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THE BATTLE OF .THTJBSDAY, jTnI[Special Correspondence of the Kew York Tribune.]TAVEBN, IIjCART OF Trtft WiLDEKNSS,}8 A. M., Thursday, May ft, 1864. jLate on Tuesday the whole army became aware that St would be moved within a few hours. During the night and the first daylight of the next morning everything was pnt in motion. Gregg's Division of Cavalry crossed Ely’s Ford, without opposition, at daybreak. Wilson’s Division (lata Kilpatrick’s) crossed Germania Ford. Hancock’s 2d Corps followed Gregg, and Warren's 5th Corps followed Wilson. Long before night Hancock had posted his corps and established headquarters at f Chancellorsviile, while Warren had pushed on to Wilderness Tavern and occupied the ridges facing Mine Run and the enemy. By sunset Sedgwick, with the 6th Corps, had crossed Germania Ford, and last night encamped along the road in rear of i Warren. Sheridan, with the Cavalry Corps, ■ thoroughly scoured the country in all directions.He intercepted despatches from the rebel Gen. J Rhodes to Ewell, stating that Meade had elfected a j crossing, and asking instructions. Another intercepted despatch apprised us that Stuart was j having a cavalry review at Hamilton’s Cross roads. Sheridan was anxious to assist at the spectacle, but it was not thought expedient. Gen. Grant left Culpeper and Gen. Meade Brandy early yesterday morning, and early in the afternoon pitched headquarters just this side of Germania Ford. At j daybreak this morning Sheridan moved with all his force with two purposes— to find and tight Stuart, and to push a reconnoissance far to our left on the enemy’s right flank. The order of march today, as fixed since midnight, is for Warren to advance to Parker’s Tavern, five miles toward Mine i Run, for Hancock to take a road leading him from Chancellorsville, that will enable him to establish a line on the left of Warren, connecting with the latter, while Sedgwick is to move up and assume Warren** present position. It is possible, however, t that Lee may cause a change in the programme. Gen. Griftin reports the enemy menacing his position on the ridge south of this point, and not a mile away. Warren orders him not to move off toward Parker’s Tavern until Sedgwick can come up and | relieve him. Gen. Meade rode up ten minutes ago and said to Warren, “If the enemy comes near you, pitch right in with all you’ve got I The dispositions necessary to sustain an attack, if such be Lee’s purpose, have caused a halt of the columns: and now we are listening for the first gun. If the enemy docs I not choose to precipitate the bAttle here our army before night will hold the position contemplated by j the morning order. On the other hand, wc can | well afford to fight him now. It is six miles back to the Rapidan—il we are attacked it will be with the hope of breaking through the moving columns by a vigorous assault upon the flank. Generals Grant and Meade and Warren and Sedgwick will see to it that what the enemy supposes to be a weakflank he shall find to his cost is nothing Jess nor else than a formidable front. I have never seen 1 the army move with more cxactjorder, with a less I number of stragglers, and with so little apparent fatigue to the men. All had a full ration or sleep last^ night—which is a better augury of victory j ihan a reinforcement of thousands. The roads I are in excellent condition, the weather delightful and so warm that whole divisions abandoned their ^overcoats and extra blankets on the march. At one point 1 noticed some hundreds of overcoats had been thrown into a stream to improve the crossing. Overcoats and blankets arc decidedly better for the purpose than rails. I understand that Burnside marched last night to join this army, and will reach Geamania to-day. It is understood that Gen. Butler is making a simultaneous “Onward to Richmond,” and will first occupy City Point, James River. That these two movements are being made is generally known iB the army, and ha9 a most inspiring effect. Rest your confidence not only in what may be predicted upon the records of its Generals as to how this army will be handled, but in this the rank and file will fight this fight with more than the 4*lan of the French, with more than the pluck of the British. They feel it in their bones that something allied to these, but better than either or both.WJLPEBJncas Battle Field, Thursday, Hay 2 P. M. fHow perfect have been the combinations, how completely on time they have been executed, how well in hand the army nag been every hour and is now, how masterly and successful thus far has been the movement—all this is so clearly apparent that I can but notice it here, even while a spirited battle is being fought only half a mile from where I write. Let me hero pay a tribute to the first soldier killed in this campaign. Let Charles Wilson, of Frank- ] lin, Mass., private in Co. I. 18th Mass., Col. Jos. Hayes, commanding, be remembered as the first man to give his life in this, (God willing,) lastgrand Jeampaign of the war. Immediately afeer “writing up” this morning, I rode out to Griffin’s lines, then reported to be menaced by the enemy. His division was in line of battle at right angles with and on cither side of the Old Turnpike. The enemy had evidently despatched a force from his lair on Mine Run to worry and delay our march by threatening in flank. Gen. Griffin had sent the 18th Massachusetts and 83d Pennsylvania, under Col. Hayes, of the former, to feel well out on the turnpike. It was here that Charles Wilson fell, the rebel skirmish line oppos-i iug a vigilant frontl Finally, after some little firing, Gen. Warren, who bad come up in person, j ordered an advance down the road in force, j Ayer's brigade moved on upon the right of the j read, and Bartlett upon the left, with each flank j well supported. Field officers were obliged to dis-1 mount, so dense was the growth of dwarf pines.I An advance cf less than half a mile and a smart fushade opened the action. The two brigades carried the first eminence, and were pushing up a second, when, owing to a failure of the commands ■ right and left to connect, and form a continuous i line, the rebcis flanked them on both sides. Col.| Hayes, of 18th Massachusetts, finding himself in 1 command of several regiments and the enemy all l arcund him, formed aline facing to the rear aud ] fought in both directions. At length he gave theJ order to fall back, and the movement was being executed, when he was hit on the scalp and fell.! The brigade bugler brought him safely off. Mean-: while, fresh troops were put in, and the rebels slowly driven along the whole front then fighting.In this action our loss is probably 300 or 400. At this hour the enemy has ceased to make demonstrations, and we are waiting for Hancock to join i on our left. Gen. Grant is smoking a wooden pipe, i his face as peaceful as a summer evening, his gen-: oral demeanor indescribably imperturbable. I know, however, that there is’great anxiety that Hancock should fall into position, for it is believed that the entire rebel force is massing upon us.fc WunakFsss Battle Field, )0 P. M., Thursday, May ft. j; Heavy fighting since 3 o’clock, mostly at the extreme left, under Hancock.’ Getty’s division, 6fch corps, was at the right of tbo Orange plank road, fronting toward Mine Run, where Carr’s division, j 2d corps, joined him on his left. The other divis-• i«8 of Uasoock’e wp# wm pasbg op; la
Newspaper Details
Boston Post
Boston, Massachusetts, US
Tue, May 10, 1864
Page 1
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Stephanie S.
USA 15 Mar 2019
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