Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-09-24
RECALLS LEES ATTEMPT
TO LEAD ARMY IN FIGHT
Rides to Head OF Line Dusin. Rattle
at Spotsylvania Court
house.
GENERAL GORDON STOPS HIM
Example Inspires Men and They
Charge Furionsly, Hurting Back
in Confusion Advancing Columns
of Hancock'S COmnand.

MAY 4, lNhi, At the wilderness passed
without any serious encounter between
tho two armies. General Lee spent
the time in visiting all parts Of his line
of battle. seeking To ascertain tho
probable design Of General Grant. In
the evening he reached the conclusion
that General Grant was contemplating
flank movement in the direction of
SpotSylVania Courthouse, and he de-
tachcd portion of General Long
streets Corps. then under the COM
mand OF General Il. II. Anderson. to
move at once. that uight. for that point.
This faculty OF General Lee OF discov-
ersmg. as IL by intuition. the intention
and purpose OF his opponent. was a
remarkable che.
Gcncrl lee sent one Of his staff
with Ccacrnl Anderson. with orders to
appraiSo General stuart. whose cav.
alry Was @t 80 courthouse, of the APP
prcach ot tho infantry. General Ices
staif officer remarked 10 a friend who
was riGins, with linn that he saw no
Indication al movement by Grants
army In ;hat direction, as they. the
emmy, appeared TO be present In heavy
force along our entire front: but when
General Anderson reached tho cavalry
he found IL hotly engaged with the
encmy's infantry, Warrcn's Corps and
wondered nj the unerring discernment
of General Lee.
General Anderson promptly relieved
the cavalry under General Fitzhugh
Lee, hut not before il had been forced
to retire from tho courthouse. which
Wa. then occupied Ivy the enemy Gen
eral Anderson theu moved two OF his
bricadcs tEcrshaws and Humphreys
rapidly to the LEFT OF the road. form
ing Il line OF battle behind some cover
left ny tho cavalry. and repulsed the
advancing enemy with great slaughter.
Meanwhile. General Anderson had sent
two bricades 'Woford's and Bryan's)
by Il detcur To reach the courthouse.
As th!;: force advanced the enemy re-
tired. leaving the courthouse In our
possession. These hriSades then moved
UP ana Joined those Of kerShaw and
Humphreys. The enemy, now rc-cn-
forced by tho sixth Corps Wright's).
advanced against General Andcrson'S
troops in an cud"av to envelope his
right. but. OPPORTUNITY. General Rodc's
Division OF General Ewclls Corps ar
rived jus, IN time to check that move
mcnt Dcploying his troops on Cen
ernl korShaw's right General Rode
advanced. driving the enemy for nearly
half u mile when his left. coming upon
y fortified line. was checked. and he
was forced 10 halt.
ARMIES tRr: ENGAGED
~ STRENGTHENING LINES
II Was inns lntl the me VI htttit
was established. Each army foriaed
upon it's advance as "A nucleus and In
such manner as the conditions Of the
moment dictated. There was very
undesirable salient on General Ewclrs
front ON the right of General Pod"'s
Division tho line bent outward. This
left side Of the angle was partly occu-
pied 10y General Dolc's brigade az that
division. ON General Rode's riEht was
General Johnson's Division. which held
the res; OF this s,de. the apex and the
other side of the angle.
General Lee reached the field OF the
afternoon Of the Sth. and the Third
Corps now under command OF Gen
eral Early. owing TO the temporary in
disposition Of General 4. r. mn. ar
rived and took position on Ewelrs
right. May passed without any Sc
riouS encounter with tho enemy Each
army was engaged in strengthening Its
c"n line and cndcavOriuG to discover
the position OF the other. On Hay 10
there was constant skirmishinr with
artillery tire alcnt. the whole line Late
In the evening vigorous assault WAS
madc against that portion Of the lines
held hy The FIRST and Second Corps
The attack against the first WAS re-
pulsed with great slaughter, but tho
enemy succeeded in capturing a part
Of General E:wcll'S front occupied by
General Dolc's brigade OF General
Rodc's Division, With several pieces OF
artillery.
When report Of this was made 10
General Lee. he started At once for The
point where the lines were broken.
with The inst+iGtiont.ot personally en-
courhelhS cnc .Hicn TO recover III. lost
ground. Toward the night of NAV II
reports were made to General Lee that
seemed 10 Indicate a purpose on the part
al General Grant TO Withdraw. and
MAKE another more 10 our right or
ders were given TO withdraw tho ar
tiiicry from the salient occupied by
General Johnson's Division to have IL
available Tor countermove 10 the
right During the night after the ro-
moval OF the ARTILLERY. General John.
son reported the enemy TO he massiuu
III his front, and orders were protnntly
issued for the artillery 10 return. Cen.
Graz E"e!l says that different artillery
was srht, ana, owing TO the darkness
and ignorance OF the location. II vas
SLOW In getting into position. ana onl,
reached the lines in time to he can
turcd
y vcry carly hour on the l2th tho
enemy assaulted General Johnson's no
sitlon IN great force. Being withou,
artillery the Confcderatcs werc .,
49, Il"""N'ht"Ee The enemy came
III on INC salient ~ ovcrpowerinr num-
Deis, taking possession OF tho works
and most of General Johnyons III.
VISION noiudiur its brave commander
LEE ~IrOW. DESIRE
TO LEAD MS MEN
dispositions were Immediately mad.
10 repair tn" breach. II WAS here again
Genera! Lee manifested a purpos.. OF
leading his men into battle GENERA,
Lc'' az ana every on. else. realized the
ln"M'nt"Us import OF the situation
thai the hulk Of his army was In such
iHg}i"ent peril that nothing could res
gu u except countcrnoven.ut
dHicN iinp"tuous and decisive
General lie" resolved tn save /; -,
the sac'';iyc of his own lifc Win
perfect sclf-p"isc. ho rode 40 the mar.
gin OF the breach. ana appeared mon
me scene just as cur troops were in
the act OF moving in that crucial coun.
terchargr upon which 50 much de-.
pended As General Ice ode nai.sij-
calls ~ front of our lit. Of bni.l.
with uncovered head anna nouu..d a.,
"c!d Traveller" h. looked yor, .:oa
OF war ca'ul: and .iaudl, Ia. .u,l.
to a point near the ecntct of our n..r
and tufn.d mis- horse hcad to .h,
front evidently received to lc,o ir
person tn" d"Spcrat" barge airG ..ify.
General Hancock bacl, ~ prr,-N .u tlo
cTori or 9"i.ll" 5nc~ v.r.a' I,s