The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-04-30
THE GREAT BATTLE
At sP0T5YLvANIA
A Wonderful Fight That Has
Been Neglected by Most
of the Writers.
COL. CUTsHAW TELLS OF IT
The Address Made Last Winter
at the Banquet of the
Howitzers.

flOWitzers.
We have the pleasure Of presenting to-
day the address of Colonel W. Z. Cutshaw
on the battle near ,spotsylyania Court
house on May IS, 1864, which was delivered
at the banquet Of the Howitzers in Rich
mond in Decehner 1904.
It was a great battle that Colonel Cut
shaw recounts. and is one that has not
engaged the attention of the writer's OF
war history as much. as it's Importance de-
serves. 1t was complete victory for Cen
i era Lee, but he was wrestling victories SO
frequently In those days from the grasp
Of his powerful foe and was demon
stratiny his genius by such remarka BILE
exploits Of soldiership and generalship
alike that his great deeds ovcrcrowded
each other in such degree that some OF
them have been dwarfed to tho sight
by its close companions. Colonel Cut
shaws career as n soldier Is too we'll
known to invite compliment and his ability
in all his undertakings has been recog-
nized by all who know him His modcsty
is only equalled by his merit, and estacn
II a privilege to introduce this contribution
from him as ono that will be consulted
wien symmetrical history of the
achievements of Lee and of the Army
pf Nortnern Virginia Is written
Colonel Cutshaws !, address does not
calm 10 cover the whole OF the battle
Of thdl 18th. 1t is TO be hoped that some
office. OF the Third Corps of A. p. Fill
VIII give an aGcount%of the action in its
font. especially OF the service Of tho
artillery. which there, as in the front OF
Tie Second Corps, rendered tho paramount
service of the day.
The campaign from the Wilderness 10
Cold Harbor hns never been fully written
( on the Confederate side, and there is no
theme of war more inviting TO tho pen.
of the Confederate historian
JOHN w, DANIEL.
Colonel Cutshaw's Address.
Colonel Cutshaw said:
At our last annual banquet J promised,
II you would then excuse ME from n
speech, 10 attempt to give you at this
one more complete account Of an en-
gagement during the war incidentally.
talked about by me from memory on a
former occasion at a banquet of the pres
ent Howtzer Company.
This engagement in which you actively
participated, took place near Spotsylvania
Courthouse, May 49, 1864. just six days
after the 18th OF, May. when our lines
werc broken ar the Salient or 50 called
Bloody Anglt.. Utmost the same Federal
troops engaged in this attack on the 18th
In their attempt to carry tho Confederate
lines BY assault, were in the engagement
OF the 18th. s b
The recital of this engagement brings
out prominently three points of great In
tercst to the soldiers of an artillery or
8 gani2ation:
n leo n bn Goa1, ~
ing columns of the enemy, was practcnl-
ly by the destructive fra of artillery
alone
Second. That this mass of infantry
charging over the gradually rising, partly
open, plateau for over half n mile in cx-
tent In the face of entrcnched, we'll post
cd and well served artillery. could not
hope TO carry such a position as Ewclls
Corps held.
Third. That the mcagre published ac-
counts of the affair by the commanding
generals on either side, illustrates. as Is
often the case. the overlooking of I'M
portant and effective work of the artil-
lory branch of an army.
For a clear understanding of this en-
gagement, il Is necessary to explain the
field, the positions of the Opposing forces,
their approximate strength, The arrange
ments for the assault and preparations
the affair itself
This enlarged map OF the field taken
from one in the war records office and
the quotations taken from these same
published records, are here given to bring
this matter out In full.
Describe he map etc, with figures, etc.
The field is situated between the Pc ana
Ny Rivers in a rolling undulatlng, well
wooded country interested by many
small branches sometimes low anu
,liarshy.
POSITIONS afAT IS 1861.
FEDERAL ARMY.
WaTen's tIoiflh) Corps on left -Four
divisions, "a. 423. April goth; 1891. June
LIST Infantry not in action. but twenty
six guns were, as a diversion.
Hancock's tsecond) Corps, next TO
Fifth.
Four divisions, 1900 April Goth: 2s,s27
June ISL Barlows and Gibson's divisions
In the assault with sixteen guns in ac-
ton
HNirst New Hampshire, First Rhode
Island. Fourth United States and First
New York;; Wrlgnt's (slxth) Corps. next
10 Second.
three divisions. 2.ie5 April Goth; 2osso.
June LIST: Gettyis and Russelrs Divisions
tn the assault, assisted by Hancock q
guns.
Burnades fstnth) Corps next and OF
right.
-Four divisions. 1880 April Goth; lSii7
June list; Barlow's and Gibson's divisions
sions in the assault. With sixteen guns
In action.
(seoopa USine, Fourteenth Massachu-