The National tribune., 1904-06-09
command should
'. and tho noinf

deslgne. command should
advance :; and the point
on which directed gave high
hopes of al issue. Advancing
through thu - in the morning. the
enemy was e sountered on q wooded crest
near the plankroad. An attack on this
position was not thought advisable, and
the corps was moved further to the left.
II was not till afternoon, and subsequent
to Hancock's repulse, that it became en-
gagged with the enemy. No decisive result
followed. and toward evening Burnside fell
back and intrenched. (11S)
HANCOCK DRIVEN OUT BY FIRE AND THE
ENEMY.
The long lull that had followed the sue
cessful attack of Longstreet upon Hancock
gave the latter time to thoroughly reestab-
lish his position, now strengthened by
fresh troops sent TO him by Gen. Meade.
His immediate front was cleared by a we'll
executed movement made by q brigade un-
der Col. Leasure, across its whole extent
from left to right, (119) and he was pre-
pared to meet the enemy, who. however,
made no demonstration until 4 O'clock in
the afternoon. AT that hour, Lee. having
gotten well in hand the troops of Long
street and Hill. made an impetuous assault
upon Hancock's intrenched position, press
ing up to within less than 100 yards of his
front line. Here the Confederates halted,
and continued long and uninterrupted
fire Of musketry, which. however. had little
effect on the troops behind their substantial
breastwork of logs, whence they delivered a
sharp fusillade: and the repulse Of the
Confederate attack would have been easy,
but for an accident here occurring. In front
Of the left of the line q fire, had during
the afternoon, sprung up in the woods, and
at the time of the attack this had commun-
Gated to the log breastworks on that part
Of the line. AT this critical momept they
became mass of fame. which il was found
impossible to subdue, and which extended
for many hundred yards to the right and
left. The intense heat and the smoke, which
was driven by the wind directly in the
faces of the men, prevented them, or por-
tions Of the yet uninjured line, from fir
ing over the parapet. The enemy, taking
advantage Of this. swept forward: con-
siderable body of the troops in the first line
gave way, and retreated in great disorder
towards Charlottesville, and the enemy.
pressing into the breastworks, crowned it
with their standards. Yet the victory was
short-lved; it was only the more adven-
turOus that had penetrated the breastworks
(inside Of which, indeed, few were killed.
and these were quickly driven out by for
ward rush of CAROLS Brigade. Lee then
abandoned the attack, in which he had suf-
fered a considerable loss.
EWELL DROVE RICKETTS,.
This closed the main action of the day !;
but just before dark, Ewell moved con-
siderable force around the right flank of
the wing held by Ricketts's Division of the
Sixth Corps. and, in conjunction with a
demonstration in 'front.' succeeded i'm fore
ing this division back in considerable con-
fusion, making prisoners Of Brig. Gems.
Seymour and Shaler, and considerable
number Of men. The attack produced a
good deal of alarm but the break was soon
repaired. and darkness prevented the Con-
federates following up the success of this
sally.
GRANT DETERMINED TO ADVANCE.
When the dawn of the third day (Satur-
day. May y came to light up the dark hol-
lows of the Wilderness, neither army
sive The terrible conflict of the past two
days had left both combatants bleeding and
exhausted, and the events of the 9TH were
confined to q severe but indecisive combat
between the opposing cavalry at Todd's
Tavern.
The heavN losses Lee had suffered in the
battle. in which he had acted on the ag-
gressive quite as much as his antagonist.
admonished more cautious conduct; and
though he was willing to be assailed. he
dared not venture further attack. When,
therefore, the skirmish line was thrown
forward on the morning of the 7th, the
Confederates were found standing at bay
behind their iHtrenchments. (12O)
But like reasons made Grant equally lit
tie minded to renew the assault. Yet the
situation was such that it was necessary
either to go forward or to 60 backward.
Had Gen. Grant chosen to adopt the lat
ter course. he would not have been with
out precedents. But this step was not only
unbefitting his positiOn-it was altogether
contrary TO his bent of mind. There is
much in that commanders temper that re-
calls that old Marshal whom his soldiers
named Marshal Forwarts: and as
Blucher, in the great campaign in France,
that ended in the capitulation of Napo-
leon. would hear of nothing but marching
straight on Paris. SO Grant, his eyes fixed
immovably on Richmond, as the goal of all
his efforts. the prize he resolved to seize.
through whatever seas of blood he might
have to wade. pronounced the magisterial
word. Forward" When darkness came
the columns began their march for Spot
sylyania.