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

inc almost every foot OF ground wherever
our troops surged forward and the rebels
The slaughter among our troops. was s
terrific. but not so great as that OF tne
enemy. and but few captures were mace
by the latter.
Dispatcheslfrom the Army of the Poto-
mae. dated Wilderness battleheld yestef;
day, say, probably the most desperate
fighting of the past seven terrible days
took place on Tuesday.
Believing the enemy to have sent o
greater part of his troops to hlchmo1a,
an n advance along the entire line was de-
termined on ct an early hour. ~
The Second Corps having the right OF
the line, had crossed the 20 River the
evening previous, and had met with but
slight opposition.
1nstbe morning the position OF the enc
INV was found to be in the shape OF q
horseshoe, and on Hancock,s troops adj
vancing to attack they were compelled 70
fall back. '
An attempt to break their centre was
then ordered, and part OF Hancock $
men were sent to support Warren IN the
movement. Ia. ...... -
Our right was also advanced, and the
move was begun in the afternoon.
The enemy were driven into their In
trenchments in gallant style, and Uptonss
brigade of Wright's division, Sixth Corps,
got into the enendy's rifle pits, capturing 9
twelve guns and about one thousand pms
oners. se .'li
Not being supported by other portions
of the line. who were unable to gain the
tier of works in their front, this brigade
was forced to evacuate its advanced posi-
tion. leaving the captured guns, after
spiking them, but bringing oil all the
The enemysufered heavy losses during
the fieht. our shells falling into their
works, and our infantry delivering their
fire with remarkable precision.
Gen. Rice was wounded IN the thigh
early in the engagement, and died after
his leg had been anputated. ~ -
Gen. Stevenson is also reported killed.
He commanded a brigade in Burnside s
corps. ~,
Our losses were very heavy.
Gen. Gibbons division has lost altoge-
ther over thousand men. 5t9,,foy ooa
Gen. Robinson's division, after losing
both its general officers and about two
Thousand five hundred men, had no Gen.
erai to command ut land it has been brok-
en,up and distributed among other diyir
sions Of the Fifth Corps,
No division of the army fought better
than this one. j3isf YLi i.'.t .'5asi--as1 70
The; Ninth New York State Militia
fought gloriously, and suffered probably
more than any other regiment in the field.
After the action four officers and fifteen
men were all that was left of it, except a
few on detached duty,cy .,,eq !, 4
Lieut.. Luper, of the Ninetieth Pennsyl-
vania, had his head blown of by piece
of shell. .Lt.E8 1'DJ a ~ 90"
The rebels are in very strong positions,
behind earthworks, abattis and woods, and
in many places it is impossible to pene-
trate to them. .,,.
Burnside is reported to be within a
mile OF Spottsylvania Court House, about
to turn the rebel right.
If he is successful we shall obtain pos
sion of the point which the struggle has
been for during the past three days, ana
then Lee must retreat. - :,
At l o'clock on Tuesday frel ragged
between the two armies, at point in the
line, and large number of wounded OF
both parties were lying on the spot. .
Our men, in attempting to get their
comrades off the field We're fired on by
the rebel skirmishers and driven off, and
the poor suffers had to be left to perish in
the flames. - 80 -, -. -.
Gentlemen prominently connected with
the Government are to-day in good spirits,
in view of the recent military events IN
Virginia, and consider urifinal triumph
merely question OF time Movements
are in progress which will soon be pub
icly developed, forming part OF the
general plan, looking to success. ).
1:.ookol 70 hova b1S