Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-05-19
THE WAR VIRGINIA.
D..,alsa.. from M, ssin,o. 10 "a. Nae ys,4 ysm..
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
Near SpOifsytpania Caurt. House, May IL, 1864

III Near Spoifsyipania Court House, May IL, 1864.
Let the twelfth day Of May DO written in the calendar
of the as Of the Republic for it marks the date
Of one OF the deadest and most decisive struggles and
Of the most brilliant victories Of the .
Knowing the GIBBS and flows Of battle refrain from
attempting to anticipate what the after hours Of to day
may bring forth but if victory continues to smile on this
army it has up to this hourtwo p M.-to-night will
the greatest army Of the rebellion not merely beaten
but destroyed, " l.4arN us 5a&f
Hancock this morning, by splendid assault turned the
enemys right flank carried both their lines Of breast
works. captured fortytwo pieces of artillery and from
five to thousand prisoners and is rolling up
their line The other Corps have joined in and engaged
in furious battle which continues at the hour of writing
In the impossibity Of at present obtaining accurate de-
tails and DESTROYS of sending the outlines Of the battle at
the earliest moment transmit the rough jottiDg of my
note book which stand until full recital be
written out .a. ta MHt1 "a
Sir o'clock n. MAJ midnight last night Hancock with
his corps changed rom bis position the extreme right
and went in the left of the line between the Sixth
Corps and Burnsdes where there had been gap.
At FIVE O'Clock this morning he assaulted the enemys
position, carried their second line of brsastworks and
turned the right flank OF the rebels. 1t complete
surprise, favored BY mist. which concealed our move
men He has taken three thousand prisoners and three
Overwhelmingly, Gen Steuart, commanding brigade
in Gen Johnsons division Of Ewells corps Major Gen
johnson, commander, and another Gen. Johnson. COM
mandng brigade. This is entirely reliable, have
just heard the despatch conveying the joyful Intelligence
read aloud by the Chief Of Staff.
Every body in the beat Of spirits. The enemy had
not been expecting attack their right
Of yesterday the left seemed to Indicate that
point of assault Hancocks glorious success, if
sustained will solve very difficult problem, the rebels
had fortified their powerful position in front Of Spotylva
MIA House so strongly that an attempt to carry it in
front must have been attended with immense loss of life
The intelligence from sheridans cavalry raid, brought
by scout last night shows that he has had the most
pee He destroyed ten miles Of the Orange and
Gordonsville railroads.&c. line which Lee has been
mainly dependent for his supplesand destroyed three
trains of aud large amount of supplies. He took
several pieces of artillery and recspured five hundred of
our prisoners among them two colone whom the rebels
we're Juggling off to Richmond lts t 81 r.
Sir thirty M.-Tbe magnitude Of Hancock's victory
rolls up, its full proportions become known He has
captured Major Gen Johnsons entire division of Ewe's
corps numbering three thousand men, aud he has also
taken twenty or thirty common up to this hour. a.
Screen A MA most interesting scene is now before
us at headquarters Major General Ed. Johnson who,
with his whole division, captured this morning has
just brought up under charge OF an officer to ne
quarters the woods where Gems Grant and Meade aud
their stats seated around byOuac FIRE Gen Meade,
who had been old friend Of Gen. johnson, shook hands
with him and introduced him to Gen. Grant Formerly
of the Sixth Infantry r. inquiries the Lieutenant General
" Yes" replies the rebel General; You of the
Fourth, and were both of the same brigade" OF
military etiquette precluded any other inquiries
ton whether Gen Wordsworth dead, he replied that
such his belief though he not positive. Our Cen
erals Seymour and Shsler who captured in the bat
tie of the Wilderness he had yesterday at Lees
LonRseet he reports severely but not
mortay wounded Almost all the staff appear to have been
old friends and acquanances of Johnson and numerous
mutual inquiries in regard to old army comrades being
made Gen. Hunt chief of artillery when he him. had
mind to make set speech, but the old familiar formula
ed, am glad to see you came out in sautation. to
which johnson replied "Well, Hunt, under the coum-
stance am not glad to you" He spoke of the abom
nation Of such country the Wilderness to fight in
spoke of the capture of bis DIVISION but said with quiet
good natured that would have hot time of
it yet johnson is a stout built fellow, with strong
rough face, but his dress is in bad condition, aud his
slouched hat with his brownsh gray hair sticking out
through aperture at the top is such New
York dead rabbit would to sport An aid who has
just come in from Cen Hancocks headquarters says that
when the captured Gen. Seuart George brought
in Hancock extended his hand but the captive
drew back saying that his feelings would not allow him
to shake hands "an incident which has just created
merry laugh at headquarters. . III.
Screen Thirty-Hancocks fight continues and Warren
going in furious rain storm falling and the thunder
of the heavens mDges with the of artillery and the
rafting volleys of small in way impossible to dis
crimnae which is which The country s hat more
open here than in the Wilderness and permits the use of
artillery which has been pentfuy placed in commanding
positions all along the line. Warrens corps, forming the
centre Of our line Of battle, is now brisky engaged No
reports yet OF his progress The rebels have opened
their batteries and the headquarters of Gems Grant and
Meade being vigorously sheled. In riding along
encountered all hands the proofs of the bloody work
every path through the woods wounded men emerging
some in ambuances stretchers, supported
by their companions, aud many poor fellows with every
variety Of frightfu wounds hobbng along supported by
rude crutcbes mprovised from branches of trees On
reaching Hancocks headquarters find bis has
been growing steadily aud his captures constantly rolling
up He has taken orytwo pieces of artillery and already
seven thousand prisoners reported score or more of
the captured guns lying 10 field at our head
quarters-s pleasant sight to They IL pound
Napoleons Rodmans and 10 pound Parrots, their rude
throats blackenpd in their deadly work.
Ten A. M-The whole lice is now engaged including the
corps of Warrens Fifth of Wrghts Sixth Of Hancocks
Second and of Burnsdes Ninth From the present position
of headquarters, which enough TO BIS under FIRE,
distinguish Burnsdes and Hancocks line OF battle
in 'front.' and Wright aud Warren stretched off to the
even the line OF bstte but mark the liue by the
margins of smoke rising above the trees aud the flashes
OF the artillery .s....... .sE #.s..8N
Eepen O'Clock There is a ull along the lne with the
exception Of vigorous cannonadiDg, which continues
The rebels have been fighting with obstnacy that cba
lenges the of sublime, and Lee has been putting
forth his beet powers The situation at this hour leaves
our line holding all the ground they have gained but they
are not now advancing The men are excessively fagued
and it doubtful whether the issue be
deeded in to- lays battle. ..L -
Tioetpe M-Tho rain has ceased and the has Just
burst forth May it be another Of Austerlz Burn
side, who has hitherto had but division (Poters) Of
his corps engaged ordered to make attack with his
whole force The left has been the cardinal point ever
since Hancocks turning movement
One r. Mas Warrens attack on the right did not
succeed right wing being refused drawn back
and Meade is Imassng the left where vigorous
attack 10 again being made with very heavy musketry and
artillery fire, HafcOck has turned of the rebel
captured guns against the enemy.