Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
New York Times Articles - May 13, 1864
THE BATTLE OF SUNDAY, MAY 8.
NEAR SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT-HOUSE, Va., Monday, May 9 -- 2 P.M. I have this morning returned from our advanced line of battle, which lies within two and a half miles of Spottsylvania Court-house, the enemy confronting in force. Our army reached this position yesterday morning, WARREN's corps having the advance, and heavy fighting took place during the day. It was hoped that we could have reached Spottsylvania before the enemy would be able to make that point but in the foot race which the two armies ran on Saturday night, from the battle ground of the Wilderness, the rebels beat us. LONGSTREET, it appears, started at 11 P.M. of Saturday; our advance left at 10 P.M. The two columns marched by parallel roads, but LONGSTREET's corps had time to arrive and form line of battle, and when our force was thrown out to feel the enemy this morning, he was found in position. Our first attack was made by BARTLETT's brigade of GRIFFIN's division, on the right of the road, with ROBINSON's division on his left. BARTLETT had been ordered by Gen. WARREN to attack in column, under the belief that only rebel cavalry would be found. Instead of this, however, he ran on the whole of LONGSTREET's corps, and his brigade, already reduced by the fearful losses of the three days' battle of the Wilderness, was frightfully cut up. One of his regiments, the First Michigan, went in a hundred strong and came out with but twenty-five, having lost three-fourths of its numbers in fifteen minutes. ROBINSON's division, which held the left, was also roughly handled, and broke in disorder. Seeing this, Gen. WARREN seized the division flag and rallied the men in person. Fresh troops were thrown in, and after fighting from 8 A.M. till 12 M., our troops had gained the object sought -- an open space up to the woods in which the rebel line was formed. In this engagement Gen. ROBINSON was severely wounded in the leg, and will have to lose his limb. At 6 P.M., two fresh divisions, namely, those of CRAWFORD, (Fifth Corps,) and GETTY, (Sixth Corps,) were thrown in, and after a severe engagement lasting for an hour and a half, CRAWFORD carried the rebel position, took their first line of breastworks and captured over a hundred prisoners. This ended the action of yesterday. For the numbers engaged our losses were extremely severe, and will count up to 1,000. This morning found our line established two and a half miles this side of Spottsylvania Courthouse, and securely intrenched. LONGSTREET has also been strengthened by the arrival of EWELL's corps. The rebel line lies on a ridge a mile in front of the Court-house, and it will be a position somewhat difficult to carry, should it be decided to make a direct attack. It will be observed on the map that our present position carries us many miles south and in the rear of Fredericksburgh, whose famous fortified heights are in our possession without the need of firing a shot. It will be used as a depot and for hospitals, and several thousand of our wounded were, yesterday, sent there. A small army of 2,500 greybacks have also just been marched by headquarters en route to the same point. They are generally hearty-looking fellows, and rather better clad and shod than I have before seen them. Everything thus far has gone on satisfactorily, although it would doubtless have been better had we been able to find an opportunity of fighting a decisive battle. The Army of the Potomac is in superb condition and spirits -- in fact, was never before in any such condition. We are going on to Richmond, depend upon it; at least, some more formidable obstacle than has yet appeared will have to present itself to stop us. BUTLER, we see by the Richmond papers of yesterday, is between Petersburgh and Richmond; SIGEL and AVERILL are in the right place, and you will presently hear from the cavalry corps of this army, under the bold and energetic leadership of SHERIDAN, in a way that will throw all previous raids into the shade. The headquarters of the Lieutenant-General and Gen. MEADE, are always established near each other, and in action the two Generals and their staffs are always together. Gen. MEADE retains the immediate command of this army, while Gen. GRANT exercises a general supervision over the movements over the whole field. In regard to the operations of this army, the two Generals are in constant consultation, and it would, I think, be hard to say how much his own practical share in the actual command is. Perhaps I may say that Gen. GRANT indicates the strategic moves and combinations, while Gen. MEADE takes charge of their technical execution. The rebel papers acknowledge a loss of two general officers killed and two mortally wounded, while it is now positively ascertained that LONGSTREET also is wounded. P.S. -- We have this moment been shocked by the announcement that Gen. SEDGWICK, Commander of the Sixth Army Corps, has just been killed by a shot through the head. He was standing up with his staff in his advanced line of breastworks, and was picked off by a rebel sharpshooter, perched in a tree. The ball entered the face a little below the eye, and came out at the back of his neck. He lived for half an hour after being struck, and then expired. His body has just passed headquarters in an ambulance. It will be embalmed and sent North. The profoundest grief is felt at the death of the lionhearted chieftain, and it is felt that we could better afford to lose a whole division of the army than one whose valor, illustrated on so many fields, we can ill spare at this time. He never fought so well as in the arduous three days' fight in the "Wilderness," and it was a matter of general remark how splendidly SEDGWICK had been doing. It is presumed that Gen. WRIGHT will take the vacant command of the Sixth Corps.
THE BATTLE OF TUESDAY, MAY 10.; THE GREAT CAMPAIGN
WASHINGTON, Thursday, May 12. The following dispatch has just come to hand: HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, NEAR SPOTTSYLVANIA C.H., Wednesday, May 11. My dispatch dated 6 P.M. yesterday gave an outline sketch of the operations of that day down to the hour named, and included the announcement of the turning of our right flank. [This dispatch has not yet come to hand. -- ED. Times.] I would gladly have avoided leaving the situation suspended in this perilous condition, but the messenger by whom I had the opportunity to send my dispatch left just as the courier bearing the tidings arrived. I hasten to add that the menacing break was speedily repaired, and that the army holds at present a position not differing greatly from that we have held for the past two days, with the exception that our right is somewhat more strengthened. Yesterday's operations now assumed the character of the most bitter and perhaps the most bloody of the series of battles which have been fought since we crossed the Rapidan. Knowing as we do, that our cavalry force has been working havoc with LEE's communications, that his supplies are almost exhausted, that the lines of investment are being drawn around Richmond, and that echoes of disaster reach his ear from afar off Tennessee, and presage the downfall of the fabric of the rebellion, we are left to infer that the attack of yesterday was a desperate, and, let us hope, final attempt to retrieve the rebel fortunes by dealing a crushing blow at this army. It is enough to say that it failed, and though he inflicted a severe loss of life upon us, he suffered not less himself, and we still hold a position against which the rebel fury may dash itself in vain. It would seem to have been the policy of LEE in the series of battles which he has delivered during the past week, to contest the advance to Richmond at every available point, to wear us away by degrees, and then, perhaps, to fall upon the Union forces under BUTLER, and endeavor to annihilate them. This plan he has carried into execution with a masterly skill, inspired by a fury perfectly diabolical. We are steadily pressing the rebels southward. The enemy have been greatly favored by the nature of this country, in whose dense woods and tangled chapparal the lithe and wary are much more at home. Fortunately, if we once carry the position which they now hold in front of Spottsylvania Court-house, we shall be out of the "Wilderness" and reach open country. The operations of yesterday were opened by a reconnaissance on the left by BURNSIDE's corps, which developed the fact that the enemy was in no force there -- nothing but cavalry disputing the advance. This caused the division of MOTT to be withdrawn from its position on the extreme right and it was sent to the left to connect with BURNSIDE. The rebel position now very much resembled ours at Gettysburgh, a curved interior line, well protected by breastworks, with the additional defence of a marshy run in front. Holding us at bay in the centre, they discovered the weakness of the right, now held by BARLOW's division. This division of HANCOCK's command, as I yesterday mentioned had made the passage of the Po, throwing out skirmishers on the east bank. This gave it a coigne of vantage, from which it not only enfiladed the entire rebel position, but commanded the road on which their trains were passing. At the same time, however, it isolated it from the rest of the army -- a false position, of which the rebels could hardly have failed to take advantage, and of which they did take advantage, as we shall presently see. Gen. WARREN's corps held the centre of the line. [???] it was resolved that a vigorous assault sho[???] made there, while HANCOCK and BURNSIDE endeavored to assail and turn the two flanks of the enemy. With this view, two divisions of the Second Corps were thrown over to connect with the right of WARREN and support him. In execution of the projected design. WARREN's corps moved forward during they day, pressing the rebels through the woods to an open space behind, close to the enemy's breastworks. This was attended by very heavy shelling from the enemy, and it was three or four o'clock P.M. before the woods were cleared. After this, the corps advanced to assault the breastworks. In this, however, it did not succeed, although the attempt was gallantly made. CARROLL's brigade went in on the charge and lost eight hundred men. Gen. MEADE realizing the critical position in which the extreme right of our line (BARLOW's division,) was placed, had ordered it to draw back. The rebels had, however, anticipated us, and making a detour came in on its rear, making it a matter of considerable difficulty to withdraw; supports coming up, however, it was successfully accomplished. A general attack was ordered along the line, to take place at 5 o'clock, but owing to the tardiness of some of the Commanders to get into line it was postponed, first to 6 o'clock, and then to half-past. A furious cannonade from our artillery preceded the charge. The worst of it was that the lateness of the hour prevented its being perfectly successful. Gen. WRIGHT advanced the flower of the Sixth Corps. Nobly and well they sustained them reputation. UPTON's brigade leading, they advances rapidly upon the enemy's breastworks without firing a shot, capturing them at the point of the bayonet. As they rushed on they captured the enemy by hundreds, rushing upon them with a fury that nothing could withstand. To the number of twelve hundred they run them back into our lines at full speed, capturing at the same time three of their guns. Earlier in the day one of the enemy's batteries had been disabled and all the cannoniers driven from the guns, from which they were kept by the savage fire of our skirmishers. It was hoped that all the guns would be brought off, but the charge was not successful on the other parts of the line, and the gallant Sixth had to fall back. Our losses during the day must reach from eight to ten thousand men. WEBB's Brigade, Second Corps, lost heavily -- the Twentieth Massachusetts particularly Col. MACY was dangerously wounded. Maj. ABBOT, another splendid officer, was killed, and only six or seven officers, out of about twenty-four, left. Lieut. FEDERSHEN, of the First Massachusetts, took a section into action in a spot where the rebel sharpshooters had a sweeping fire. He was taken from the field, shot in both thighs, after doing good service. This was on WRIGHT's front. Gen. WARD was hit in the neck early in the day, but would not leave the field, and afterward led his brigade in the charge on HANCOCK's front. A battery of COBURN's, on WRIGHT's front, did good service, throwing their shells into the rebel intrenchments. Capt. MARTIN, of the Third Massachusetts Battery, was wounded in the neck. The losses of the army up to this time exceed anything that any previous battle has cost us. Nothing has been developed up to this hour respecting the enemy's position or intentions for the day, and there is nothing to indicate whether they will retreat, remain on the defensive, or assault. W. SWINTON.
VICTORY!; A Decisive Battle. LEE'S ARMY ROUTED. A Terrific Charge by General Hancock.
DESPERATE FURY OF OUR MEN.
Three Generals, 50 Officers, 3,000 Men and 12 Guns Captured.
Splendid News from General Sheridan. Lee's Communications Totally Severed.
TRAINS AND SUPPLIES CAPTURED. Over Five Hundred Union Prisoners Retaken.
DISPATCHES FROM THE WAR OFFICE FIRST DISPATCH. [OFFICIAL.] SECOND DISPATCH [OFFICIAL.]
WASHINGTON, Thursday, May 12. News received to-day continues to be of a most satisfactory character. Early in the day Secessionists were unusually exultant and open-mouthed. They claimed to have certain intelligence, by channels known only to the initiated, that GRANT was this side of the Rapidan, BURNSIDE had been cut to pieces, and black troops, who had caused all this disaster by dastardly conduct, were all captured. Evidence of falsity of such stuff accumulated during the morning so rapidly and irrepressibly, that nerves of the most timid individuals calmed down. Details of yesterday's fight have not reached here. Fighting was renewed this morning at daylight by HANCOCK. In a most brilliant assault he fell upon A.P. HILL's division in its intrenchments, five miles below Spottsylvania Court-house. HANCOCK was in his best mood, and as he led his eager men into the affray he is described as being the very impersonation of war. No mere flesh and bones could stand up before such a charge as was there made. The rebels broke in every direction, leaving trophies of victory in our hands -- one Major-General, two Brigadiers, fifty officers, three thousand prisoners, and twelve pieces of artillery. WASHINGTON, Wednesday, May 11 -- 11:30 P.M. To Maj.-Gen Dix: Dispatches from Gen. GRANT, dated at 8 o'clock this morning, have just reached this department. He says: "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 in battle, whilst he has taken from us but few except stragglers. I propose to fight it out on this line, if it takes all Summer." The Government is sparing no pains to support him. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. WASHINGTON, May 12 -- 8:15 P.M. To Maj.-Gen Dix: No dispatches from the Army of the Potomac have been received since 11:30 o'clock last night. Gen. SHERMAN has not been heard from, owing, probably, to the damage to the lines south of Nashville by the recent storm. A dispatch from Gen. SHERIDAN, dated "Headquarters of the Cavalry Corps, May 10," states that he turned the enemy's right, and got into their rear, had destroyed from eight to ten miles of railroad, two locomotives and three trains, and a very large quantity of supplies; and that since he had got into their rear there was great excitement among the inhabitants and with the army. The enemy's cavalry had tried to annoy his rear and flank, but had been run off, and he had recaptured five hundred of our men -- two of them Colonels. No dispatches have been received for two days from Gen. BUTLER. Dispatches received from Gen. STEELE report his command as having arrived at Little Rock. He had fought a superior force of the enemy, commanded by KIRBY SMITH in person, at Saline River, and defeated them. A steamboat, from Red River, arrived to-day at Cairo, reports reinforcements going up to Gen. BANKS. Gen. CANBY had passed Cairo on his way to Red River. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War.