, 1864-05-21
Yesterday LiIel'gc(l'g Z]iSpalls9.25z.
The BATTLE or :WED1ElDAY.
Gen. Grant Gains q Strong Position
:. On the Epemy's Blight.
The 'Flower of the Cbiyalry" Be-
pulsed by. Color8d Troops. :.

WAsHMG7oN, May GA dispatch from
tie Etsdquarters Army Of the Potomac, oa-.
ted o'clock Wednesday evening, saJs:
The attack on the enemy's right Was TO
hayc been made atan earlylhouE this mosalng,
but on examining the ground II that vicinity
it was found to Be unfaYorablo for handling
the army, so the plan was changed, and at
o'c1cck this morning Hancock, supported ~
Wright on the right, and Burnside on his !a[t,
advanced against tha encmJs works. Ihe
rifle pits in front were those which had been
abandoned BY us, but filled With rebel s shaIp
en- through the second line, and behind
thick and impenetrsble abatis, which MAS OF
the most formidable character. On examlna-
tlou It Was deemed best not to attempt
charging through this barrier, nnd tho troops
fell back In good order, although exposed to
. CALLING fire Of shell and canister from hoth
tanks. 0nr loss was considerable, being
about zoo In killed and wounded. B1rnside's
Corps was partly engaged, End lost OF the
above number about one-fourth. -,
nAn attack was mnde By the enemy on the
left In the afternoon, where Warren was
emy back and silcnced their guns, All was
quiet at si1 O'Clock in the evening""
LATER.
NAY is, 6 a. MI have just received intel
ligenco that Guicna station, on the Freder-
fcksburg and Virginia railroad, was entered
last night By our scouts. They captured the
telegraph operators. The station and large
quantity Of supplies were DESTROYED.
night telegraphed: ssThe action yesterday ut
Spottsylyania resulted In the success Of
Grant in gaining IN advantageous position
on tho enemy's tight. This was the object
Of the attack by Grant, Our entire loss In
the engagement will not exceed 1000 killed,
wounded and missing. No General officers
f1,ar 1r31 1nt oh 1nH
Up to ten o'clock today (Thursday) the
battle had not been renewed.
The position occupied by Lee Is \ vast In
tfeucAcd camp. It's natural strength has
been increased BY the erection Of fortlnca-
t{ops, which were built long ago, in anticlpar
lion Of their need. Leo has manifested no
disposition to come out Of these defenses.
Every opportunity has been afforded him to
do so, and change In the position Of our
forces has been made with view Of com
pelliDg him to accept battle beyond hls forti-
f1cations.
The n ew York Tmet' Washington special,
11:s0 last night, eAJs:
Adyices from headquarters state that the
battle had net been removed up to this
(Thureday) morning.
The latett edition Of this mornings Re
px1liea,. has tha following, hut up to this
date there Is no confirmation:
The most reliable information from the
| front to-day is that Grant succeeded yester-
day in nearly turning the whole OF Lees
right. This was done more by sudden
movement OF bodies Of troops, to the COM
| pletc surprise of Lee, than BY actual fighting,
except with artillery, which was only for the
| purpose Of maxi feints, while the strategic
work was going on. It was d question
whether the pos,tionE OF both armies were
not changed this morning in consequence o1
the successful operations Of Grant, yester'
day.
il Grant fights to-day, he has an army al
strong In numbers "a 1t WAS when 1t croaset
the Rapilsn, aud much stronger.
! LATEST.
NEW YORK, May 20.-The New York Tri
6uEe's Headquarters dispatch, 18th, says:
Important changes in the position OF troop
were made on the evening Of the 11th. and
next battle will be on tho banks Of the Ann
River.
Eight Of Mosby's guerillas were CAP
ture0 yesterday, loaded With plunder frou
our dead and wounded.
The eamc correspondent, dated 1:S0 on tn
18th, says: The rebels, taking advantage 9
our change Of position, masaed on our light
but their movement was anticipated. In
charge on their riae-plts, several OF thei
guns and \ number OF prisoners were cay
fured.
The Ktrdld's spottsy1yania correspondent
18th, says: Grant had his p]aus perfecte
for q crushing attack on Friday and Satu
day last, but the storm prevented. The var
tage ground was lost BY the enemy shlftlu
position. -.--
Msy 1S,-It Is a subject of merziment ths
the famous "Hampton LEGION" the lows
Of the chiyalry,f WAS rcpulsed By the nj
gro troops Of Gen. Ferrro command.