The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1864-05-14

trees, and it is owing to that fact that losses
were comparatively light. Our captures in
prisoners amounted to about 500 men,
| The advance Of General Bufnsides Corps
crossed Germania Ford on Thursday-taking
u position ON our right flank.
The position of our troops on Thursday
night was little in advance of the road
lending from Gerniania Ford to CIanceilors-
vlle-our two Hanks resting on these two
points.
The army of Mead thus disposed, with
the full knowledge that Lees whole force
was in front, rested till Friday morning,
when the great battle commenced.
| AT q quarter to five a. m. the ball opened
in full blast by the Rebels assaulting and
making desperate attempt to turn the pos.
on beath sides but owing to the entire ground
being covered by underground Of pines the
musket was chiefly relied upon.
| The attack extended rapidly along our en-
tire line, and about clock especially Sc
we're on both Our right and left flanks, which
the foe seemed deterdined to break in turn
for which purpose they adopted their inevi.
table tactics of rapidly concentrating aud
hurting masses of men upon the point Of
| assault.
At III O'Clock desperate assault was
| haue upoh Vic "th CorpS, particularly upon
4th Division, commanded by Gen. james s.
Wadsworth. While CALAMITY rallying his
men, and at their head leading the charge,
this noble man and devoted soldier was
shot in the forehead and fell dead, his body
remaining in our possession.
| A partial lull ensued about noon when
another desperate assault was made on Gen.
| Hancock. His veteran columns temporarily
yielded to the shock, but soon rallying re.
covered their line and sent staggering back
the massed columns of the foe with most
frightful slaughter to them.
| About the middle of the afternoon the
distant boom of cannon indicated that our
cavilry under Gregg had encountered Stuart
and was engaged in desperate conflict far
beyond our extreme left advance. This
encounter resulted in a loss to us of about
800, though the enemy were handsomely re-
pulsed.
| Burnside's corps marched rapidly and
hard during the thickest of the fight, and
moved up to our centr, and several of its
brigades took active part in the conflict
Other portions Of the 9th renamed on our
extreme right as a support to Sedgwick.
Up to near dark the holly and most stub
bornly contested battle swayed to and fro
without Material advantage to either side,
though in the main, whatever advantages
there might have been was on our side; but
just as darkness was closing in upon us, the
foe by an admirably executed flank movement
turned Gen. Sedgwick's and in an instant
his rear was covered and overwhelmed by
the Rebel hords.
| Gen. Sedgwick and mary Of his officers
exortcd themselves to the utmost to rally
| their men. A line was soon formed and
the onward advance of the enemy was check.
ed. Yet small sized stampde was inp'o.
vised among team drivers, musicians and
the like, the darkness seeming to intensity
their fears, without shadow of excuse for
their demon alizat,on.
Thus matters remained in a most exciting
and uncertain state up to about 10 p. m
when the Rebels made another dash on our
right, yelling the while like savages, but our
men we're on the alert and no advantages
were gained. while the Rebels were suffering
n heavy loss.
Thus closes up the day and night of Friday
| gloomy for us; and yet Gen. Grant and Gen.
Meade seemsa fully assured and determined
to fight it out to the bitter end as at the be
ginning.
| On Saturday morning it was discovered
that Lee had retreated toward Spotsvlvania
Court House. on the Pc river and in the d.
rection of Richmond. The Union army
pursued and came up with the Rebels at
Spotsylvania Court House on Monday,
where sharp fight occurred, and in which
the heroic General Scdgwick was killed.
| On Monday night the I'd Corps made
successful movement by flank across the Pc
river.
General Birncy HELD the right, General
Gibbon the center. and General Barton the
left wing.
With this organization our troops advanced
steadily, and the rebels were driven from all
points.
A despatch to the New York Times re.
ports terrible battle on Tuesday, in which
Grant drove Lee across the North Ann
river, and was pursuing him.
Gen. Hancock sends n dispatch to Gen.
Grant dated near Spotssiyania Court House,
May 12th-S o'clock A. NJ:
GESERAL:-I have captured from thirty
to forty guns | have finished up johnson,
and am now going into Early. AS | write,
the whole line is engaged; but the hardest
firing is being done by the Second Corps.
Major General +. johnson is captured.-
He commanded tho Stonewall " Division
in Ewell's Corps, composed mainly of Vir.
ginia troops.
The reporter further adds THE attack
was commenced this morning at daylight,
by Hancock, who moved forward his whole
line, and is now driving the enemy. The
number of prisoners taken this morning is
variously estimated. The lowest figure
places them at 1900, but have just heard
from good authority that 5000 are in our
hands.
ia. M.-Thc battle continues with great
fury, but we are steadily gaining ground on
the Rebels. The musketry firing is tire.
mendous, accompanied with heavy salYos of
artillery. Every inch of ground is being
sharply contested and nothing can exceed
the ferocity of the contest. Heavy fighting
is progressing very near Gen. Grants Icnd.
quarters Several shells struck near his
Headquarters. The captured artillery are
being brought to the rear, and the roads
leading to the different corps hospitals are
Glled with soldiers, who have been wounded
at the front, and are seeking after medical
treatment.
a dispatch from General Sheridan, dated
Headquarters of the Cavalry Corps, May
| 10th, states that he turned the enemy's right
! and got into their rear, and had destroyed
from eight TO ten miles Of railroad, two
locomotives, and three trains, and very
large quantity of supplies, and he had re.
captured five hundred men, two Of whom
were Coloncls.
Butler on The War-Path.
| A despatch received at Washington from