Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-05-21

I'as would h some manner defeat Grant. Su-
perfcial observers might construe our repui-
SEES that day into defeat, but no such forepod.
inc found resting place in the minds OF
those who knew the tenacity of purpose ana
fertility of resource which characterizes
Grant. -
The advantages of the next day verited
their hopes. The battle RECOMMENDED at
daylight on Saturday, but the firing was aes-
ultory and scattering. No fierce attempts were
made on either side, both Generals we're in
tent on strategy, neither being anxious 10
bring on a general engagement
Lee seemed intent on cutting our commu-
nications via Germania ford.
Grant appeared utterly indifferent to tins
and seemed rather to court it by Withdrawing
Sedgwick from his position and throwing MN
| back by Germania ford, near his own head
quarters. and pushing Burnside out on the
Spottsylyania @. II. road, threatening Lees
| line of communications.
A new line of battle was formed by chang
es in the position of corps, extending nearly
| north and south, and gave Lee the choice oil
being cut off from his capital and risking ev-
erything upon the wager of battle.
| At2p. m. Burnside was well under way to
Spottsyivania Court House. Lee had thrown
some infantry on to our right and drove IN
our cavalry pickets on the Germania road.
The result could only be precipitate retreat
on the part of Lee, TO prevent our army Delng
thrown between himself and Richmond, or
deadly contest in open battle that could only
end in his determination.
He soon discovered his error, and to all APP
| pearance had started in hot haste for another
| line of defense Some think he viii be found
ON the North Anna river; while others are
fully certain that there is no tenable position
4 n II hot
Richmond.
The Tri6,ae'S special has the following
sketch of the series of battles after that Of
Saturday:
Gen. Warren's Corps passed on through
Todd's Tavern on Satu lay night towards the
front. and at sunrise were within two and
half miles of Spotsylvania G. H., and imme-
dately we're put in position to relieve the
cavalry The enemy were also just in time
for similar movement, and Stuart's cavalry
were simutane ously relieved by Longstreet's
Corps of infantry The 9Th Corps, though
tired with long nights march, rushed into
action with double quick, Gen. Robinson's
Division leading the charge. The rebels
Welded before them and we pushed them on
for three miles.
The last engagement of this. mornings fight
was severe. Our losses were great, and Gen.
Robinson was severely wounded, but we
charged them so far and so impetuously that
our men were out fanked on the left and had to
| fall back short distance to form theil ines
| anew. The enemy gained no advantage, for
our artillery was brought into position and
| the rebels were unable to occupy the position
which our men had abandoned.
| The 9Th corps had suffered in previous
| fights so severely that there was not single
division of it in fighting trim, but Gen. Augur,
commanding the regulars, forced himself in
from the ri ht and the position was held.
About noon batteries were posted, ours on
the edge of a piece of wood, theirs on an
opposing hill. The discharge OF shell for
| some time was quite brisk and severe, and as
evening approached Gen. Grant started to the
| front to take another glance at the position
and inspect our troops for the grand onset
which was soon to be.
Before he arrived at our left flank the rat
tie of musketry from advance skirmishers
and the struggling back of our wounded men
| indicated that the moment had almost arrlv-
! ed Troops from the 5th and 9th corps,
| in several heavy lines, were concentrated in
| front of the position to which the rebels had
fallen back after the engagement in the early
part of the day.
At quarter before seven o'clock shout
was raised and the attack commenced, as
our troops moved out of the woods through
the narrow road and up tangled thlcket
which was held and fortified by the enemy.
At fifteen minutes past seven, as the light
began to fade away, the heat of firing began
| to cease, and now the enemy commenced to
| give way to the shouts of our men, reced-
| ing as the enemy were pushed along, showed
| that the issues of the attack were favorable
and decided We had beaten the enemy, had
driven them from the position which they
had so strongly contested; but the darkness
was now so great that we could not safely
press them further, and Spottsylvania Court
House still remained that night IN the hands
of the rebels.
Monday morning was spent quietly in camp,
both for the much needed rest and for re-
plenishing the army with rations.
The following accounts are from the Her.
GlPs correspondent:
On Tuesday General Gibbons and General
Barlows' divisions were withdrawn from the
south bank of the Pc. The latter's division
was closely followed by the enemy, who were
checked by our artillery posted along the
ridge commanding the river. Early in the
day the whole army began to straighten out
the line of battle for renewal of the en-
gagement.
Skirmishing was kept up during this time
between the advanced lines of the two armies,
| the enemy bestirring himself as though he
| intended offensive operations. Our line was
| formed with the I'd corps on the right,the 9TH
| in the center, and the 9th on the left, with
Burnside's corps in rear of our left for the
protection of our immense trains, and to act
reserve in any emergency.
The country here is quite rolling, and stud
ded with groves of pine and hard wood, and
affording much better facilities for handling
troops and the use of artillery than about the
| Wilderness.
| The enemy during the night strengthened
his formidable position with rifle pits, breast
works, barricades, &C., rendering it stronger
than any line of defense occupied since leav-
| ing the earthworks on the Rapidan.
| Thus it stood till far into the afternoon,
when fighting became quite sharp, at inter-
walls, at different points, but without any
| thing definite.
Two o'clock was fixed for the grand as.
sault General orders were read an
nouncing the brilliant success of Sher-
| man in the West and Butler on the
James river, producing the widest excite
ment, and as the hour approached for the at
tack the enthusiasm of the troops became al
most uncomfortable.
Gen Grant, surrounded.by his staff, Meade,
Hancock, and Warren were all stationed on
the eminences within sight of each other,
while the vast columns of our army steadily
gathered themselves together for the grand