Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1864-05-20
WAR MEMS.

In our last we gave the latest news
from series Of battles fought on the
Rapidan, to the 18th inst. We re-
sumo where we left of. On the llth
"wednesday there was very little
fighting during the day but heavy
skirmishing occurred, at intervals, du-
ring the night At daylight on the
18th (Thursday) the enemy, having
massed heavy forces in front Of John
ston's Division, made vigorous as
sault on Jones Brigade. Fore while
our lines were broken and the enemy
pressed over our breastworks, captur-
. ing number of prisoners and 6 ting
possession Of several pieces of our ar
tillery. Other forces were quickly
sent to the relief Of those engaged at
thisspoint and the enemy were driven
back The enemy were reported to
have been massed in as many as ten
columns deep, the repeated assaults
of which were severely repulsed by our
troops. At 10 A. NJ. the enemy made
vigorous and repeated assaults on
Fields Division but were driven back
with great slaughter. At 2 Z. M.
they made a desperate assault on
Ewell's front but were driven back
with great slaughter.
For eleven consecutive hours this
fight ragged along our entire line, and
was the severest conflict which has
taken place between the contending
hosts. The enemy's loss on this one
day is estimated at 10000 while our
loss is supposed to be 2,000-the
great disparity is accounted from the
fact that our troops fought behind
breastworks. Grant is the first of the
Yankee Generals who had the bold
ness to attack us within our intrench-
ments
Among our casualties are Gems
Perrin, killed. Walker of the Stone
wall Brigade wounded in the arm:
and MCGOWAN, reported wounded
Gems. Ed. Johnston and e. Il. Stuart
are supposed to have been captured
in the first assault on our entrench-
ments, when the enemy gained tenn
porary possession of them. The Yam
KEGS acknowledge the loss of Gems
Wordsworth, Sedgwick, Stevenson
Hayes, killed and Webb and Getty
wounded. The Washington Star O
the 10th estimates Grants losses to
that date by casualties and otherwise
at $4,000. The Herald's correspon-
dent on the 9th sums up their losses
ut 81, 900. not including stragglers and
sick. This being the admitted losses
of the army of the Potomac to the
10th inst, it can not be less than co.
900 at Notwithstanding the i'm
.nense loss they sustained on the 18th
The total of our loss thus far is estl-
mated, at the highest, at $4,000.
The most jubilant dispatches have
been sent from Grants army to Wash
'ington asserting the rapid retreat 0.
Lees army on Richmond, after Sc
ries of defeats, and Lincoln issued the
following in consequence of the vic
tory, which was not won, as they vii
shortly learn.
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
Washington, May, 9, 1864.
III the Friends of Union and Liberty:
Enough is known of army opera
4;ons within the last five days to claim
or especial gratitude to God, while
what remains undone demands our
most sincere prayers to and reliance
upon Him, without whom all human
effort is vain.
/ recommend that all patriots at
their homes and their places of public
Worship. and wherever they may be,
unite in common thanksgiving and
prayer to Almighty God.
(Signed)
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
Although the dispatches have led
10 the general belief in Washington
that Lees army was defeated and
Grant would shortly reach Richmond,
the Herald's correspondent, spoken OF
above. who was at the front has an
entirely different idea. He says, in
his letter Of the 9th, "that the sup
plies Of the army Of the Potomac are
nearly exhausted and that if the keb-
els give Grant as much trouble on the
rest of the route as they havethus far,
his chances for success are slim IN
deed" This was prior to the 18th on
which day we fancy that the said cor
respondent found the difficulties they
encountered were of a more serious
nature than any they had failed, hith-
erto to overcome. We feel anxious to
hear the news from Yankeedom now.
On Saturday (l4th) there was a
cavalry fight on our left wing, . body
of infantry having engaged Cham
bliss cavalry brigade, which fought
them some time until our infansry
came up when we drove the enemy
back, capturing about 100 prisoners.
On Wednesday Grant attempted to
turn Gen Lees right flank but was
driven back with considerable loss.
The raiding party Of Cavalry, IN
fantry, and Artillery, 5000 strong IN
der Col. Spears, which crossed the