Rock Island Argus., 1914-06-20
House. eight miles farther on the road
to Richmond. ahead of Lee.
Race For spottsylvania.


Race For spottsylvania.
Within one hour after the Federals
got in motion orders were issued in
the Confederate army TO move south
General Grants orders We're that War
ren's corps should march at y O'Clock
the evening OF the 7th to Spottsylvania.
Sedgwick's corps to point halfway
between Todd's Tavern and Spottsyl-
vania. Hancock's corps. after holding
the lines on the plank road until the
other troops had gone. to Todd's Tav-
ern. and Burnside's corps back on the
Catharpin road, two miles east OF
TOdds Tavern. to prevent possible
lunge by the Confederates at the Fed
eral communications with Fredericks-
burg. AS soon as Warren seized Spott-
sylvania Sedgwick, Hancock and Burn
side woui0-ciose up on that position.
The corps all secured the points as
signed excepting Warren.
Lees orders were that Longstreet's
corps (now commanded by General r.
II. Anderson should move on the night
OF the 9TH to Spottsylvania. Anderson
had his troops in position. covering the
roads to Spottsylvanla. at daylight on
the Sth. Warren's corps moved. pre-
ceded on the Brock road by General
Wesley Merrltt's cavalry.
At o'clock in the morning of May 8
Warren's infantry had overtaken the
cavalry a mile below Todd's Tavern.
engaged with General f'itzhugh Lees
cavalry. Warren sent in his leading
division under General John G. Robin
o -, u
reached the outposts of Anderson's line.
intrenched two miles north of the court
house. Warren deployed the division
OF General Charles Griffin on the right
OF Robinson and that OF General S. w.
Crawford on the left. drove back the
enemy and held a line in the woods.
Federal Attacks Repulsed.
Sedgwick's advance division under |
Wright came up and formed on War !
ren's left and preparations were made |
for an assault. Every advance was |
repulsed until n portion OF Wright's |
men about O'Clock in the afternoon |
passed around Andersons right flank. |
On the morning of the 9th General r.
s. Ewell'S corps took position on the
right OF Anderson's east of the court
house covering the Fredericksburg
road. Burnside's corps moved from the
Wilderness TO Spottsylvania, forcing
the passage OF the Ny river.
The lines now drawn extended from
the Po river. near the crossing of the
Shady Grove road. eastward across the
Brock road. This part of the line was
held on the Confederate side by Ander-
f16 "a fnd
him. From Anderson's corps the Con
federate line ran northeast about a
mile and a half. then east and again
making a sharp bend south, forming
an angle nearly a mile across at its
base. Ewell's corps occupied this part
IF the line and was menaced by Fed
rails on the northwest face only.
General A. p. Hills corps took up an
ntrenched line running south from
he anglo and confronting Burnside.
rhe troops opposed to Ewell on the
northwest face OF the angle We're War
ems and Sedgwick's corps. General
'edgwick was killed by the bullet of 4
Hancock'sN corps took
osition on the right of Warren. with 81
Inc that followed the direction OF the
20 river at this point-namely, north
rest. On the 9th Hancock reconnoi-
cred the ground far out on his front.
rossed over the divisions Of Barlow.
iibbon and Birney and pushed his line
outward to the Shady Grove road.
lining for the bridge across the 70.
Darkness coming OIL. Hancock halted
Or the night. On the morning Of the
9TH it was found that the left flank
Anderson was strongly intrenched
nd protected the road and the bridge.
rders reached Hancock to recross the
o with two divisions and form n lire
ith Warren and General II. q.
right. who had succeeded Sedgwick
the head of the Sixth corps. for a
,neral assault west of the angle.
Warren'S attack was repulSed by
troops, with little loss to
emselves. Wright's men carried the
st line after a hand to hand encoun-
r Confederate reserves rallied quick
and the assailants retired before
EN- under orders. Meanwhile Burn
les corps assaulted Hills line and
cured ground that was held until the
tile ended ten days later. Elsewhere
2 Federals at niGhtfall occupied their
ginal lines -