The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-05-12

the wilderness presented fearful picture Of SUFFERING
Long trains ambulances were continually bringing IN
wounded every place and in every way the ina
gnaion conceive The few minutes spent At one OF
the field hospitals has left picture Of horror my mind
that will be oblterated. Some lay pale and
quiet, seeming almost dead others rightfuly dis
figured by wounds In the face and tho blood oozng from
their wounds formed pools upon the ground. Oaths,
prayers, sighs groans and shreks asccnded together
The tired and overtasked surgeons constantly at
work. probing wounds, dressing contosons and perform
ing amputations while outside the fly whore they worked
lay piles Of arms, legs hands, feet and nngers To add to
the discomfort Of wounded the weather unusually
warm and many OF the poor fellows had but little pro-
lection from tho rays Of the They lay groaning
with the anguish Of their wounds, and half suocated
with heat The surgeons at the different hospitals and
upon th battle field did all that was in power to
mitigate the suferngs Of the
THE LABOR ATTENDING THE REMOVAL OF THE WOUNDED.
When the army advanced from the Wilderness our sick
and wounded had to be loaded in the ambuances and
empty baggage wagons and taken along with 1t is
work OF considerable importance TO transport from twelve
to fifteen thousand wounded under such crcum-
stances attended the present march. As many
could be transported were loaded In the wagons and
taken along. One thousand at least-some say more
left behind unable to be removed Large numbers OF
wounded left the hospitals foot they
heard they were 70 be left behind preferrng to limp and
crawl after the army and all day yesterday disabled sol
die.s dragging themselves along after wagon
trains-some substituting pair Of muskes for crutches,
while others might be seen too weak to support them
selves, but each assisted along between two comrades,
both Of whom were nearly as badly of as himself.
APPROACHING sPorrsYLvAN1A COURT RousE-rHE REBELS Il
About four miles from Spottsyvania Court House we
encountered a considerable force Of rebels, who
drawn up line Of battle to oppose further advance
Our cavalry had been amusing them all the day previous
with brisk skirmshes, and she,iing them with a few
pieces Of light artillery.
line OF battle Immediately formed by troops
IN the form Of right angle letter L. General Hancock
with the First, Third and Fourth divisions OF his he
second corps, commanding angle, and Generals War
rem and Sedgwick the other. General Sedgwick COM
manded part Of his corps he SIXTH and division Of
the Second and General Warren commanded portion OF
the Fifth corps.
sTRUGGIR-RTBKI RESISTANCE AND VICTORY.
The enemy resisted every foot OF the ground despe.
ratey; but they driven backward gradually, and
when the fighting ceased for tho night had wrested
two three miles OF ground from them, and at
present in peaceful occupation OF It.
Two thousand prisoners, II reported, captured
yesterday from Lopgsreet, who is said 70 be in front
Of us.
MONDAY, May 0, 1854
To-day . new line OF communi nisation will be opened
with Washington by the way OF Aqua creek, via Frede
ricksburg The rebel prisoners will be sent to Washing
ton, as well as our wounded.
THs SITUATION,
That the rebellion was on it's last legs We have often
been assured but till has been apparent
JEFF Davis knows well that he must crush the Army Of
the Potomac in the present struggle, his conederacy
will be rrevocably quashed He Is making almost super
human efforts to check the slow but advance Of the
Union army
CAMPAIGN.
II Is acknowledged by every one that the vigor with
which the present campaign is conducted far exceeds
any former since tho war naugurated.
Things are approaching . dnaIisy, and. although we
may meet with heavy losses, and perhaps q
partial defeat yet the ardor which characterizes the
beginning or the pending struggle be continued victory
will inevitably perch upon banners-a glorious vic.
tory, sacred for the for which it and
still more sacred for having passed through the solemn
ritual OF baptism In the haowed blood Of our and
brothers
WHY WE HAVE NOT MOVED FASTER.
The movements OF the army since the battle OF the
Wilderness have been much mpeded by the vast numbers
Of the wounded we were obliged TO take with u.s. and
is reported they will be- way Of getting rid Of such
encumbrance must be devised very for the
number OF our disabled Is increasing daily
Our Army Correspondence.
WASHINGTON May IL, 1854.
THs FIRST ADVANCE.
The Army OF the Potomac started on Wednesday. the
4th inst crossing the Rapidan in the following order
The Fifth corps preceded by division Of cavalry and
n E,r
and along the plank road towards Chancellors
vlle The Second corps, also preceded by a cavalry
DIVISION crossed at Eys Ford moving parallel with tho
other commands and towards the same point.
All the supply trains accompanied the Second corW
The ammunition train and few wagons, loaded with
forage, moved the plank road, forming q double
column with the Fifth and Sixth corps.
Burusdes command remained near Brandy Station, and
followed after the Sixth corps Thursday The other
cavalry division stationed at Germannia Ford for
the protection OF rear.
MOVEMENT
TO reach spotsyvapa Court House, possible, with
out engagement, and where tho topography Of the
country affords much better facilities for either offensive
or defensive operations. Information received from
prisoners the evenings Of Thursday and Friday
clearly demonstrated that Lee expected enrap
Wilderness and for this purpose offered opposition to
advance across the Rapidan.
TIE CAVALRY nGHr--wApswoRrH ORDERED FORWARD.
On Thursday afternoon cavalry the right flank
OF the Filth corps met ihcrebel cavalry advancing down
the turnpike leading from Orange Court House Wilder
ness and after a sharp skirmish presse back.
The Impression prevailed amcng cflcers that this
but fent OF the enemy, aud wadswortns division
was sent the fields, with to attack tho
advancing rebel column the flank but the ssirmish.
ers having been thrown out TO a considerable dis
in advance Of the division, before troops
could accomplish their object the enemy were
sppriscd OF movement and deployed along
wooded CREST line OF battle and poured the divi-
sion murdorous ire. Our we're In a marshy field
and wholly exposed while the enemys position ecctual