Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1864-05-18
THE GREAT BATTLES
Thursday and Friday, May 5 and 6.
Tuesdays Battle.
GENERAL GRANTS HEADoUARTERs,
GERNANIA FoRD. "WEDNESDAY,

the enemy that were watching the two
points, scampered off before them. Double
pontoon bridges were at once thrown
across the river, and the infantry that
had marched to the Ford during the
night commenced crossing over at about
8 A. NJ. Gen. Hancock's corps and the
reserve artillery crossed at Ely's Ford,
and Gen. Warren's at Germania. Sedg-
wick's corps followed the latter. The
passage of the river continued all day
at both points. Gen. Hancock Is encamp-
ed on the Charlottesville battle-grounds.
Gen. Warren is at the old Wilderness
Tavern, and Gen. Sedgwick at the tavern
and Germania Ford. Both Gen. Grant
and Gen. Meade's headquarters are at
this point for the night.
Not shot was fred during the crossing.
Immediately after reaching the south
bank, Gen. Gregg's and Gen. Wilson's
cavalry pushed forward, the former TO
Parker's Store, the latter some distance
beyond Charlottesville. They discover
ed nothing of the enemy but weak par
ties of cavalry. developing the fact that
there was nc strong rebel force south oi
us. About dozen prisoners were taken
by our cavalry, among whom We're several
couriers. One of the latter carried dis
patch from Gen. Rhodes to Gen. Ewell,
informing him that the Yankees had
crossed in force at Germania Ford.
The movements to day were made in
fine order, ana with creditable precision.
There was hardly any struggling notwith-
standing the hard work. during the night
and day. The troops are full of spirit:
L., fbar favor hau uh.
vance. Gen. Burnside's command, oi
four divisions, commanded by Gen. Pot
ter, Ferrece. Wilson and Critenden is ex-
pected to come up with the army to-mor.
row afternoon
GEN. GRANTS HEADQUARTERS.
May SIS P. N.
The army came up with the enemy to,
day. A battle has been fought between
parts of it and the whole rebel army
Reveille was sounded at A. NJ, and the
whole army was in motion at daylight
According to the order of the day, Gen.
Hancock's corps was TO march upon
Charlottesville, southwestwardly on the
Pamunlzey road to Grove Church, Gen.
Warren's from Old Wilderness Tavern,
Parker's store, ON the Orange Court
House plank road. Sedgwick's corps was
TO follow behind Warren's.
Gen. Sheridan was to concentrate the
whole cavalry corps at Piney Branch
Church, few miles south of Chancellor
vile, and start upon a general hunt after
Stewards cavalry, the main body of which
was reported TO be concentrating for a
fight The different bodies had been in
motion but a short time, when, at about
9 o'clock, reports came in from both turn
pike and plank road running almost par
allel from this vicinity to Orange Court
House, that the enemy were advancing
with infantry and artillery towards us
from near Old and New Verdiersville.
Gems. Grant and Meade came up from
Germania Ford, and orders were issued
to halt the various columns of infantry,
concentrate and form them for battle at
this point. Commanding ridges running
from the northwest to the southeast,
across both roads over which the enemy
were advancing, about half a mile to the
west of this point. offered fine position
for the formation of battle front. and
was selected for this purpose. Sedgwick
was ordered to take the right, Warren
the center, and Hancock was expected to
come up on the left. Warren and Sedg-
wick got into line about IL o'clock. and
soon after skirmishiDg was heard on the
front. About noon Gen. Warren was or
dered to push Griffin's division forward
to the right and left to the turnpike, and
ascertain what the enemy were about
Bartletts brigade moved up to the left,
and Ayers regulars to the right of the
road-Sweitzer's following in reserve
After advancing about three quarters of a
mile, they suddenly found themselves
confronted by well formed and strong
rebel position on thickly wooded ridge
A severe fight ensued. Our two brigades
held their ground against evidently great
er numbers for nearly an hour, but the
enemy succeeded in overlapping Ayers
regular brigade, and forcing it back pre-
cipitately. The flank of Bartlett's brig
ade being exposed. it was also soon forced
back for some distance. Two pieces oi
the Sd Massachusetts, Battery had TO be
left behind in consequence of the killing
of nearly all the horses, and fell into the
hands of the enemy. Sweitzer's brigade
and Wadsworth's of Robinson's division
were ordered forward, and relieved the
two brigades. The enemy soon attacne
these, but were held at bay Brisk mus
kerry and artillery firing were kept III
for an hour or longer, when the enemy
drew off from that part of the line. Oul
loss in this affair was quite severe-Ayers
and Bartlett's brigades principally suffer
ing. The total will probably not exceed
six hundred in killed, wounded and miss
ing.
Among the wounded are: Gen. Bart
lett, slightly; Col. Hayes, Eighteenth
Massachusetts,, slightly; Col. Gwyn, One
Hundred and Tenth Pennsylvania; Col
Quincy, Ninth Massachusetts, Col. Lom
bard, Fourth Michigan. We took abou
three hundred prisoners.
Hancock's corps had been ordered t.
turn off the road he had started out on
and march over cross road as fast as pos
alton of the line of battle. About thret
o'clock in the afternoon, after the fghf
on the center had closed, movement by
the enemy was discovered, evidently
meant to throw force between Hancocl
and the remainder of the army. Getty
division of Sedgwick's corps was ordered
at once to stay his dangerous demonstrs
ton. Hancock's advance, Motifs divis
ion arrived just in time to form with Get
| ty's, to the left and right of the planl
road leading directly from ChancelloTs
vile to Orange Court House. Gen. Gran
ordered. them TO attack the advancing
enemy, in order to give theremaining di
visions of Hancock's time to come up snC
form. They did so, and became at onct
hotly engaged in the woods SO thick tina
it was almost impossible TO advance il
line. Birney's division of the second
corps soon came up, and quickly formct
on the right of Getty. BURROWS and Glib
bon's divisions formed a second line a
they came up. The enemy in vast fore
pressed energetically and repeatedly up
on the front, and most furious musketr.
fight continued for nearly two hours
The heavy timber and dense underground
rendered the use of artillery impossible
and only a. few rounds from heavy piece
were fred on either side, but as to vio
lence, the musketry surpassed everything
in the history of the army of the Potomac
Our line steadily held its ground unit