Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-05-19

undue extension Of his line, and cores
ponding weakening.
The contest of Friday unsatisfactory,
and many officers despondingly feared that
Lee would in some manner defeat Grant. Su-
nerfciaI observers might construe our repul-
ses that dav into defeat, but no such torebod-
ing found a resting place IN the minds OF
those who knew the tenacity of purpose and
fertility of resource which characterlzes
| Grant.
The advantages of the next day verified
tbair homes. The battle recommended at
DAYLIGHT on Saturday. but the firing was des-
u1torT and scattering. No fierce attempts were
made on either side, both Generals were in
| tent on strategy, neither being anxious to
/ bring on 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 HIM
back by Germania ford, near his own head
Quarters, and pushing Burnside out on the
/ Spottsylvania c. Il. road, threatening Lee
! line of communications.
4 new line of battle was formed by chang
es in the position of corps, extending nearly
north and south, and gave Lee the choice OF
being cut off from his capital and rsking ev-
erything upon the wager Of battle.
At 3 D. m. Burnside was we'll under way to
Spottsvlvania 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 being
thrown between himself and Richmond, or a
deadly contest in open battle that could only
| end in mis- determination.
He soon discovered his error, and to all APP
l,.o+ l.-+ +l,larl
line of defense. Some think he will be found
on the North Anna river; while others are
fully certain that there is no tenable position
for him to fall back to between this and
Richmond.
The Tri51nte'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 Saturday night towards the
front, and at sunrise were within two and a
half miles of Spotsylvania c. H., and lmme-
diately were put in position to relieve the
cavalry. The enemy were also just IN time
for a similar movement, and Stuart's cavalry
were simultaneously relieved by Longstreet's
Corps of infantry. The 9TH Corps, though
tired with a long nights march, rushed into
action with a 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
ourmen were out fanked on the left and had to
fall back short distance to form their lines
anew The enemy gained no advantage, toI
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 il
from the ri ght and the position was held.
( About noon batteries were posted, ours OIL
the edge Of piece Of wood, theirs on al
opposing hill. The discharge of shell tol
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 Tor 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 arriV'
| ed. Troops from the 18th and 9th corps
in several heavy lines, were concentrated III
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 thlcke
< which was held and fortified by the enemy.
At fifteen minutes past seven, as the ligh
t began to fade away, the heat Of firing began
to cease, and now the enemy commenced t.
+bo of
Inc as the enemy were pushed along, showed
5 that the issues Of the attack were favorable
: and decided We had beaten the enemy, haC
| driven them from the position which they
5 had so strongly contested; but the darkness
was now so great that we could not safely
press them further, and Spottsy lvania COur
I House still remained that night in the hands
of the rebels.
Monday morning was spent Quletl y in camp
both for the much needed rest and for re
plenishing the army with rations.
! The following accounts are from the Her
l ATS correspondent:
, On Tuesday General Gibbons and Genera
1 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 gu
!, the line of battle for a 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 ht
intended offensive operations. Our line wa
formed with the I'd corps on the right, the 5tl
in the center, and the 9th on the left, will
! Burnside's corps in rear Of our left for the
protection of our immense trains and to &C
a reserve in any emergency.
The country here is quite rolling, and stud
ded with groves of pine and hard wood, ant
affording much better facilities for handling
troops and the use of artillery than about the
Wilderness
; The enemy during the night strengthened
l his formidable position with rife pits, breast
l works, barbados, &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
y 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, surroundedby 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
5 gathered themselves together for the grand
t struggle. Just as the attack was about to be
made the enemy advanced on our right,
threatening to press back that portion Of the