Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1864-05-18
From the Potomnc Armx.

Our army this morning was entirely en-
gagged in the tercest Of It's battles, and
pressing on 1" victory. After II ssnguin-
airy but generally unsuccessful battle or
Tuesday, the army during yesterday was
comparatively quiet.
A feeble demonstration against our
right wing WAS r-pulssd tiils morning.
A reconnaissance was msde On the right
TO face the enemy's lett It is intended
10 assault the enemy right in force. A
column consisting of a portion of the 9th
Corps, Birney's Division of Hancock's
Corps, first intended TO undertake his
work, which was afterward abandoned.
Information has been received that two
companies on the lett of the 9th Corps
commenced driving some sharp shooters
from their position in a house command
ing a partial view OF our lines. killing and
capturing several of their number.
In the afternoon rain fell to some ex-
tent, continuing till after dark, wetting
the dust, cooling the atmosphere, and
raising the spirits OF our troops. Fires
were built and supplies cooked, bands be
gan to play in the forest along our lines,
and undisturbed for once by the enemy's
shells. The soldiers ate hearty and slept
sweetly The enemy had no ammunition
to waste. Meanwhile the news arrived
toward evening that Sheridan. the caval
~ commander, has penetrated 10 the vi
entity of Beaver Dam, on the Orange
Court House Railroad, had torn up about
ten miles of the track and captured the
rebel supply train, and re captured about
three hundred OF our men, who were ia
ken prisoners in the old Wilderness bat
tie. This was So inspiring wherever it was
known, that a general jubilee of cheers
succeeded the announcement, and du-
ring the night arrangements were
pushed for an attack on our side this
morning. The enemy had been seen
pushing troops toward our right, and os-
tentaciously erecting abatis III front of
Hancock's troops. 1t was shrewdly and
rightly suspected that this was only q
blind to the real intention of the enemy.
Ii was therefore anticipated. After mid
night the second corps (Hancock's),
pushed to the left of the 9th corps.
(Wright's) between that and Burnside's
command, and on the left ut the Spott-
sylvania road.
At3:30 this morning Hancock attacked
the enemy fronting MIN, and a force open
ed a whitening cann0nade and making q
resistless charge against the very heart OF
his position.
The cannonade was replied to with Wig.
or, and the charges of our men were as
vigorously resisted, but the determination
of the onset overwhelmed everything.
The troops rushed in on the rifle pits oil
the enemy, b~ayoneting them in their
works, cutting their lines and capturing
on the first charge over 5000 men and
several guns. including the greater pOr
ton of the Stonewall brigade belonging
tO the Division commanded by General
e dJohnson and forming a part of Ewellf
Corps. Gen. Johnson himself was taken
prisoner. The assault continued till near.
ly the whole division of corps were cap.
tured and other troops amounting to 900
LATER. IL O'CLOCK
A dispatch has arrived this morning
announcing the capture of 1000 prisoners
and 80 guns. The battle is still progress
ing. The 9th corps in left of the second
has moved into battle aud are pushing
tue enemy. Warren's 9Th corps moved
up 20 lis support on the right. The bat
tie is becoming general. Nearly all ouI
artillery is engaged. and the clang of the
guns, the whistle of the grape and solid
J shot. the noise of musketry and the ex
plosion of the enemy's shells. filed the
forest with an awful tumult. Shells
burst around me while | write.
The following is a dispatch sent by Han
cock this morning:
NEAR S~PoTTSYLYANIA CHI,
May l2-S An.
| have captured 80 to 40 guns. l have
finished up johnson, and am now going
into Early.
(Sicned) WI. HANCOCK.
The guns captured have arrived at heaC
qusrters.
Hancock made a brilliant capture thi
morning of an entire rebel division, inclu
ding NJ Ijor General Ned johnson. com
manding. Brigadier General Georg Stu
art. and B~rigadier General Robert John
ston. commanding brigades, between 2,
900 and 5000 prisoners, and two batteries
of six pieces each, fell into u hands,
Taking advantage of the storm anC
darkness last evening Hancock managed
to change the position of his troops unob
served by the enemy, and while the dark
ness and fog still prevailed pounced upon
them this morning, like VIOLIN the fold
He took the captives completely by sur
prise, aud having sent his prisoners Sc
curely to the rear. turned their own gun;
on the enemy in the vicinity.
NEW YORK, May Is.
The following from Geu. Rufus ingalls,
Chief Quartermaster OF the Army of the
Potomac. brings positive information
from the front up to noon yesterday:
We have made a ten strike today
Hancock went in at daylight. He has ia
ken over 1000 prisoners and 25 guns, and
is still fighting. Everybody is fighting
and nave been for eight days. We shall
have them this time,-sure pop-though
it may take a day or two more Our loss
es are heavy, but can't say how many
If Augur's forces were here now we could
finish them to-day. Hancock captured
General Ned johnson and two other Gen,
erals, besides a number of a lesser grades
The Old Republic is firm-bet your pile
on it. Grant is a giant and a heroi in war
but all our Generals are gallant, and as tC
our men, the world never had better.
Yours, in haste,
INGALLS,.
SPoTTYLYANIA, Z, H., May y.
General Grant sends a dispatch to the
President, which was received last even
ing, announcing in terms of characteristic
modesty, that he moved on the enemy:
works again at Spottsylvania Court House
on Thursday morning, the 18th, At day.
light. Gen. Burnside and Gen. Hancock
were making grand and impetuous char
ges with the bayOnet by corps, surprising
the enemy and PRODUCING the widest con
sternation in their ranks, crushing Lee'i
right and center and hurting his entire
line back with awful slaughter, a distance
of several miles. Gen. Grant remained
master of the field with all the rebel dead
and wounded. The rout of the enemy
was complete.
WASHINGTON, May 1890 p. N.
To Major General Dix:
A dispatch from General Grant haI
been just received, dated near SpottysI
vania C. II. May -, $50 P. N. 1t is a
follows: The eighth day of battle closes
leaving between 5000 and 1000 prisoner.
in our hands for the davis work. incIu