his march; and accordingly put his columns in motion southward, aiming to clear the Wilderness and concentrate his army on the high, open ground around Spottsylvania C. H. The only serious conflict this day was an indecisive one near Todd's store, between four brigades of our cavalry and a like force of J. E. B. Stuart's, with a loss about 250 on either side. As Stuart attacked, and failed to achieve any advantage, Sheridan claimed the result as a triumph. Our losses in this terrible struggle in the Wilderness were nearly 20,000 men, of whom some 6,000 were taken prisoners. Our loss in officers was heavy. The country's salvation claimed no nobler sacrifice than that of Gen. James S. Wadsworth, of New York. Born to affluence and social distinction, already past the age of military service, he had volunteered in 1861, under the impulse of a sense of duty alone. As an aid of Gen. McDowell, he was conspicuously useful at Bull Run; accustomed to every luxury, he had courted, ever since, the hardships and perils of the field; made the Republican candidate for Governor in 1862 by an overwhelming majority, he could not have failed to be elected, could those have voted who, like himself, were absent from the State at the call of their country; and, though he peremptorily declined, his fellow citizens, had he lived, would have insisted on electing him Governor in 1864. Thousands of the unnamed and unknown have evinced as fervid and pure a patriotism, but no one surrendered more for his country's sake, or gave his life more joyfully for her deliverance, than did James S. Wadsworth. Among our wounded in this contest were Gens. Hancock (slightly), Getty, Gregg, Owen, Bartlett, Webb, and Carroll. Of the Rebel killed, the most conspicuous were Maj.-Gen. Sam. Jones and Brig.-Gen. Albert G. Jenkins. Among their wounded were Gens. Longstreet (disabled for months), Stafford (mortally), Pickett, Pegram, and Hunter. Doubtless, their aggregate losses were much less than ours, especially in prisoners; but they were nevertheless severe, as they were estimated by themselves at 8,000. 17 Warren, starting at 9 P. M. of the 7th, preceded by cavalry, emerged from the Wilderness at Alsop's farm, where the Brock road crosses the little river Po; but he had been detained by the obstruction of his roads by the enemy, and by the cavalry fight in his front, so that Longstreet's corps had arrived before him, and taken post across the little river Ny, with his guns planted on the ridge beyond, to sweep our columns as they advanced. After a mutual cannonade, Robinson's overmatched division was advanced to the assault, but repulsed; Robinson being severely wounded. Later in the day, when part of the 6th corps had come up, the assault was renewed, Griffin's division taking part; when the enemy were driven back, with a loss of 1,500. Ours was judged to be less. Miles's brigade of Hancock's corps was attacked this day at Corbyn's bridge, but beat off its assailants. Wilson, with our advance cavalry, penetrated to Spottsylvania Court House; but, being unsupported, was compelled to retire. 17 Sunday, May 8. FIGHTING AT SPOTTSYLVANIA C. H. 571 they were obliged at dark to abandon. The day closed with no decisive success; our aggregate loss having been severe; the enemy's-because of their position-probably much less. letin: "HEADQUARTERS IN THE FIEld, 'May 11, 1864-8 A. M. "We have now ended the sixth day of very heavy fighting. The result, to this time, is much in our favor. "Our losses have been heavy, as well as those of the enemy. I think the loss of the enemy must be greater. We have taken over 5,000 prisoners by battle, whilst he has taken from us but few, except stragglers. 66 "I PROPOSE TO FIGHT IT OUT ON THIS LINE, IF IT TAKES ALL SUMMER. "U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-Gen. Command Next day," our army cleared the Wilderness and was concentrated around Spottsylvania Court House, now held by Hill and Ewell: Warren in the center, Hancock on the right, Sedgwick on the left. While placing his guns, and bantering some Gen. Grant dispatched next mornof his men, who winced at the singing to the War Department the foling of Rebel bullets, Gen. Sedgwick lowing pithy but rather roseate bulwas struck in the face by a sharpshooter's missile, and fell instantly dead. He was a native and citizen of Connecticut, a bachelor of 40, a thorough soldier, greatly beloved for his social qualities by all who knew him. Gen. Wm. II. Morris, of New York, was severely wounded this day. Gen. II. G. Wright next day succeeded to the command of the 6th corps, and Gen. Burnside came into position on our left; when our batteries opened on the enemy's position, and charges on his rifle-pits were made by Barlow's and by Gibbon's divisions, in front of the 2d and 5th corps, bringing on a general engagement. We finally attempted to turn the enemy's left flank, but failed; Barlow's division, which had advanced across the Po, being ordered to return, was fiercely attacked on its retreat, and at one time in danger of destruction, but finally extricated with some loss, including a gun. Several charges on our part were repulsed with loss-Brig.-Gens. J. C. Rice and T. G. Stevenson being among our killed. Late in the afternoon, a most gallant charge was made from our left by Wright's 1st division, Col. Upton, and 3d, Gen. D. A. Russell, who rushed over the first line of Rebel defenses and took 900 prisoners, beside several guns, which, for want of proper support, ing the Armies of the United States." This day was spent in reconnoiter. ing, skirmishing, and getting ready for the morrow. The afternoon was rainy. Hancock, at nightfall, was ordered to leave at midnight his position fronting Hill, and move silently to the left, taking post between Wright and Burnside, so as to be ready for work early in the morning. When morning came, the rain had given place to a fog of exceeding density, under cover of which, Hancock sternly advanced, in two lines; Barlow's and Birney's divisions forming the first; Gibbon's and Mott's the second. Before them was a salient angle of earthworks, held by Edward Johnson's division of Ewell's corps. Swiftly, noiselessly sweeping over the rugged, difficult, thickly wooded intervening space-some 1,200 yards-Barlow's and Birney's divisions dashed, with a thundering cheer, over the front and flank of the • May 9. enemy's works, surprising and overwhelming the Rebels in their trenches, and capturing Johnson, with most of his division; also Brig.-Gen. Geo. H. Stewart" and part of two brigades; also 30 guns. The number of prisoners secured and sent to the rear was over 3,000. Hancock wrote in pencil to Grant: "I have captured from 30 to 40 guns. I have finished up Johnson, and am going into Early." He had in fact, though he did not know it, all but captured Lee himself, and had nearly cut the Rebel army in two. But the surprise was now over, and the rally of the Rebels was prompt and vigor 19 Stewart was an old army friend of Hancock, who, when the former was brought before him as a prisoner, held out his hand, cordially inquiring, "How are you, Stewart ?" The latter haughtily replied, "I am Gen. Stewart, of the ous. Their case was desperate for defeat now was annihilation-and they fought with invincible ardor and resolution. Grant had fully prepared for the emergency; Wright's (6th) corps hurried up to the aid of Hancock, and Warren and Burnside charged promptly and bravely on our right; but the enemy's position here was so strong that he held it and at the same time dispatched aid to his endangered right. Charge followed charge in quick succession, and the mutual carnage was fearful. Seeing that no impression was made by our attacks along the enemy's unshaken front, they were intermitted, while Cutler's Confederate Army, and, under the circumstances, I decline to take your hand." "And under any other circumstances, General, I should not have offered it," was the prompt and fit response of the victor. MORE FIGHTING AT SPOTTSYLVANIA C. H. 573 and Griffin's divisions were detached | recently drawn from the defenses of Washington, by whom he was gallantly repulsed and driven off, though not without serious loss on our side. The reckless fighting of the artillerists-mainly veterans in service, but new to the field-excited general admiration, but cost blood. The 2d and 5th corps hurrying to their aid, Ewell's men were run off and scattered in the woods, on our left, where several hundreds of them were hunted up and taken prisoners. Somewhat delayed by this sally, our army, moving by the left, resumed, next night," its march to Richmond. from Warren and sent to the aid of Hancock, who still held fast to the captured work, but could not go beyond it; while Lee made five successive and desperate assaults on him, with intent to hurl him back; the men fighting hand-to-hand, with their respective flags often planted on opposite sides of the same breastwork. These assaults were all repelled with frightful carnage; but Hancock was unable to advance, as he had expect ed to do, and ultimately got off but 20 of the captured guns. Rain set in again at noon; but the fighting continued till near midnight, when it was terminated by Lee's desisting and leaving Hancock in possession of his hard-won prize; but that was the extent of our advantage, which had cost us several thousand men, and the enemy almost as many. Lee fortified and held a line immediately in front of Hancock; so that the enemy's general position proved as invulnerable as ever. Gen. Meade reports his losses up to this time at 39,791; to which something must be added for the losses of Burnside's corps before it was formally incorporated with the Army of the Potomac. If we assume that half these fell in the Wilderness, our losses around Spottsylvania C. H. were scarcely less than 20,000 men. The Rebels, holding a ridge, generally fighting on the defensive and beHere ensued several days of ma- hind breastworks, had suffered conneuvering, marching and counter-siderably less, but still quite heavily. marching, in quest of a weak point Among their officers killed were in the enemy's defenses; but none Gens. Daniels, Perrin, and J. M. was found: an assault being delivered Jones. on the 18th, by Gibbon's and Barlow's divisions, supported by Birney's and Tyler's, nearly in front of the work they had so gallantly carried on the 12th; but they were stopped by formidable abatis, and repulsed, losing heavily. In the Wilderness, our army had cut loose from its original base north of the Rapidan. It had since established a new one at Fredericksburg, to which its wounded were sent, and where they were met by officers, nurses, and other employés of the Next afternoon, observing or sus- Sanitary and Christian Associations, pecting that our army was gradually with the amplest and most thoughtmoving to the left, with intent to flank ful provision for the mitigation and pass him, Lee threw forward Ew- of their sufferings. As it moved ell against our weakened right, held down toward Richmond, new bases by Tyler's division of foot artillerists were established at Port Royal and **May 20-21. then at White House; so that, while | gallop, and our assault was repulsed; there was doubtless much suffering Sheridan crossing the Chickahominy from privation as well as from at Meadow bridge, beating off atwounds, it was always within a short tacks both front and rear, burning the distance of posts to which abundant railroad bridge, and moving to Haxsupplies were forwarded from Wash- all's;" where he rested three days, ington and from the great commer- and then, moving by White House cial cities, under the efficient direc- and Hanover C. II., rejoined the tion of Gen. Rufus Ingalls, its chief Army of the Potomac. Quartermaster. On emerging from the Wilderness, Gen. Sheridan, with the better part of our cavalry, led by Merritt, Wilson, and Gregg, was dispatched" on a raid toward Richmond. Crossing next day the North Anna, Sheridan carried the Beaverdam station on the Virginia Central, destroying the track, three trains of cars, a million and a half of rations, and liberating 400 Union prisoners captured in the Wilderness and now on their way to Richmond. Stuart's cavalry here overtook and assailed his flank and rear, but to little purpose. Crossing the South Anna at Ground Squirrel bridge, Sheridan captured Ashland Station at daylight;" breaking up the railroad, destroying a train and a large quantity of stores. He then resumed his march to Richmond. Stuart had meantime passed him and massed his cavalry at Yellow Tavern, a few miles north of Richmond, where he proposed to stop the raid. A spirited fight ensued, wherein Stuart was mortally wounded (as was Brig.-Gen. J. B. Gordon) and his force driven off the turnpike toward Ashland, leaving the road to Richmond open. Sheridan pressed down it; Custer carrying the outer line of defenses and taking 100 prisoners. But Richmond was no longer to be taken on a 21 May 9. 22 May 11. "May 14. Gen. Butler, commanding at Fortress Monroe, had been reenforced in pursuance of a programme suggested by him and concurred in by Gen. Grant: Gen. W. F. Smith's (18th) corps and Gen. Gillmore's (10th) corps (from South Carolina) having been sent him, raising our effective strength in his department to some 40,000 men, of whom perhaps 30,000 were disposable. Having sent" a small force on steamboats up the York to White House, to move out and menace Richmond so as to draw the enemy's attention to that quarter, the day after Gillmore's arrival his real movement commenced," in cöoperation with General Grant's, and with others. Embarking his infantry and artillery, 25,000 strong, Gen. Butler proceeded up James river, while Gen. Kautz, with 3,000 cavalry, moved out from Suffolk, crossing the Blackwater and cutting the Weldon road at Stony creek; Col. R. West, with 1,500 more troopers, simultaneously advancing from Williamsburg up the north bank of the James. The armed transports moved up the James by night, the unarmed following next day," pioneered by the iron-clads and other naval forces under Admiral Lee. Wilson's wharf, Fort Powhattan, and City Point, were seized without resistance; 10,000 men being at once May 1. 25 May 4. 20 May 5. 24 |