Rock Island Argus., 1914-06-20

eral corps or General A. L. Burnside
was working its way into the gap be
tween Warren's left and Hancock =
right and was threatening to do for
Ewell's right flank above the plank
road what Hancock was doing for HIll's
left flank south Of that road-namely.
roll II up and widen the distance be-
tween the wings of Lees army. Lee
stood on the plank road. and shortly
before the decisive moment he sent
messengers In hot haste to meet Long
street back on the plank road and urge
him forward. Just when II was
turn OF the hand whether or rot the
| Confederates must retire in disorder,
Longstreet's troops came to the field.
Fighting For Position.
Lee in the wilderness had but e2 900
men with which to oppose the army
| led by General L. s. Grant, number
ing 10000. He selected and intrench-
! e@ ground higher than that in front
| where Grant must advance. The Con-
! federate artillery was I'm battery back
| in the clearlngs ready to pour shot
! into the Federnls should they attempt
to pass through the woods.
Hits guns were nnssed TO cover the
plank road and the crossroads leading
from the Federal lines to Parker's
store. Farther to the north. along the
Orange turnpike. the FeGerals. under
Sedgwick and Warren. were checked in
their advance by swumps and streams
which separated the corps from each
other.
The positions held by the columns
under Hancock and Warren the morn
ing OF May o had been gained Mt the
cost OF much hard fighting the day be-
fore. Both commanders had been or
dered to march to Parker's store, which
nt the time was within the Confeder-
ate lines. HIll's corps being east of 1t
on the plank road. with EweII's corps
extending Hills line northward across
the Orange turnpike.
The advance Of Warren's corps
against Ewell on the turnpike was de-
layed all the morning OF the 9th by the
nature OF the ground and Ewell's line
Of battle. About o'clock that day
Hancock. who was forging his way to- !
ward Parker's store. heard of Warren's |
situation and also learned that Long |
street had not yet reached the field. |
He led out three divisions to force the |
passage on the plank road. where he |
was confronted by the single Confeder-
ate division OF General Henry Heth.
Heth's line was finally broken and |
driven back upon the division of Gen
ernl c. NJ. Wilcox. At o'clock VII
cox's troops were giving way IN dlsor-
der. and Lee sent his message to Long
street.
Confusion In Federal Lines.
Having learned from prisoners that
Longstreet should arrive at daylight.
May G. with 1900 troops. Grant gave
his order for an attack all along the
lines at O'Clock that morning At the
hour set all were ready except Burn
side. Hancock's divisions leaped first
n log intrenchment and then line of
rife pits. In less than an hour the
flight. At this moment Longstreet came
up. 1t was a moment of confusion and
inside of Grants lines.
Sedgwick's sixth corps on the ex-
treme right confronted the left OF
Ewell's corps; warren's fifth corps con-
fronted Ewell's right. Far to the left
N Warren. Hancock's second corps
fought with Hills Confederates. Long
streets reserve corps not being in posi-
lion at that hour. Burnsides ninth
corps, between Warrens left and Han
,ock's right. was not in position when
The attack began. but General James
Federal division started
rom Warren's position before daylight
with orders 20 charge right through
he unoccupicd space assigned to Burn
'ide and unite with Hancock's line.
Wadswortb was killed soon after he
oined Hancock. Sedgwick and War
en- were reirulsed. Hancock's line
lrove Hills men back a mile through
he forest. His divisions became mixed
II the thicket and. moreover. Wads-
worth. coming on the right flank.
rowded the line toward the center.
hat was the moment 10 go ahead but
or the confusion. AS il was. the lead ! 1
r OF the charge ordered the men to I
alt and rectify the lines for a final
dvance. This delayed advance was (
hecked by the arrival of Longstreet's S
oremost division TO the aid of Hill. S
One division of Longstreets fresh b
len remained in front of Hancock. {
nd the other. supported by one OF u
HIS divisions. marched around the /
nnk. Hancock's line faced west but
ne right brigades had fought forward
irther than the left. so that Long 3
.reet's column did not so far enough 4
} strike the .unguarded flank. After
arching east some distance the Con-
'derate 1anking column SWING north
ard and struck Hancock's center. G
here Longstreets leading division to
ld drcrsTon or HDrs were uEnuus d
18th Hancock. d,
Longstreet was wounded here. but m
Id his division leaders TO push on ~
ith the charge. Lee ordered the at Dis
ck suspended until the lines could CO
, Strengthened out. By that time the er
ederals had recovered from their con- SO
sion and built breastworks along the an
hole front. ht