The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-05-14

ago Graves. skulls, skeletons and other physical ev
Of the terrible carnage memorable contest
were everywhere visible.
The Fight on Thursday.
ON TnR MARCH,
On Thursday morning. May s. the corps started OF al
daylight, and marched along the narrow road leading
through the Wilderness On the line of march nankers
were thrown out on each side; that moments
notice the column could be formed In line OF battle and
the aanKers thrown forward skirmishers. Gen. Han
cock had reached Todds at nine O'CLOCK when An
aid arrived from General Meade with the information that
tho enemy in force the Orange turnpike about
miles from the old Wilderness Tavern and directing
that until the matter developed he should halt there
with bis command. Accordingly the troops massed
In that vicniya portion OF the corps being thrown into
position to anticipate any movement Of tho enemy.
General Hancock made his headquarters in greve OF
pines, where ho received and communicated with
OF the generals. And at Todds tavern they awaited
the developments Of the euemy's operations and tho
opening Of the battle
APPEARANCE
During tho course OF the forenoon order
ceivcd from General Meado directing General Hancock to
move up tho Brock road 10 the junction Of the Orange
Court House plank road and put his troops position TO
move the ecton Of the plank road towards Par.
Ker's Later information disclosed the fact that
the enemy's infantry had driven cavalry from Par
kcrs store along the plank road, aud moving
down the road In force The rebel General A. p. Hs
corps led the advance OF this movement Parkcr's
store. AS soon cavalry driven in General
Gcttys division, Of the Sixth corps out to check
the movement OF the enemy. Gonerai Hancock was
TO move TO the support OF Getty and endeavor 10
drive tho enemy back TO Parkers stores for in
the meantime General warrens front extended from tho
Orange pike to within mile Of the plank road in the
vicinity or Parkers store and Hancock successful
A.
The he received tho order General Hancock put
bis corps again In notion and by twelve o'clock tho
whole command moving 10 the designated point.
They had not been many minutes on the march when
the sound OF in the distance announced tho fact that
the gamo had opened General Grin1n's division,
warrens eft OF the Fifth corps hoty engaged with
the enemy, and was slowly falling back before over
wheming the Orange Court House pike General
Crawfords division within milo OF Parkers store but
unable TO hold that advanced position. II was,
therefore, great Importance that Hanc ock should hurry
up 70 the support OF the troops engaged as to eat
the attention Of the enemy. Tho distant sound Of
inspired the soldiers and they marched With groat
celebrity to the OF action. General Gettys division
already formed In line awaiting their arrival for ho
strong enough TO mako the attack alone Shortly
after two O'Clock the head OF Hancocks column arch-
ing along the Brock road, joined the left OF Gettys line
d the Orange pike.
DIS POSITION or HAScocEs roRcEs.
The doerent divisions were formed speedily as pos.
sble in three lines OF battle The nrs line advanced
into tho Wilderness the second line occupied tho road,
where tho troops down the fencc In front Of thcm
and with intronchng tools quickly constructed tempo.
rary breaswork the third line also threw up another
breswork by cutting down the trees and covering them
with earh that had one line for attack and two for
defence the enemy should make vigorous assault.
The position In front vast and interminabis
wilderness. Il not like . grand old forest,
studded with stately pines and massive oaks,
bus could DO compared TO nothing else 30 well
Of those dreary, impsneable jungles Of the
sorrid zone.
section OF Edselrs battery was piacsd 10 the road 90
command the orange pike between Hancocks right
and Ge,tys left wnie the troops Of tho Second corps
we're getting into position wadsworths DIVISION which
had been put In tho left OF GrIfn had sustained
fearful Gro, and was being slowly driven in in conse
quence Of which Crawords divisions which bad also been
engaged, was cautiously Withdrawn until troops suf
Gccnt 10 meet the superior numbers Of the enemy
could be dcployed into position, so that at this
time . portion Of eur line must havc been
mile in rear OF where Il was before. The batteries OF
tho corps tho only piece Of open ground
in tho wilderness that Colonel Tidba could nnd suitable
for The operations Of artillery Tho infantry Of the corps
formed with Biruey's division on the right, Mors
the le, and Barlow's the left nank while Gibbons
division, which had necessarily changed position The
march, was coming up reserve. After that division
reached the ground General Owen aud Colonel Carrels
brgades were sent 10 tho support OF Bruey on the
right, while General webbs brigade was retained
upon The left. When these dispositions were
elected, General Hancock-who had the
command Of troops from nearly every corps-assgned
General Brney 70 tho command Of the right Of his line,
and General Grimm 10 the Ieft while he took general
pervlsion OF the whole.
TIE ADvAvcR
AZ quarter past fonr agenorai advance was ordered
oil along the line, and The skrmishers pushed Into the
Wilderness followed by the line q battle. rhey werc
encountered by the enemy, and nercs nghs imms
da,sy snsasd. rbs enemy stubbornly rcsisscd 3D.
vance, yet We gained ground slowly bus surely. me
roar Of muskesry was fearful and incessant The
soldiers Of bcth ARMIES fsn thick and fast and the
humber Of killed and wounded considering the length Of
time the battle lasted, has scarcely ever squssd
Only tho heroic men who fell the fatal Ged had they
ne and language. could tell Of the sapguiuary scenes
that we're Witnessed IN the wilderness bu, an exsmipa
on Of the field immediately alter The counct closed 70
vealed what . deadly contest N had been
soon after M nsht commenced .ps s4lsaJ GspsrN