New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-03-07

2:23 mDispatcb received. Franklin will do his best
II New troops gone In. VIII report again
3p m.-Reynolds seems TO be holding his own Things
look better son ewhat
3:4O m-Gibbons and Meade. divisions badly used
mp and fear another advance the our LEFT can
h M ee made tins afternoon pouoeas division WI ne eP place
in time, Of courte another attack will be made The
enemy in force the woods. left toward Ham-
tons and are threatening the safety OF that portion OF our
line They have deacheda portion Of their force TO
'front.' where Howe and Brooks engaged Brooks
has some prsoner' and is down to The railroad Just ooh
rs the e is safe forces here will be prepared for mont
attack But be- too late this afternoon. Indeed We are
engaged Ia any how Notwithstanding the unpleasant
items relate The morale Of the troops generally Is good
40 mIhe enemy sti in force left and mont,
attack batere. in has been repulsed new
stack has been opened eft but the left is sse though
1t il too late to advance either to the left front.
From these dspathes it will be seen that one OF the
smallest divisions of the command Gen. Meade led tie
attack: AT O'Clock, II moved with Doubedays DIVISION
in supports at II O'Clock had been moved half mile,
and halted without serious loss One OF Stoneman's
Divisions ordered across-at ~ o'clock this Division
was getting into postion-at 1908 7. ~, Gen. Meades
line advancing in the direction | prescribed in my
fret order TO Gen. Franklin. At l o'clock p m, the
enemy opened n battery eniilading Mende--at l;lo
infantry was heavily engaged and Meade assaulted the
Hill; at 25 he carried the woods in his front, and
seemed able to hold his ground and Gibbon would sup.
port necessay; at 40 our drove the enemy nnd
Gibbon advanced TO Meades right at 2;l5 both CID.
/ bon and Meade were driven back from the wood; at
2.25 Franklin did bis best at p m. things looked
better aud $40 Gibbons and Meades Divisions were
badly used up ard unimpornnt fighting going on in
front Of HoWe's and HroOks's Division.
Prom Gen. Meades report 1t seems that he had great
difficulty in getting his command into position 10 as
sault the hill. The Tine occupied for that purpose was
/ from a. m til ll5 .. M. In consequence OF the
smalncss Of his Division and the absence ofmmedlate
and ayain bic supports he forced TO make frequent
has fol the purpose Of protecting his TANKS and 81
lercing the enemys artillery; but once in position his
Division moved forward with the utmost gallantry.
lie broke the enemys lue captured many prisoners
and cOlors crossed the road that in rear OF the
crest and established himself at the desired point on
the crest and had be been able TO hold IT, our forces
would have had free passage 10 the rear OF the eneys
line along the crest The supports which the orders
contemplated were not with him. and he found himself
across the enemy line with TANKS unprotected. lie
dispatched staff officers 10 Gems Gibbon and Brney
urging them advance 70 his right and left In support
of his TANKS but before the arrival OF these DIVISIONS
he forced to withdraw from his advanced position
with his ine broken. These two divisions met bis d.
vision retrenting and, by their gallant hght-
ing aided materially in its safe withdrawal.
An unsuccessful effort made TO reform the diyi.
sion after which II marched the and held
in reserve Gen Meade and his troops deserve great
credit for the SIX aud hcrOism display ed on this
sion their brave efforts deserved better success which
doubtless would have attended them had be been wen
No further attempt was made to carry this point in
the west. Stonsmans two Divisions B!rneys ana
Sckless conspicuous in their successful resist
anee Of the enemy when be endeayored 10 take afvant
age the dsorganzation attending tho retreat from
our extreme advance OF Meades Division. / beg TO
refer the report OF Cen Si0neman Tor correct M
derstandiug Of the movement Of these two div sions
Gen DOUBLEDAY Division performed good service IN
resisting tie attack Of the enemy on our extreme left
The accompanying report Of Gen. Reynolds will give
more In detail the work Of Gen. Meadcs Doubledsys
and GIDbCn troops.
The sixth Corps the strongest and Of the n-ost
rclinbe in the army commanded by Gen. w. i. smith,
was not seriously engaged in any attack during the day.
- pr;. ~ ,be Sin,b Corps which was under the
command Of Gen. Franklin at that time
The report Of Gen Franklin will give The movements
O. The efl Grand Division in detail including Ole
cavalry division Of Brig Gen. Bayord.
II may be well 10 state that at 10! a. N. sent Capt
r. NJ Lydg OF my STAFF. to Gen. Franklin. 10 ascertain
the condition Of affairs iu his front as Yves anxiou"y
slpecing lear that the hill near Hnmtous had been
carried. Capt LydiFs written statement Is as follows;
y Joined Gen Frtukn in greve o. trees IN he center q
his command I informed by him that Meade very
sased ard that lis men were hy ta, TINE pretty gen
essly engaged lie also aided tAik. ua hircy mao or
Der. 10 support them then inquired any 81 Gen Smiths
~. engaged and tod that fhcy were not Te
~, Cen Frank ~ aud reported the Information 20 Gen Burn
tide ho r,ued TINE annoyed at toe smans' Of Che
sr, roor. had been pot The hsht It about ~
/. NJ LYDIG, Capt aud n ID. c.
Irert sent Capt, Cuiis with an order 10 Gen. Frank
lin To- advance his night and 'front.' Capt Cuts states
IN BIZ note book that BE- carried the order 10 Gen
FRANKLIN aud the General tHld 20 lin that II i'm
possible 90 ntvnncei upon which be returned 60 20
fhoR Why Gen Franklin thought 10 was impossible 20
advance When be- communicated The reply 10 ne. be
saws int nv reply was. But be Gen ftanklin) must
advance" then sent Capt Goddard To Gen. Franklin
with an order which tie following statement will ex
plain ,
Gen Fraukin. toe lei with ihi. order from Gen Burn
side 'Ie Cen Anslin with MY pucuis. ths; wish
rshi /. hard pTe,..d rms order given me about d
ococs in TIE seuoon snd d,iveTrd 10 Gen Franklin IN
the presence Of Gen. HaIde, before 2. O'Clock.
X. n. !. GODDARD, Capt ard A. ID. C."
| had before this sent t. Gen. Franklin order By
telegraph. directing him To make an attack upon the
lights il mcdaioy In bis ironi.
Gen ~ uners Corp. held IN position until after
II O'clock the hope that Franklin would make such
an impression upon the enemy ~ would enable him
fSumner) cary the ercmys line near the telegraph
and plank roads Feeling the importance 81 haste.
now directed Gen. sumner 10 commence his atinok.
lie had already Issued his orders but had IN accord
.uce with nv instructions directed his troops 20 be
bed M readiness for the attack but not 10 with
out further orders ron HIM TIE enemy strongly
po.te along the Greet IN his 'front.' covered by rifle pits
and batteries which gave HIN commanding sweep Of
the ground over which our troops had to pass sup
posed. when ! ordered Gen. sumner 10 attack, thnt
Gen. TnBkn's attack on the left would have been !
made before Gen Summers men wOnld b. engaged. and
would have caused the enemy Ia weaken his forces Ia
front Of Gen. Sumner and therefore hoped to break
through their lines at this point IL subsequently ap
eared that this attack lad not been made ut the time
Gen Sumner moved. and, when II was finally made,
proved be In such small force az TO have had no per
mapent effect upon the enemys line.
Gen Summers order directed the troops OF Gen. |
Combs CORPS to commence the attack, FTencbs Di-
vision led, supported by Hancock and finally by How.
ard Two divisions OF Wicoxs Corps (Sturgss and
Geity's) participated in the attack. Never did men
fight more Professionally than this brave grand DIVISION
Of len Sumner. The officers and men seemed 10 be |
inspired with the lofty courage and determined sprt
of their noble cOmmander; but the position was TOO
strong for them. beg TO refer TO the report Of Gen.
Sumner for n extended account OF the working Of
bis command, and the Cavalry Division under Gen.
Peasanton.
AT 80 p. m. ordered Gen. Hooker TO support Gen.
Sumner with bis command; soon after receiving the
order LIE (Gon. H. sent an aidde-eamp to me with
statement that he did not think the attack "oHlu De
snrccssful ] directed him 10 make the assault Some
time aftcrward Gen. Hooker came to me IN person with
The same statement. l reiterated my order which he
then proceeded TO obey.
The afternoon was now well advanced. Gen. Frank