The Washington herald., 1914-05-06

the Federal breastworks on the Brock
road with an abandon and energy born
OF frenzy and were as wildly met. The
woods were on fire, and this communi-
Gated to the logs Of the breastworks.
Even this barrier OF flame did not halt
the confederates. and amid the smoke
and red Jets Of fire they planted Their
flags on the Federal works. Not long
did these challenges remain. The Fed
erals rushed through the flames to sweep
away their assailants.
Attack after attack was launched by
Lee upon this burning front of Han
cocks line. and one after another they
were repulsed. By o'clock exhaustion
of men and munitions put a check upon
the fighting here.
Hancock had not enough powder left
TO make the attack ordered for o'clock,
and the trains were far in the rear. The
attack. therefore. was relinquished. aud
the battle was not resumed on this part
OF the field.
! The losses here had been extremely
heavy, in both men and officers. Among
the latter mortally wounded was Mai
Gen. James S. Wadsworth, OF New York
The Confederates lost one of their most
brilliant young officers IN Gen. Micah
Jenkins, Of South Carolina, who was
temporarily leading Hoods division.
Army's Right Flank Turned.
On the right. in Grants front. the aft
ernoon brought no change. Ewell held
his own. The tangle Of the woods pre-
vented the Federals from moving their
troops as they wished. Burnside was
three hours behind time in reaching the
position assigned him. 1t was not possi-
BILE to launch an assault from the center
that Grant wished to make upon the flank
of Hills Confederstes on the Plank road.
Throughout the day the cavalry under
Sheridan had rendered invaluable aid to
the army thus tensely engaged. Well
on the left wing Of the army. by hard
fought actions at and near Todd's Tavern,
It had prevented Stuarts cavalry from
reaching the rear Of the Federal posi-
ton Such success by Stuart would have
spelled disaster to Grants forces. no less
certain that would have followed had
Longstreet been successful.
The Iengthening afternoon shadows put
a period upon the slaughter in the thick
cts OF the Wilderness, but IL did not stop
the fighting for the day.
At sunset the Confederates seized an
opportunity that had lain before them
all day Of turning the right flank OF the
Sixth Corps, which was the extreme Fed
] eTAl TlEnt. tcn. JOnH ~
Georgia brigade and Gen. Robert John
sons North Carolina brigade fell upon
! the brigades OF Gems. Truman Seymour
| and Alexander Shaler. threw them into
confusion. and before the surprised Fed
erals could rally. took many prisoners
including Gems Seymour and Shaler and
several other oficers.
News OF this attack was soon sent 10
| headquarters Grant and Meade were
informed that the right was turned, the
army in danger of annihilation.
Grant Calm Under Strain.
Messenger after messenger arrived,
| each more excited than the last, and
| telling a more gloomy story. Grant re
| ceived the news calmly. Amid excited
men. in the face of what seemed like
! impending calamity that might blight his
career in an hour. he wrote orders with
cIearness and rapidity for moving troops
| TO the threatened flank.
| For two hours the strain upon him
was tremendous. yet he never raised hi;
voice or changed his manner. With Gen.
Meade he rode out toward the threat
| ened wing. What he saw convinced him
! that the alarm was groundless- When
/ finally II was known that the enemy had
been beaten back and the flank was
secure. Grant retired to his tent, threw
himself upon mis- cot and for a moment
relaxed like a man who had been par