Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1864-05-13

SAAASA&N0 "zAAS N0"St
From the dispatches received during the
week, wo condsnse summary Of the most
important news:
On Tuesday, Of last week, Gen. Grant
crossed the Rapidan. The crossing was
made at four different fords and vas made
without serious opposition.
Wednesday there was no fighting - o,ir
forces following up the enemy who fell back
to q position near the old battle Geld Of
Charlottesville. ------
On Thursday, the rebels pressed our pick.
cts strong, and this day some severe fighting
took place, though the great battle was not
fought till the next day friday. In fact
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, were con.
sumed in one long terribly contested fight
A Washington special, speaking Of Friday
fight, says:
1.-THE great battle has closed upon terribly
fought field, and the army of the Potomac
has added another to its lis. Of murderous
conflicts. Lees tactics, so energetically EN-.
ployed at Chancellorville and Gettysburg. Of
throwing his whole army first upon one wing
and then upon another, has again been bro't
to bear; but | rejoice that the Army Of the
Potomac has repulsed the tremendous on
slaught Of the enemy, and stands to. night
solid in the position it occupied this morn.
ing. An attempt was made upon Hancock,
on the right, though somewhat weakened in
numbers by the battle Of yesterday, but the
Iron Corps nobly stood its ground. The en-.
envy hurled battalion after battalion upon
Sedgwick, and once or twice gained tempo.
rary Advantage, but the old veterans Of this
corps were nobly rallied and repulsed the
rebels with fearful slaughter. $50. -.
About half past four p. \. Lee made a feint
upon our whole lire, then suddenly fell with
his whole force upon Sedgwick, driving him
back temporarily; but the advantage was
soon recovered and the rebels hurled back
with great loss. Night now come on"
Lee having failed in his object, withdrew,
retfeating to Spottsy,vania, leaving his dead
and wounded on the field in our hands
Grant promptly followed up the enemy
fought him again on Sunday, when Leo was
again forced to retreat. Whether Lee will
make another stand before reaching Rich
mond, remains to be seen. We captured
about $500 prisoners, and our loss in killed
and wounded will not fall short of -, OO0.
OF the enemy's loss We cannot speak, but it
must be much greater than ours, for they
hurled themselves or our battalions with all
the fury Of desperation. The N. Y. Herald
has the following particulars:
AT Eve o clock in the morning, Friday,
the contest was renewed against our limo, and
the roar and hum of battle came from every
quarter. From certain indications it was
concluded that Lee was reinforcing Long.
street on Hancock's front, and a part Of
furnishes corps was accordingly moved to
his support, taking position to the left Of
General Warren, and completely filing the
gap, into which the two brigades had been
thrown on the preceding evening. On NOV
ing at daylight towards the assigned position
through close forest, they found it occu
pied by the rebels, prepared to dispute its
possession. Tho fighting at this point was
over by nine o'clock. Finding it impossible
to dislodge the rebels from their position,
early in the morning, Hancock was driven
back close to his brcastworks by superior
force, but subsequently rallied his men and
succeeded IN regaining most Of the ground.
Between III and II O'Clock, however, Long.
street succeeded in turning the left of his
advance and throwing it into great confusion.
This extended along the entire line, and came
near involving the whole corps in inextrica.
bic confusion. lie was once more forced
back to his brcastw orks, and the rebels actu
ally planted their coiors inside Of these, but
could not sustain themselves and were eject.
ed. At this time heavy reinforccments were
thrown to his support from Burnside's corps.
and his men were rallied and taken we'll in
hand, and all further disaster was removed.
Tho charge of Longstreet was completely
overwhelming. Solid masses Of infantry
were hurled upon Hancock time after time,
with an impetuosity that nothing could with.
stand. 1t was exceedingly fortunate for the
"a corps and the whole army that he Was
checked at the critical period and driven
back with ~ much precipitation as he had
come. Tho ground in front of Hancock had
been fought over number of tines, and the
wounded and dying on the field were vast.
AT night Hancock occupied his breast.
works. and had nothing but prisoners and
rebel dead to show for the slaughter of the
two days fighting. He behaved with con-
spieuous gallantry throughout, and was on
the field personally whore the danger was
tie thickest. -.
"GeneIal Warren also rode along tho line.
The utmost surprise was manifested at the
number OF troops Lee was able to bring into
action. This corps retained its first position.
however, until darkness, About midnight
charge was made which caused it to give
way, and it was unable to regain the ground
thus lost. This, of course, compelled the
abandonment of great portion Of tho line
OF breastworks in front of this corps, and
brought the skirmish line within half mile
cf Grants and Mead's HEADQUARTERS
"Sedgwick's Corps (thc 6,h) maintained
itself against the vigorous assaults Of supe.
rlor numbers at different times during the
day, and had no serious reverse until late in
the evening, when charge was made on its
extreme right for the purpose of turning it,
as was done with Hancock's Corps in the
morning. Melroy's old division was driven
back in great confusion, Mt length and the
enemy succeeded in effectuall, turning our
right flank. The behavior of this division is
severely criticised by those supposed to know
more concerning the affair.
" This probably neccssitatel the transfer
Of our sick and wounded and all the supply
trains from the Germania Ford road to our
landing. to Charlottesville The latter were
IN motion the whole night. and at daylight.
had Lee occupied Germsnia, and cut off the
retreat Of the army by that route, il world
have given him an advantage. But night
worked incalculable mischief words are here
missingl causing an undue extension of the
line, and corresponding weakening Of il.
Tho contest Of Friday was unsatisfacto.
~, and many officers despondngly feared
that Lee would in some manner defeat Grant
Superficial observers might construe our re.
pulses that day into = defeat, but no such
toreboding found resting place in the minds
Of those who knew the tenacity of purpose
and the fertility Of resources that character.