The National tribune., 1904-06-09
EwELL FORCED BACK.

With this force an impetuous attack was
at noon made on the enemy on the turn
pike. The brunt of this assault fell to the
lot of Griffin's Division. of which Ayres's
Brigade was formed on the right, and Bart
lett's the left of the Orange turnpike. These
succeeded in carrying everything in their
front; and with dispositions better suited
to the circumstances. Ewell's Corps (only
the van of which had yet reached the
ground) should have been crushed. (99)
But as the attack was ordered under the
impression that only a rear-guard of the
enemy was present, the dispositions made
were very far from being adapted to the
actual situation.
EWELL REINFoRCES HIS ADVANCE AND RE-
PULSED THE FEDERALS.
Recovering from its momentary repulse,
the van of Ewell's force reformed on
wooded ACTIVITY a short distance in the
rear, and there Being joined by the remain
der of the corps, the Confederates were
soon in position not only to Withstand the
the offensive. 1t had been designed that
the right of Warren's line should be sus-
tanned by the left of the Sixth Corps, the
division of Wright forming the connection !;
but, owning to the thickness Of the woods,
that officer was unable to get up to War
ren's support in time, and this left the
right of the latter exposed. Against this
GUS attack upon Ayres's Brigade of Regu-
lars, and this giving way, Bartlett's Bri-
gade also was breaten back. (1OO) Two
guns that had been advanced on the turn
pike to take advantage of the first success,
their horses being killed, were left between
the lines, and fell into the hands of the
enemy. (1OD On the left of Griffin, Wads-
worth's Division advanced simultaneous
with it to the attack; but there was no
connection between the two, and the troops
of the latter in their passage through the
dense thicket, having taken a somewhat
false direction, unwittingly exposed their
left flank to a destructive fire from the
enemy, which threw them back in some
confusion. 1927 The brigade Of Crawford's
Division (that of McCandless), which was
to the left of Wadsworth, occupied an iso-
lated position. and being nearly surround
ed. it was easily driven from the field, with
the loss of almost two whole regiments.
Thus all the ground gained was given up,
but the Confederates did not follow, and
Warren assumed new line somewhat in
rear. but still in front Of Old Wilderness
Tavern and across the Orange turnpike.
GRANT CONCLUDED THAT THERE WOULD BE
A REAL FIGHT.
Such were the initial opera tions of the
battle of the Wilderness. The opening was
not auspicious. 1t gave Warrep's Corps a
very severe snOcR, cnldHuik dpou ft u IOSS
of above 5000 men. The result left no
doubt respecting the presence of the enemy
in force, and early in the day, when the
serious opposition encountered by the Fifth
Corps made this manifest, Gen. Grant, sus-
pending the previously ordained marches
of the corps, made dispositions to accept
Lees gage Of battle. The Sixth Corps be-
ing directly in rear of the Fifth, was ready
to take post on Warren'a right. But Han
cocks column, which was moving consid-
erably to the left, and had that morning
marched southwark from Charlottesville,
was quite out of position for q battle in
the Wilderness. Instructions were there
fore sent recalling it to mite with the
main body by movernsnt UP the Brock
road to it's intersection with the Orange
plankroad. This order was received by Han
cock at II O'Clock, and tire countermarch
Immediately begun. He was then distant
about 10 miles. t103)
IMPORTANCE OF PLANKgoAD JUNCTION.
1t will be borne in mind that the Con-
feierate Corps of Hill was hurrying for
ward on the Orange plankroad, and that
the van of Warren's force which had gone
out towards .Parker's Store in the morning
had seen this column filing rapidly down
that road. Four miles east of Parker's
Store the plankroad is intersected by the
Spotsylvania Courthouse, and on which
Hancock was moving up to join the main
body of the army. 1t Is obvious, therefore,
that this junction of road was strategic
point of the first Importance, and if Hill
should be able to seize it, he would inter-
pose effectually between the two Union
columns. Discerning this danger, Gen.
Meade early in the day, directed divi-
sion of the Sixth Corps, under Gen. Getty,