The times., 1899-05-07

ioTSNliie dl ~ a. M on the 4tn anu tnt
whole corps was up at 1 O'Clock. The
Fifth Corps was up to its position at
O'Clock. General Grant regarded this ope-
ration as a great success.
The trains were not up to the positions
assigned them until the afternoon of May
3. On the night of the 5th General Ste
verson, with one division from Brandy Sta
tioa and another from Manassas, crossed
the Rapdan, and Potter's and Wilcox's
| divisions from Bealeton and Rappahan-
mock Station crossed the river during the
same night, and General Ferrero's divis-
ion crossed on the morning of the 5th
Lee Begins to Move.
The Confederates were known to be in
motion before l o'clock on the afternoon
of May 4. Shots were fired around Robert
sons Tavern and the gray legions were ob-
served moving from Orange Court House
toward New yerdiersville. The renewed
forward movement of the Army of the Po-
tomac began at dawn on the 5th. The OBJ
jectiva was Lees right flank.
The Confederate records show that
Meade's movement was observed on the
morning of the 4th. General Lee began a
prompt movement toward the Army of the
Pott nac. Ewell moving toward Robert
sons Tavern. and Early, Rodes. and
johnson toward the Wilderness Tavern.
General Hill. with Heth's, Wilcox's. and
Anderson's division, moved up. General
Longstreet moved from the vicinity OF
Gcrdonsville at O'Clock in the afternoon
of the 18th.
EwelI and Hill were instructed not to
bring on general engagement until Long
street came up. On the morning of the
5th General Meade, while near the Wilder
ness Tavern, received dispatch that
Confederate infantry in force was on the
march about two miles beyond the tave.n.
General Warren was ordered to attack this
force with a view to developing its
strength. Sedgwick was also directed to
attack the enemy and form junction with
the Fifth Corps.
The Fighting Grows Furious.
General Grant had been informed of the
condition Of affairs and Joined General
Meade They took up their position on
knoll of open ground around the Wilder
ness Tavern and the Lacy farm, and re-
manned there during the greater part of
the battle Skirmishing was progressing
on the Chewing farm three miles from
the tavern. The Federal cavalry needing
assistance, General Crawford threw for
ward a skirmish line, which soon became
engaged with what proved to be the flank
ers Of an infantry force, the advance guard
of Kirkland's Brigade of Hills Division.
Hill was advancing. General Griffin and
Wadsworth soon after opened fire on Ew-
ellis advance. The development of the
Confederate force was such that a dispatch
was sent to Hancock setting his command
in motion and Sedgwick was ordered out
against Ewell's left. Getty's Division
drew up to the Wilderness Tavern. Ewell
threw forward Battle and Doles brigades
of Rodes' Division and the brigades of
Stewart, Stafford, and Walker, of John
sons Division were getting into action.
Gunpowder was burning and men were
falling Ayre's, Bartletts. and Barnes
brigades of Meades army struck Jones
Brigade and drove it SO far in as to dis
order the supporting Confederate line.
General Jones was killed while trying to
rally his men. Daniels Brigade came to
the assistance of Battle and Doles.
The two armies were gradually becom-
ing engaged. 1t is impossible to detail all
the moves in the great and bloody game
that was being played. The division COM
manders we're directed to throw up breast
works of logs and earth upon going into
position. At O'Clock in the afternoon,
General Getty attacked Heth's Division
and General Birney went to his support.
The battle continued with great carnage
till 5 o'clock when darkness closed in. Just
before the close of the action, Smyth's
Irish Brigade and Brooks Brigade of Bar
lows Division attacked the Confederate
right and forced it back.
General Longstreet moved forward at
midnight OF the 5th and reached Parkers
store at dawn of the 9Th Heavy skirmish-
ing went on at the Federal right during the
afternoon OF the 9TH. Attempts were made
to carry the entrenched line OF the Confed-
crates, but with great loss and without
success.
Longstreet's men, with Greggs Texans
and Benning's Georgians in the lead, came
into action early on the morning of the
9Th.
During this day the woodland was on
fire and the Federal breastwork of logs
was blazing. impeding the men behind in
their shooting.
1t has been estimated that 200 Federal
wounded perished in the burning timber
During the 7th OF May there was furious
fighting between the cavalry of Gregg,
Merritt, Hampton and Fitzhugh Lee
There was heavy infantry fighting during
the day on the open ground of the Hager-
son. Chewing. and Tapp farms.
A Federal historian says: NO great
battle ever took place before on such
ground. But little OF the comhatants could
be seen, and the progress of the battle was
known TO the senses chiefly by the rising
and falling sounds of the vast musketry
fire that continually swept along the lines
Of battle many miles in length, sounds.
which at times approached to the SUBJ
lime"
According to the regimental reports, the
number OF Union soldiers killed in the
three days fighting was 2.0o9. the number
of wounded 10,S05. and the number of miss
ing 2.a62.
The casualties in the Army of Northern
o., III 1aI =
wounded and 3.4O0 missing.
General Humphries, who was chief Of
staff OF the Army of the Potomac. says
that he can perceive nothing to Induce
tue belief that General Grant intended or
wigbed to fight battle in the Wilderness.
Eis doing SO was. under the circumstances,
unavoidable, and not a matter of choice
Had he really wished to fight battle ON
the 5th of May the Second Corps nnould
have moved out to New Hope Church, the
Fifth Corps to Robertson's Tavern. and
the Sixth Corps to the Old Wilderness
Tavern. That would have brought on
battle in more open country than that in
which the battle of the Wilderness was
fought.
spottsyIvanin Court House.
From the Battle of the Wilderness is
but little way to the bloody field of
Spottsylvania Court House.
Grant had determined to continue the
movement by the left and instructed Cen
eraI Meade to take position by a night
march. at Spottsylvania Court House, with
one corps. at Todd's Tavern with another,
and with third at the intersection of the
road from Piney Branch Church TO Spott-
sylvania Court House. The trains were set
in motion during the afternoon of May
that the roads might be clear for the
troops. The movement of the fighting part
of the army began at $50 D. M