Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1864-05-18


Iron lbo New lorh wotdl
Ha}ypar5rs irmy fbs Potomac,
BATE tirli Htdr Np0NWhUu,
May lis o'clock An
The battles of the Wilderness wore con
tinucd Yesterday in the most tanruinary
Of the six bloody engagements which have
dislinruishcd this campaign. The army
was disposed at early morning as follows,
s.ightly I'm advance of the position oCcu.
pied the previous day. The second corps
on the rght, west Of tho River Po, aud
nearly in a line with the road running
from Shady Grove Church to SpotIsylvana
Court House; the Fifth corps in center
east of the river and facing southwark Of
Spottsylyania, and the Sixth corps on the
left, facing toward Spoltsylvania. Batter
les were posted in rear at all available
Burns's, Arnold's, Sleoper's,
Rodgers, and Ayell's batteries supporting
the right and protecting the bridge across
+ the P0 river formed OF three pontoons.
/ Meade's and StewmLs batteries were
disposed toward the left of the Fifth corps
/ in front of wood. The country is quite
rs wre,ched and barbarous for lighting
purposes as that beyond the Old Wilder
ness tavern Oh the Germaula plank
road.
There nre few scattered openings across
which our lines of battle could be seen at
intervals, but the main position OF our
army and that of the enemy was conceal
ed a. heretofore by a dense forest which
made the baiLle almost mistery. Desnl-
tory fighting began early in the day. Our
artillery at from eight o'clock A. N. until
after dark, was never silent. From every
position wherever the enemys lines were
at.all exposed the guns belched forth up
on them u tempest Of shrieking shot and
shell.
/ Mink's battery, attached to the Fifth
corps, and posted on the edge Of TIE for
est mentioned. evidently did terrible exc
cution, and about eleven o'clock in the
day charge of the enemy, intended to
effect its capture, was repulsed. Musket-
ry firing by harpshooters and fierce skir-
mishes continued at different points dur
ing the forenoon.
The enemy had evidently massed the
greater portion Of his troops on his left
and left center 10 having been deter
mined to assault his center, the divisions
of Gibbons and brney, belonging to the
Second corps, were Withdrawn across the
Po river 10 assist the attack. The first
brigade, Robinson's, and the Second brig
.ado Of Cutters division, Fifth corps, Gen.
Rice commenced the fighting. Griiiiu's
division and the main portion Of the Fifth
CORDS. and Gibbons division Of the Sec
ond, then advanced, driving the enemy
into their rifle pits after several hours Of
battle during which the roar of musketry
was louder and more continuous than at
Gettysburg. The lr3rks rsro not taken.
! General Rice was killed early in the
fight, while getting his column into posi-
ton.
i Meanwhile, Barlow's division OF the
Second corps, lett across the Po river, and
facing in line perpendicular to our gem
eral line, was attacked by heavy body OF
. the enemy in flank, and forced TO swing
round. 4 second charge of the rebels in
overw whelming force drove the ,iBtQf the d!-
- vision still further aro,md itsrear in line with
the river Holding its own for time, il
unaIiy -wifhA'ow ocrnsS the bridge, still
| fighting.
Officers returning from the right exag
gerated the occurrence into position We
. ry dangerous to army headquarters, tents
, &C., which were suddenly struck, and the
force evacuated at double quick.
The loss in all this fighting was very Sc
we're. both in men and officers.
General Barlow, being still pressed after
, retiring across the river, kept on fighting
until dark.
. Meanwhile the dispositions for general
, assault by our whole line, which had beer
made in the afternoon to take place at
o'clock, were postponed until nearly dark
: At o'clocl, u witherirg fire upon the en-.
4 mys lines was opened by all our batteries
q in position the roar and shrieking of shel
# and grapc-shot was awful. Generals Gran
and Meade, with their stats, took posi-
ton on q hill overlooking the woods, bu
from which very little OF The battle itsel
l. could be seen.
o AtG} o'clock precisely the engagement
] began with indicative yigOr A portion
!; of General Upton'S brigade, of the Sixth
4 consisting of the One hundred and twenty
e first New York, Fifteenth Maine, Ninety
S sixth and One hundred and Nineteentl
: PENNSYLVANIA, the Fifth Wisconsin, Sixtl
i Maine and Forty-ninth Pennsylvania, o
+ General Russel's old brigade, and tho Sew
y enty-seyenth New-York, Forty-third Wis
n consin, Second Fifth and Sixth Vermont
r, with the Ninety-fGth Pennsylvania, SiXti
4 eth New Yolk, and Second New Jersey
l. partially in reserve, moved against the en-
emy's rihe-p some three hundred yard
r in their front. A portion OF the route wa
n across an open space, where the lines wer
d subjected TO deadly fire of grape ant
II canister. They mored steadiy jor,oard, hon
W ercr, 5ciioW tie firing a slot until hty reache
the jreas,-,rorts, whch ting scaled rM the
kand5 and knees, Grp;ng the encmy opt andcol
# hring nine h,adred prisoners. The assau
J, was at the same time made by the Filt
/; and portion of the Second corps 70 th
n right and centre in the following order
q Wards brigade, of Birneys division,
|. rear on the right; Crawford's divisio
- PENNSYLVANIA Reserves. in two lines i
N front on the right Gibbons division ne2
s. on the left, the Fifth corps troops in Gel
l,- ter: Grif1ir's division on the left. The a
at sault was undertaken with varying enthl
ii siasm and failed, Our men were nearly e.
boDsInl and foil bocly II I'D MT g.y ls an