The National tribune., 1904-06-09

118. Leasure's Brigade belonged to the
Ninth Corps. and held position towards the
left of Hancock's line, under the inme-
date command of Gen. Gibbon. Under
orders from Hancock, Col. Leasure formed
his command at right angles with Han
cocks front: his right. at about 100 PAGES
from the breastworks, swept across the
whole front of Motifs and Birney's Diyi-
sions. and crossed the Orange plankroad to
the right of Hancock's line, encountering
in his progress what he supposed to be a
brigade of the enemy. which fell back in
disorder without engaging him.
10. "The head of the column passed
the Lacy House at daybreak. Nothing was
encountered until reaching the field this
side of Wilderness Run here the flankers
on the right became engaged with the
enemy'S skirmishers. As soon as the head
Of the column emerged into the field.
rebel battery at Tuning's opened on Them
Some 90 shots were fired, but no one was
hurt. The column halted; strong skirm-
ish line advanced across the run, up the
slope covered with thick pines and as soon
as they showed themselves in the edge of
Tuning's field, they receiveda musketry fire
and fell back. Perhaps one division of the
Ninth Corps was deployed in line OF battle
on the left of the road in the hollow. A
long consultation now ensued between Gems
Burnside and Park and Col. Comstock No
assault. The idea was enter
tanned that Gen. Crawford was to advance
and join on the right of the Ninth Corps
but explained that if Crawford advanced
at all, he would close on the right Of Grit
fin, and advance up the pike away from the
Ninth Corps. More than an hour was lost
doing nothing, while the firing over by
Wadsworth grew very heavy. They finally
concluded to abandon this route. and move
further to the left, aiming at point half
way between Tuning's and Taps. The
corps become engaged theres about noon,
with no decisive result, and fell back to-
ward evening and intrenched. Notes of
a Staff Officer
Regarding the anticipated effect of Burn
sides movements, Gen. Hancock uses the
following language:
Il am not aware what movements were
made by Gen. Burnside near Parker's
Store, on the morning of the 9Th but l
experienced no relief from the attack |
was informed he would make across my
front-a movement long and anxiously
waited for"
120. Gen. Grant appears to have drawn
an inference from Lees remaining behind
his intrenchments on the morning of the
1th, which facts do not justify. From
this" says he, lit was evident to my mind
that the two days fighting had satisfied
him of his inability to further maintain
the contest in the open field, notwithstand
ing his advantage of position. Report of
Operations, p. 6. 1t is not entirely clear
what the Lieutenant General means by
maintaining the contest in the open field''
During the two days battle, both armies
pivoted OH intrenchments covering their
entire front. From these. one side Or the
other sailed forth to attack his adversary.
who endeavored to receive the attack from
behind his breastworks. Lee attacked
Grants force behind intrenched lines, quite
as much as Grant attacked Lees force be-
hind intrenched lines. The real conclusion
at which both commanders had arrived
was that further assault on these lines was
hopeless.