Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1864-05-17

J toward the Court House, goa see a gentle sop
} With a series Of undulatonq, marked with rltl
pts aud batteries, which defend all approachc'
10 gain them there must be hard lighting q
every step. The tbickets are not quite SO dens
as in the Wilderness, but most Of the ground
covered by forest. Gen. Robinson, command
inS the secoad division Of tho 9th corps wa
I wounded 10 this engagement
Skrmlshing commenced again Monday morn
ing, and by reports OF prisoners 1t was ascer
tanned that Ewcll was alsJ in front. Lee bad
pushed bis troops rapidly into a strong position
On the south bank Of the Po. The Court House
is On elevated land, and the village Is q collec-
ton ol halt dozen houses. Three rods ra.
dmte-one northwest to TOdd's Tavern, one
due north 10 Piney Grove Church and cue nor h.
east to Fredericksburg The 81 and 5th corps
covered the way 10 Todds the 9th road to Pney
branch, and the 9th the road to Fredericksburg.
The Gahargen road leading westward was used
/ by Lee to reach the position.
A. p. Hill reached the battlefield on MONDAY
night and took his position on the rebel right,
confronting Burnside. Ewell had the centre
against Sedgw.ck. Longstreet stood against
Hancock. The lines were in form Of horse
shoe 1t was Gettysburg reyerscd-Lee having
,he iuner half circle.
Sklmishng commenced on Monlay morning
and continued through the forenoon. ) dgwlck
while planting battery was picked off by
rebel slarp-shooIer at half a mile distance. His
death cast a gloom over the whole army, bat
did uo' diminish the ardor Of our men. They
burned for revenge. Gen. Wright was placed
IN command
l. the afternoon Hancock crossed to Creek
Branch OF the Po rHer, turned the aank Of
l0ngstrcet, and pushed him toward the town,
ana held bis ground (L)ngstroets).
Yesierd " tuesday, skIrmishng commenced
at sunrise and continued through the forenoon
along the whole line with increasing intensity.
The plckets Oh both sides gradually approached
nearer. shortening the distance between the two
armies.
Gen Grant spent all the forenoon examining
the positions and WAS frequently on the line
with the pickles lie issued orders iOr u general
attack ut i've o'clock, but the rebels grew un-
easg-tOok the matter into their own hands, and
moved in heavy columns againlt llancOck's left
and Warren's Tilht The lst Division, "a
corps, (Barow's) was fought back to the north
side Of the Creek to a strong position The
rebels were elated and attempted to cross the
Creek but we're Tepulsed.
Up to this hour there had been little artillery
used by either party, but battery after battery
was brought into position, and the wild general
luroar t last began. BY one o'clock the rebel
infantry surged against Hancock and then
against Warren, but were Immediately rolled
back Gibbon, commanding the 2i division Of
the 2d corps, was withdrawn from fodd's TaV-
ern road and sent to NarreH's aid.
ahal do char
against our right centre. Their hurrah was the
war whoop Of the Indians, but 1t did not n'
timdate the brave men Of the ID and 9Th corps.
never have heard "a heavier hre than that
which burst from Barneys, Custers Gibbon 3
and BaTlow's divisions. the rebel columns
peIted away and, alter one OF the most desper-
ate fights OF all time, were forced back under
the tremendous hire and unhlnching bravery OF
the divisions already named Parts OF other
divisions we're engaged, but not to such an ex-
tent as these
Ii was Hancock turn His troops advanced
with cheers Barlow division fell upon Heath's
division Of L9ngsreet's corps like thunder
bolt. cutting it all 60 pieces Rebel prisoners
say It was the greatest charge OF the war. Ihe
rebels we're literally piled IN heaps. The sd-
vance Of other parts OF the llne not having been
made at the appointed moment, the advantage
rained were lost, and the ) cOnd returned 20 lts
former position. There was no further attempt
on the part Of the rebels to push the "a corps,
just before sanset Wright and Burnside al
tackled the enemy with great fury. Wright
carried their rifle prs. The % Vermont held
one against all the efforts Of the rebels to retake
it, They SAID they would hold it tor six months
only give them plenty of ammunition and "a
tions
Gen. Wright, at clock, went to headquar-
ters and reported their gallantry, asking for ih-
structiuns whether thoy should hold il. Pile
IN the men and hold II at all hazards" was
Grants reply
Gen Wright went back to execute the order,
but found that some subordinate officer had or
dered them back for fear they would be cut OIL.
Glorious sons OF a glorious State Their honor
is unarnlshed Their Iaurels can never fade
Burnside pushci the enemy back almost TO
the Court House, and held his ground when
left the fcd this morning.
The coored roops were not in the charge.
Uplon's brigade oil the 9th corps captared Dale's
brigade OF ESell's corps, but 10 the melee were
able to bring of only Twelve hundred.
Three guns were taken aud lost again. Thirty
seven OtlctIh auu u laIRu Huih"ui VI pe'so "ub'
were taken.
Mccartney lst Massachusetts, battery is high
ly pralsei Tor ts great execution on the enemy
Gen. Rice was wounded and his leg amputa-
ted, but he died in the afternoon. just before
he died he desired to be turned over. Which
way ?" the Chaplain asked. Turn my face
toward the enemy were bis lust words.
Capt. +. DAVIS of the 18th Massachusetts
captured the flags, was mottally wounded and
died last night l p to ten o'clock to-day there
was constant skrmishing, indicating that he
was gong to attack. Gen. Grant was ready.
The troops are in excellent spirits. They have
fought SIX days and have gained all the time.
lee will fight long, and with desperation. There
will bo other great battles, but officers and men
feel alike sure that this is the last great strug-
gle. They have perfect confidence in Grant, aud
admire Meade us an executive ohcer
/ We have lost twelve Gensrals. Sedgwick, f,
Wadsworth, Stevenson, Hays and Rice, killed ;
Bartlett Getty, Robinson, Morris, and Baxter
wounded SEYMOUR aud Shaler, missing. Our
losses OF men are very heavy.
Rebel prisoners report that they have been on
/ half rauons, and that rebel officers told them
their next rati0ns must come from Grants store.
None had been issued except to prisoners up to
ten O'Clock this morning. On the contrary,
thirty OF Lees wagons fell into our hands last
night
we have about four thousand prisoners.
An incident will show the enthusiasm OF our
trooIs. A soldier with his arm amputated said
q am very sorry have lost my arm for |
want to be At them again" lie sang, Rally
round the flag, boys, and score in the hos
pital Joined in the chorus.
To sum up the rebels tried to stop Grant at
the Wilderness, but, after lighting two battles,
re reatej lee has ted to stop Grant at Spott.
.t.. A la. lad hnth nanks I,ldpd hack -