STUD
bonness Waterloo and Soerino pale before the errnc
onslaught Of Tuesday afternoon on the banks OF the 70
Two divisions Of Burnsides corps held the right. the
Fifth and Sixth Corps the centre and the SECOND corps
the left Our line stretched Fix miles on the northeast
bank of the Po the rebels occupying the SOUTHWEST DnnK
and the village OF Spottsylvana.
At two artillery gained good range, and poured
shot and she'll grape and canister into the enemy
as they with frantic reckessness OF life, charged
upon infantry lines The enemy used but little ari-
ery 10 reply Prisoners state that they were deficient IN
ammunition and could not. ,
The impression prevailed at headquarters during the
fore part Of the day that Ewe corps had left for Rich
moud All prisoners taken were from LoDgstreets ana
Hills corps but before yesterdays battle closed EWeii
returnedf he had left is probableand Lees entire
army and whole force were Ptted for three hours at
hand to hand struggle.
Gen Grant and Gen Meade were in the saddle constant
ly personally directing movements
Ii was arranged that the entire Ninth Corps should
charge the enemys right flank but pending the severest
onslaught made by Lee just before dark was discovered
that he had advanced around right flank and was NOV
ing down in dense columns for last and after dark srug
gle to break through lines and dash upon our supply
trains then known to be packed on The plank road 10 IRE
dercksburg This changed Gen Burnsdes purpose, and
he securely held his ground and threatened the enemy
extreme right while the Sixth Corps charged his right
CENTRE and at ocock drove him from his hrst line
of rifle pits capturing five guns and between ana three
thousand prisoners
The quick eyes of chieains however, saw the re-.
bel maueuvre Our were faced about our trans all
moved the rear positions instantly secured Tor our
artillery and the enemys expected coming patiently await
ed during all the long hours OF last night NO demonsra
tions made however, and, except the occasional
shouts of pckets all was quiet up 10 eght CLOCK toaa
"wednesday when left
1t was believed that the enemy had suffered severely
that he could not his crippled condition, avail himself
of the decided advantage be had gained BY others it was
supposed he had attempted another fight but his
muncaon with Richmond is believed to have been sever
by Sheridan and his TANKS and constantly harass
ed by FORCES he must surrender or Kill his last man
in battle as he seems determined in frantic rage to do
In horrible strife it must not be supposed that we
the severest punishment Our losses yesterday
fight much greater than in any of the battles OF the
previous week. 1t is true there is smaller per centage
of killed proportion to the number wounded than IN any
previous BATTLE and very large number are but slightly
wounded. Roads, fields and woods are literally swarm
ing with those suffering heroes who have dehed wounds
aud death that the might survive So incessant
been the marching and fighting that many are being
overcome with fatigue and several have been sun-sruck
utant body of any Of the worlds great battle
fields All honor this sublime heroism, which 30 n0bly
welcomes death and wounds!
r. bel prisoners that Lee ordered all his wounded
able hold muske to take their places in the ranks
again for yesterdays battle.
Our wounded are conveyed with a possible dispatch t
Fredericksburg and thence, by way of Belle Plain Il
Washington But for tender regard for these disabled
heroes abandoned to their fate and burning 10 the
woods left fire. Gas the rebels also leave their dead un
buried army would this have been laundering be-
Oh an.Io tNttsI Rlf ia uaIt Mar
/ who have faced muskery and cannon for week, and
fought better each succeeding day. nYncbe and they
will the complete triumph their valor richly
merits Time after time did they hurl back in disorder
the sod massed columns of the foe, and if perchsnce
they staggered with the shock it only for super
human energy charge back upon him. The old guard
Waterloo pales before these men
Our entire losses thus far, in killed, wounded, missing
&c must reach forty thousand The enemys loss
killed is much greater than ours his wounded about TIT
same He ia supposed to hold some two thousand of ou
prisoners and have at least five thousand OF hi
men, while scouts report the roads literally alive witt
his stragglers. 1t is a mathematical question requiring
only few days TO determine the limit Of bis endur
ance.
| the Wilderness, single wagon since the oamPsgr
opened Up 10 Monday night the reserve artillery hac
/ not been brought into FIRE.
All prisoners unite in asserting that Lee is dumbfounded
at the present conduct Of army immediately upor
his getting orders from JEFF Davis return to Richmond
aud withdraw from front at the Wilderness, he dis
patched brigade the Rapid Ann and planted art
ery command Germana ford, supposing that
10 pursue usual conrse OF fighting and then fall
ing back The brigade remained there one day and TIVE
nights without any chance of attacking our retreatnt
columns. and only had the effect OF turning back ou
wounded The pernacity with which Grant hangs to hin
is unusual and unexpected, that Lee perfectly be
| wildered.