The New York Herald Newspaper, May 11, 1864, Page 1

THE NEW YORK HERALD. WHOLE NO. 10,099. NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, MAY ll, 1864—WITH SUPPLEMENT Grant’s Army in Splen- did Condition. Operations of Sunday, Monday and Part of Tuesday. Warren’s Corps in a Stubborn Fight on Sunday. Major ‘General John Sedg- wiok Killed. The Expected Great Battle To-day. OUR ARMY WITH PLENTY OF SUPPLIES. THE REBELS WITHOUT RATIONS THE REBEL ACCOUNTS. PANIC IN RICHMOND. The Wounded in : Fredericks- burg. The Lieutenant General on the Battle Field. THB PERILS OF ABMY CORRESPONDENTS, he, &e., ee Secretary Stanton to General Dix. ‘Wasuixctos, May 10, 1964. ‘To Major General Dix:— Despatches have been received this evening from ‘Major General Grant, dated at one o’clock yesterday. ‘The enemy have made a stand at Spotisylvania Court Bouse. There had been some hard fighting; but no gene- al battle had taken place there, deeply regret to announce that Major General Sedg- wick was killed in yesterday's engacemont at Spottsyl- qwania, being struck by a ball from a sharpshooter. His femains are at Fredericksburg, and are expected here to- wight, [A ball entered hiseye and passed through his eed, killing him instantly.) ‘The army is represented to be in excellent condition, ‘and with ample supplies. Gen. Robinson and Gen. Morris are wounde: casualties to general officers are reported. Gen. (H.G.) Wright bas been placed in command of Bedgwick’s corps. Gen, Grant did not design to renew the attack to-day, (being engaged in replenishing from the supply train, 80 ae to advance without it, No other EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. THE BATTLE IN THE WILDERNESS. Mr, James C. Fitzpatrick’s Despatch, Wasuixcton, May 10, 1864. ‘There are numerous little incidents connected with avery battie the relation of which goes to complete its Ristory, just as a faint tint here and there form the fin- ‘hing touches to the artist's picture on canvass. It may be that the story of the battle of the Wilderness ql never be fully told. It was 80 diverse, 80 extended to its character, every regiment having @ volume of inci- ents to itself, that the complete narrative would exhaust oven the folios of the War Office. . GENERAL GRANT DURING THE BATTLE. General Grant's headquarters were located ina field between the plank road and a small road leading to a Hite hamlet known as Parker's store. During the fight, however, he was principally with General Meade, whose Beadquarters were on a piney knoll jo the rear of War- fea's corpe. I bad seen Grant a, Vicksburg and in Peuneasce, and his appearance was familiar; butes I strolled through the group of officers reclining under the trees at headquarters I looked for him some time in vain, wach was bis insignificant, unprotending aspect and con- uct while the battle was raging in all its fury. A Stranger to the insignia of military ravk would have lit- tle dreamed that the plain, quiet man who sat with his Deck against « tree, apparently bheediess and unmoved, was the one apo whom the fortunes of the day, if not of ‘the age and country, were binging, It was only when pome aid or orderly rode up in hot haste with « com- munication from some portion of the battle field that his eyes upturned to seek in those of the messenger the pur- port of the meseage, fhe consultation with General Meade or the direct suggestion of command— all took place with that same imperturbability of cquotenance for which he has always been remarkabie, No movement of the enemy seemed to puzzle or disconcert him, Fertile in resources, the peti- tion for reinforcement was speedily answored, And while ali this transpired he steod calmly inthe group, 6 times smoking his favorite segar—a more vigorous or @ more frequent pulling only indicating the inward work. fog of the mind, if something transpired which he Aeemed neoded his personal attention, away he darted on Borseback to the immediate scene, the one or two of his ‘ids and an orderly exerting their utmost to keep up with Bim. Arrived on the spot, he calmly considered the mat- ter requiring his attoation, with ready judgmeut commu- Bicatod the necessary orders, and then gallope! away Wo another part of the fleld, or to his seat beneath the pine tree, there to enter on the order book somo Tecord of the battle’s progress. It wes amusing again ‘et times to see him—the Commander.in-Chief—whittiing ‘away with his knife upon the bark of « tree, pausing now ‘and thon to throw in ® word or sentence in the conversa. Mon of those grouped about, and then going to work ‘again with ronewed vigor upon the incision of the pine. ‘The contemplation of this by those who were with bim et Vicksburg will recall an incident of a similar charactor fo that memorable siege. When the columbiads were moanted in front of Logan’s line General Grant was de. estrous of superintending the operations. During the pro. Hminary work of cutting the embraaurcs he mounted the opaulement, and, while the rebol bullets struck all eroud him, deliberately whittled @ rail until the guns Were piaced in position. WIECELLANROUS, Om Friday the heat was intense, Many of the soldiers were sunstrack. Colonel Carruth, of the Thirty arth Massachusetts, commanding © brigade of Stevenson's Myision, wap OVEFComE DY bhp Dent early jp the content, and was borne from the field, the command subsequently devolving on Colonel Coombs, of the Fifty-ninth Massa- choses, This latter regiment lost its colors, and vainly endeavored to regain them by a desperate charge. The Filty-seventh were more fortunate. Their colors were captured, when by a desperate charge they were retaken, Colone) Bartiett beading the charge and receiving o painful though not dangerous bullet wound im the neck. Colone) Bartlett has alreaay lost a leg in the service during the Peninsular campaign. Colonel Legendre, of the Fifty-first New York, was wounded in the face. I saw him as he was borne to the bospital, and the sight instantly recalled to my miad the lume of his fray wound at the battle of Newbern, wheo the surgeons pronounced his case a mortal one. French soldiers, many of them at least, have a sort of belief in the laws of chance which declare anon bis in idem in reference to the course of a bullet on the battle field. Colone! Legendre’s cage has disproved the fact, as on both occasions be bas been wounded tn the face. The quantity of artillery massed im the rear of the my was vast. Battery after battery was buddled to gether in the open fields, useless in the contest, owing to the nature of the ground. OUR MAP OF THE BATTLE FIELD. In order to aid our readers in comprehending more fully the disposition of Grant’s army in the battle of the Wilderness, we publish a map of the immediate fiela, showing tbe location of the different corps as they fought on Friday. The geveral contour of our line was a semi- circle, sealloped so.as to form a trefoil on the border of an ace of clubs, No name could be more appropriately given the battle than that of the Wilderness. A dense wood, extending several miles east and west and south of the tarnpike and plank road, was the position occupied by the rebels. Besides the usual timber, the intervals be- tween the trees were filled with stunted pines and cedars Along the front of this position the rebels intrenched them- selves, behind extemporized barricades of felled timber and brush lightly covered with earth. Besides this natural wilderness, a collection of houses at the junction of the turnpike and plank road is known as Wilderness Tavern, while a stream flows through the vicinity called Wilder- nessrun. It isa tributary of the Rapidan. The rear of the Sixth cerps and of a portion of the Fifth corps rested near itsright bank. Anexamination of the map will also afford an easy comprehension of the manner in which General Grant solved the problem of Friday night, when affairs possessed so gloomy an aspect. The vigor of the rebel attack on the night threatened the separation of Sedgwiok’s corps. In the middie of the night, however, General Grast moved the troops back by the Ety’s ford road to tffe turnpike, and thence tothe left, Warren's corps thus became the extreme right. The geueral Ime of battle was thus unchanged ; so that when, on Satur- day morning, the enemy found no force to oppose them in the vicinity of Germanna ford, and a large force concen- trated on their right, nc alternative was left them but to retreat, As if by a magician’s wand, the whole aspect of affairs was changed, and the anxiety of Friday night turned to @ feeling of inexpressible relief by Saturday noon, when the success of the movement manifested itself in the retirement of the rebels from their position of the two previous days. General Grant was not slow to take advantage of the opportunity thus afforded for another advance. By Saturday evening the whole army ‘was again in motion toward Spottsylvania Court House, and for the details of his operations in that vicinity we now await with breathless interest. THE PERILS OF CORRESPONDENTS. Mr. S. Cadwaliader’s Despatch. Wasa:ncron, May 10, 1864. TUR START FROM THR FIELD. At three o’clock on Saturday afternoon I left the head. quarters of the army in the field, near the old Wilderness Tavern, and started for Washington, with full reports of the battle, and a complete list of casualties to that time. General Lee haa just turned our right flank on the road “to Germanna ford, and our cavalry were dasbing into the lines in great disorder, reporting the advance of rebel ‘ofantry im great strength. To avoid these, Mr. Fitzpatrick and myself took the road to Ely’s ford, intending to proceed from there to Rap- pahannock Station, and thence to Washington by rail. ‘Tt was understood at that time that «large number of slightly wounded and sick were to be sent back to the Washington hospitals, under @ strong cavairy escort. When near Ely’s we were overtaken by Mr. Cropsey, correspondent of the Philadelphia Jnquirer, He had heard in some way of our baving started for Washington, and determined to overtake and accompany us. At Ely’s ford we learned that no trains were in readiness, and de- termined to push on alone, The distance to Rappahan- nock Station was about twenty-five miles by the road we designed to travel. OUR MARCH—UNION TROOPS MET. This we supposed we could easily traverse by midnight, and if no train was likely to leave early the next day we could ride to Washington on horseback by Sunday even- ing. We had less hesitation in undertaking the midnight ride from knowing that about three hundred of our ca- vairy had crossed at the ford halt an hour before, going in the same direction, But “the best laid schemes of mice and men aft gang aglee,” and this proved no ex- ception. Night found us a few miles from Ely’s, on the road to Kelley’s ford. There was no moonlight, and the Toad was gloomy and forbidding. Thoughts of rebs, robbers and Libby prison were suggested by everything animate and inanimate, At a turn in the road we discovered a squad of infantry approaching from the opposite direc- tion, ‘The order to ‘halt and advance singly” was obeyed, and they proved to be Union soldiers, in somo way separated from their command, and pushing abead to rejoin it, We certainly breathed freer on learning who they were, and sincerely hope they did the same. ‘They bad seen no rebels on the road, and believed none were in the vicinity. ‘THE GUERILLAS—OCR CAPTURE. Yet, before we had advanced fifty yards from that po- sition, and while tho dusky forms of the infantry could be dimly seen in the distance, five mounted men plunged ‘to the roud from the thicket that skirted it, in our frovt and rear, and the click of revolvers at our ears was instantaneous. “Surrender, give up your arms, speak and you die,” were the gentle but persuasive admoni- tions of our new-found friends and admirers! We were surprised, surrounded, unarmed, defenceless. Compli- ance with their modest demands became a ‘military necessity.”” One of the bold riders spurred to the side of each, satisfied himself that we were indeed unarmed, and, taking our borses by (he reins, followed the captain of the party baetily through an open space of ground to some timber in the distance, where wo were compelled to dismount and submit to still further interrogatories and examinations, Our story was briefly anc traly told. We wore newspaper correspondents, and could in no case be considered a part of the army. Our being unarmed at such a place and at such time proved us not belliger ents. 1 stated that I had been captured before, pever detained to exceed an hour, and expected to be promptty diemiesed again, For this reason I urged them to take us to some suitable place ‘examine our credentials and papers to satisfy themselves that we represented our occupation truly, and then allow us to proceed unmolested on our way to Washington. But the proposition found small favor ki their eyes. We mounted, taken through dark foreste, deep ravines, de- serted farms, blind paths and family house yards, till the roar of falling water proclaimed the presence of some miil- dam on the Rappahannock. ‘OUR HOPES—OUR ROOSTING PLACE, ‘The skylight died ont with the prospect of escape, ar we rode in silence through the dismal waters and foreste, and the etunted pines on every band seemed the spectros of departed hopes, ‘Ob, was you never captured, And feel the bitter pain— That heavy sinking of the heart ‘You never shall feel again? We finally forded the Rappabanpock, at an obscure out-of-the way plate, for from house or road, and late in the night struck the main road leading down to Fredericks. ‘Durg. Our captors stopped at one or two lonely houses, And, after short whispered consukations with the inmates at the door, in silence as before. Wo were finally dismounted at the house of Mr. Stringfellow, near Cold Spring, our horses unsaddied and fed, and our papers examined, whon we all retired to an upper room, containing three wide, id fash- oned feather beds, and wore allowed to sleep tilthy light. Our guard over us all night, and were as lynx eyed and vigilant to prevent our escape as though We were modern Atlases, with the entire weight of the we were ordered out. Two of the patty and myself rode ; Loong ns Aah Sears, near 0; Tor vreaktent, and the bal party bonored M ringfeliow by accepting f similar hospltaltyy ‘Of our Breakrust too i!" in prales cannot be |. Ithad the redeeming featr ro of being Prevented, Teg lage reRrpire'~ iy WMA | THE BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS. ERTSONS CORBINS., BRia, Z] GROVE CHURCH SCALE OF MiLES SPOTSYLVANIA; COURT HOUSE Py aromegd housekeeper does not—that she bad nothing tter to offer us. Her husband js a prisoner in Wasbing- ton—an old, gray headed man. If he ever needs @ break- fast, he may draw on me for the favor. An hour later the party was reunited, and the captain announced his intention of tak! ickeburg, aod turoing us over to General Fitzhugh Lee. “Livky,”” with all its re- counted and uncounted horrors, seemed gaping '” recetve us. When near Fredericksburg a genuine “bushw.aeher,”” on foot, in citizen’s clothes, armed with a double shotgu emerged from the thicket at th of une road, ani informed the party sub rosa that General Lee was not in Fredericksburg. but the ‘Yanks’ were, This caused an immediate ‘change of base.’” OUR RSCAPE. Our advance got into askirmish with what we now know to have been a squad of wounded Union soldiers on their way to Aquiacreek. In the melee we were ordered to the rear in charge of a sergeant, and managed to escape into the deuse thickets that covered the neighbor- bood, minus horses, clothing, everything but what was on our persons. The unexpected nce of our straggling men disconcerted our captors aud probably compelled them to secure their own safety at the risk of losing us. Heavy firing was plainly heard at this time in the direction of Chancellorsville. and an- nounced that the mighty contest between the armies was not concluded, ‘OUR REPORTS OF THE THURSDAY'S FIGHTING wore eagerly perused by the rebels, who seemed to at- tach the utmost importance to their capture and aston- isbment at the amount of labor expended in compiling lists of casualties. The latter they claimed were far short of the reai loss to us in battle, ‘but greatly larger than they supposed it possible we could obtain ip go short a Hime. In short, they unwittingly paid a high tribute to HERALD enterprise, and were even sufficiently gracious to compliment Mr. Cropsey. OUR FREEDOM AND HOW RMPLOYED. On Ginding ourselves indeed free, a council of war called, in which it was determined that we should strike across to Aquiat creek as the nearast point on the Poto- mac river, and endeavor to board some passing steamer. The country was evidently full of enemies, muny of whom were guerillas. Qur only safety Iay in avoiding roads and travelling undiscovered. We started at noon ‘on Sunday, Of the toil and fatigue of the trip 1 have little disposition to speak. We were taxed to the utmost limit of buman endurance. The country was excoedingly broken and woody. The ravines all inclined to the Rap- pahannock for several miles, and bad to be crossed at right angles to preserve our direct course. No hill, no forest, no jungle, was permitted to cause material devia tion. “Nothing but the presence of roads. habitations ‘and people deterred us in the least, but these exerted Pecullar terrorism. “4 DAWG—A BOY—ANOTHRR DAWG.”? On one occasion the furious barking of a dog betrayed the presence of a mountain cabin in the forest, and came near discovering us to a party of stalworth rebels who were lounging in the yard. On another, while seated for a short rest ina thicket. ‘8 boy and dog’ came along path within a few feet of where we sat; but nether discovered our presence. When about half of our journey had been accomplished, night came upon ug in the edge of the open country on Potomac creek, and we lay ina thicket by the side of the stream til! uearly midnight. A few hours’ travol Drought us, through tangled brush and briers, to withia 8 mile of the raiirosd crossing of Potomac creek, where we iay till daylight revealed our position. From there to Aquia creck was made by nine o'clock, Without interruption, although @ mounted rebel scout was observing and following us some distance. AT AQUIA OREEK we found about three hundred wounded gotldiers (a list of which was published in yesterday's Herat), who bad walked tho entire distance from the battle ground, by of Fredericksburg, and bad been compelled to fight it way a part of the time, though by far the largest portion were unarined. The citizens of Fredericksburg offered them every indignity possible as they passed through the city, avd the soldiers were with difficulty re. strained from firing avd destroying the place. WE TURN SHIPRUILDRRS—OUR BOCCRS, As vessels fear decoys. they rarely answer signals from the Virginia shore of ‘the Potomac. The soldiers were busily engaged constructing rafts from the debris of rail- road platforms and torn down houses, with the intention of crossing the river to Point Tobacco, » 4 making the best of their way here onthe Maryland suore Ye cor- reepondents not caring to be behind in enterprise, or in literal fact, began the covstruction of a no ma. Tine craft capable of carrying three persons, aud were ‘embarked on the bosom of the river by Doon. CAPTAIN AKER AND HIS REREOCA. The government transport Rebecca Barton, Captain Baker, came along, found the river covered with rafts kindly furniehed alla free passage to Washington, and placed everything on board the vessel at the disposal of the wounded and hungry men, To Captain Raker the thanks of nearly vbree hundred men and the press gang are due, and are hereby tendered, with good wishes for ‘his succsss in lie, and also of bis bride Rebecca. “RENELS, WRWARE |’? Amore footsore, exhinsted and hungry trio could not have been found at Sonday noon than we of the reporto rial corps. To a detachment of the Ninth Virginia | —our captors—commanded by Captain Curtis, we have a debt to bal We hoj reasonable and sufficient interéat. If we do but bide the hour, ‘There never yet was human power That could escape, if uoforgiven, The patient search and vigil long Of him who treasures up @ wrong. QUR BATTLE FIELD DESPATCHES. Our Army Correspondence. HRADQUARTERS, IN THK F'eLD, Pivey \eanen CHuRcH, May &, 1864. We left our last headquarters at Wilderness run list night at dark, and caine to our present position, reaching here at nine A. M. Generals Grant and Meade came by way of the Old brook road and Todd's tavern, a distance ef some twelve miles. The Brook road makes off from the Frederieksburg and Orange plankroad about a mile east of the intersection of the Culpepper and Fredericke burg and Fredericksburg and Urange plankroads, running in a southonsteriy direction to the old Fredericksburg and Orange Court i\vse turnpike, and jieading directly to Spotisylvania (oor Mouse, A glance at the map will give a better i the positions of the roads than can de acquired fr Ning any description of my own. The ‘ighting yesterday was but light, except that be ‘tween the cavairy uoder Sheridan and the enemy's ander Stuart, on our extreme loft, in the vicinity of Todd's tavern, six miles north of Spotteyivania Court House. Portions of the Second, Fifth ond Sixth corps were en gaged at intervals with small bodies of the onemy, and these encounters genorally terminated jn success on our part, Towards evening it bocame apparent that the main ody of the enemy had withdrawn, leaving only a stroog Ne of skirmishers on our front amd flanks. Indeed, ring the entire day we diecovered that the enemy id not make 0 strong A resistance as on the day previous, and from tho developments it became evident that Lee was moving bis columns toward Spott Sylvania and Fredericksburg. Orders theo were issued to the surgeons in charge of (he }\ spitule to remove their sick and wounted wo biy’s ford, and the sapply trains Were ordered to move in the night t the vicinity of Fodd'y tavern. The Second corpe AF dees foot yp it4 hve to repay it in kind with | of march by way of Brook road, followed by Warren's Fifth corps on the same route. Sedgwick and Burnside took the old Chancellorsville road, and came forward, arriving on the field near Spotsylvania at noon to-day. ‘Warren proceeded to a point about two miles from Bpottsy|vania Court House, where he came up with the eavalry, who were engaging the enemy. He immedi- wiely set to work, and a terrific contest is now going on but an es °rt is already in their saddles bound for Wash- ington, and must close without giving the result of the contest, We bave no fars, however, for we have whipped the foe regularly so far, aud expect to be able to continue the chapter of victories. This is the fourth day of uninterrupted fighting, and our troops are feeling the effect of their labor severely. All agree that to-day will tell the story. Teend youa further list of casualties reported up to last night. Generals Shaler aud Seymour are prisoners. Generals Baxter, Getty and Robinson are wounded. Generals A. Hays and J. 8. Wadsworth are killed. We lost nine colonels killed and twenty-two wounded. In THe Firtp, May 8—P. M. ‘With us this has been decidedly the sultriest day of the eeanon. our troops bave suffered not less trom the effects of the sun than from their encounters with the enemy. Incoming from Chancellorsvilie to this point, about three miles from Spotsylvania Court House, I noticed at least about twenty cases of coup de soliel, and tho}prostration must bave been even greater on the more active portions of the fleld. When I clo-ed my letter this morving I expected to be able to get a messenger through by an escort which was Promised to go back. Indeed, the troops was made ready aud mounted, but for some reason the order was counter- manded, and now I am told there will be 00 more chances to send despatches until the present contest is defnitely decided. The fighting to-day bas been confned thus far princi- pally to the Fifth corps and the cavalry, and to the early part of the day- THE ROAD TAKEN, Moving down in a southeasterly direction through the Wilderness, from Wilderness run toward Spottsylvania Court House, we pass for seven miles through a dense wood, with scarce an opening until we emerge into the plantation country near the confluence of the Breck road and that leading northward to Chancellorsvilie and Ely’s Ford, at Todd’s Tavern. Fortunately our march through the Wil- derness was unobstructed, as the enemy was not looking for a flank movement in that direction, and at daylight this morning the Fifth corps came upon Gregg’s force, at ‘the jauction of the two roads, who were engaging the enemy with his cavairy and steadily driving them. At that hour it was not thought that the enemy hid more in our front than the cavalry, with which ours had been fighting all the time since Wednesday ; but a mile be- yond Todd’s Gen, Warren came upon the infantry, under Longetreet and Ewell. The rebel cavalry were with: drawn, and our own and Lee’s infantry again stood face toface, and the musketry again opened. THR FIELD. The field where the fichting took place to-day is situated about three miles north of Spottsylvania Court House, to the left of the Brock road, stretching away to the east towards the Spotsylvania ana Fredericksburg road. A large cultivated farm, owned by a Mr. J. M. Alsop, was the centro of the theatre of the tragedy, but the ter- rible fray extended in either direction for two or three miles. ‘The topography of the field may be described as con sisting of a succession of low parallel ridges, dotted here and there with thick groves of pine and cedar, fora distance of perhaps a mile from the point where we break from the Wilderness into the open country. Then there is a higher range of hills, well wooded. The Brock road runs past the south and east sides of Alsop's farm over Ny river, ® branch of the Mattacoey creek, to Spotsy! yania Court House. An old road rans from the bend of the Brock road directly to Spotsylvania through Alsop’s farm, It was upon this road that Warren formed bis corpe when he found himself confronted by the rebel infantry. Of tho the details of the fight, positions, &c., I | shail write nothing, as Messrs, Hendrick ani Bulkley bave already prepared elaborate accounts, which are seot herewith. THE REBEL MOVEMENTS. When the enemy found that we had loft the vicinity of Wilderness run, late on Saturday night, he.seeme to pave divined General Grant's tactics and eet about thwarting him, Ewell’s corps, with a part of Long- streot’s, were marched upon the doube quick by an inner road towards Spotesylvania Court Houge, reaching the xcene of action simultanouusly with Warren, aod it is tho seforees we baye been coptonding with to day. The Battle on Sunday. Mr. A. Ly Hendrick's Despatch, Neanguarters Firth Army Corrs, May 8, 1864. And the work Of war still goce on, This cerps has again been heavily engaged to-day, The clorest and severest contest of the day bas only just ended. Our columo marebed all night. It was the last to leave the jntrenchments where the battles of the Wilderness were fought: and, Gret io the fight there, was first also in the fight here, Taking the Brook road, by way of Todd's tavern, and moving feparate from trains, our march was unob- structed and rapid, It was not moown, of course, where wo would meet the enemy. A rumor prevailed that only Ewell's corps was staying behind, and that the rest of the rebel army was burrying, with all pos- sible speed, to resiet the advance of General Butler's forces on Richmond, The day’s events developed a different state of affaire, ‘There had been a cavalry fight in front of us, and a report came to General Warren that only cavalry and eome artillery had been seen, and prisoners gaid there was no infantry near us, The reealt showed thw state ment to be incorrect, Advancing from Todd's tavern, on the road to Spottay!vania Court House, four regiments of General Bartlett’s brigade, of General Grif- fin'g diymion—ine Fires Micbignn, Forty-fourth New | well can be, Our rauks are Khinne York, Rigbtythird Pennsyivania sod teenth Massacbusetis regiments—were seat ahead as skirmishers. As wo passat down the road shei's eburled at us with grent rapiang Gen Warren and staff were advancing do: General Warren bad bis borse disablea ay « pleco of sbell, Lieutenant Colonel Locke, siaas adjusant general, was bit in the cheek by @ iragment of « inficting @ severe but oot dangerous wound, Tue ral and staff, however, marched on, regardless of tae dangerous missiles falling about them furiously and Cast. Several casualties occurred amoog the troops by the shelling. AB we advanced the enemy fell back, making only Slight resistance. Rexcaing what is called Allsop’s Farm, we came into a clearing of about a hundred acres, And triangular in form, The rebel artillery had beea sta. tioned in this clearing, To the rear of the clearing is Ny Run, a small stream, affording no obstacle to the advance 0° troops. The woods area mixture of pine, cedar and oak, but not so dense as the sceue of our late battles, The wooded ground rises beyond the Run and is ridgy At the opening into the clearing the road forks, both leading to Spotsylvania Court House, some three miles distant (rom this point, The battle line as formed comprised Goneral Griffin's division, on the right, and Generat Robinson’s, on the left. The enemy's artillery was now located in a small clearing on the ridge fronting us. Captain Martins, Com. pany C, Third Massachusetts Battory, and Lieutenant Rittenhouse, Company D, Fifth United States artillery, were stationed on the right fork of tbe road and com- manding the rebel batteries, They sent back counter shells. The line of battle advanced through the clearing. Hav. ing driven the enemy up to this point two miies into the woods fronting us, our forces pushed them; and now began the serious opening of the day’s work, Our troops ran on to three Mnes of the enemy, tho last bebind earthworks, Two corps of the enemy—Ewell’s and Longstreet's—as was afterwards as- certained, were here awaiting us. The fight{was terrible. The remaining divisions of the corps—General Crawford’s and General Wadsworth’s, the latter now commanded by Genera! Cutler—were burried forward rapidly. The fight became general aud lasted four hours, Our troops bebaved magnificently, keeping at bay more than treble their number, It will bo understood that the rematuing corps of the army, which had taken the road by way of Chaouellors- ville for this point, were atill behind. It would not do to be driven back, and our men fought with a desperation, showing not only their usual firm courage, but fullest ap Preciation of the position of affairs and the importance of holding their ground, ‘This opening fight commenced about eight A. M. In the afternoon there was a succession of other battles., the Fifth atil! being engaged. Just be- fore night one brigade of the Sixth corps went to tho assistance of the corps, and, with this ex- ception, the Fifth did all the day’s fighting. The closing struggle of the day was, if anything, more desperate than the one of the morning. The florcost effort was made by the @ ay to drive us back and get on our flanks; but the coolness and oourago of our men repelled every effort, We have beaten the enemy; be; {t bas been a most costly victory. Our losses aro #6, down as thirteen huodred—kilied, missing and wounded, To-night our division is commanded by a colonel. Brigades bave lost their commanders, and I know of one regiment—the Fourth Michigao—that is cemmanded by @ fira\ lieu ‘tenant, General Robinson, early in the engagement of his divi- sion, was shot through the knee. The bone is thought to be shatterred, and that the limb will have to be ampu- tated. Colonel Coulter now commands the division. Colonel Dennison, commanding the Third brigade of the Fourth division, is wounded in the arm. Captaim Martin is slightly wounded inthe neck. His battery lost two killed and seven wounded, Among the killed is Colonel Ryan, One Hundred and Fortieth New York. Be was formerly Assistant Adju- tant General of General Sykes, was @ graduate of West Point and @ young aod most promising officer. Major Stark, of his regiment, was also kilied. But I cannot particularize the killed and wounded at the time of sending this despatch, which I have to close abruptly, to avail myself of @ possible prospect of get- ting it through. Several regiments have suffered terribly. The First Michigan, which went in with nearly two hundred men, came out at the end of the closing fight with only twenty- ‘three men left. The Thirty-second Massachusetts regi- ment, Colonel Prescott, captured the Sixth Alabama ibe same road regimental flag: At half-past five P. M. doth Lieutenant General Grant and General Meade visited the scene of action. They rode directly to the front. Not only did the troops not engaged cheer them lustily, but the men in battle, knowing their presence, fought with more determined desperation. In my next despatch I shall labor to send a complete list of the day’s casualties. Meantime the best possible attention is being given to the wounded by Dr. Milhau, Chief surgeon of the corps, and his assistants, Captain Denn, chief ambulance officer, has brought all our wounded from the field. ‘The weather bas been intensely hot, and there have been during the day many sun strokes of our exhausted soldiers, The Situation on Monday. Moxnay, May 9, 1864. We have now been out six days, and have been fighting continuously, Wo have succeeded in penetrating some fifteen miles into the rebel territory, and have Atty miles further to go to get to Richmond. We bave eaten and used up a very large proportion of the supplies which we took with us, If the rebels give us as much trouble on tbe rest of the route as they have thus far our chances for sucess are slim indeed. Our losses have been terrible, I hardly dare.to givo my own opinion as to the numbers; but I think Iam within bounds when I give the estimates of those who are supposed to know, as follows:—Killed, three thou- sand; wounded, eighteen thousand; missing, 6ix thou- sind. Total, tweuty seven thousand. The Fighting on Tuesday. Vur Army Correspondence. Anmy ov THR Potomac, May 10, 1864, THE DRATH OF GENERAL SEDGWICK. Major General Jobn Sedgwick, commanding the Sixth corps, was killed yesterday morning while standing with Colonel MeMabon and Major Wither, of bis staff, inside of a outer line of works two mfes from Spotsylvania Court House, He was killed, not in action, but by a abarpehooter, The baliet entered bis head about an inch below tho left eye, and passed out just back of the right ear, He died instantly. His death has cast a gloom over the entire army. No General m the service was more re spected and beloved, RAL WM. H. MORRIS WOUNDED. . H, Morris, commanding the Firet brigade, Third division, of the Sixth corps, was wounded yesterday, but not dangerously, by Minnie shot through the thigh. REMAINS SENT TO WABIINGTON, ‘The bodies of Generals Sedgwick and Hays are being taken to Washington to-day THE FIGHTING TO-DAY, ‘There was bot very littie fighting to-day, except skir misbing, until very late, and I have not learned what was the result. OUR LoseEs, Our lorace in general officers during the five days’ fght- ing are — Killed—Major General John Sedgwick, Brigadier Geo- oral James §. Wadsworth, and Brigadier General Alex- ander Haye. Wounded—Brigadior Generals G. W. wvetty, W. B. Morris, H Baxter and Rovinsoo. Prisoners—Gooerals Shaler aod Seymour. COLONEL CHAPMAN'S REMAIN, The body of Lieutenant Colonel A. B. Chapman, oem. wanding the Fifty-seventh regiment New York Voluo- teors, who was kuled on Thursday, has been sent home.g Hkanguanters, Atty of THE Potomac, Moy 10, 1864, } Six days of continucus marching and fighting has found us exhausted almost to the last extremity; but we are in as «good «epirite =e tired = and = aleepy = men but what are left we were anxious to cominence them ; and notw ithe! the hardsbips we have endured, and the grief we are ex- periencing for the loss of our brave comrades io army, we are willing to suffer still more for the country 4 our birth and adoption. Yesterday we bad a respRe from the fearful ordes! of conflict, Marly in the day we bad orders to hold the prs) tions we bad taken, but nob to fight unless we were at- tacked. Occasionally, however, @ report from a musket would be beard, and then the hellish whistie of & Minnie ball above our beads; but there was none of that continu- ous rattle of small arms, or the booming of artillery, al- ready so common place, and our weary troope rested from their labore upon the ground which their valor had won. We have gradually pushed the enemy toward Rich- mond, and have penetrated to the Ny river, which is about two miles to the northward of Spotsylvania Court House, The enemy are in force upon our front, Ewell holding the town and heights tuis side of the Court House. It has been a contest of generalship thus far between Grant and Lee, and time and combinations can ovly deter | mine which ig the greatest. This morning a beavy can. onading bas begun; but I cannot wait for the result, as I learn that the Heraxv’s correspondents and wessengers have failed to get through, and now I shall carry this to Wasbingten or Richmond, Frenrricksncra, May 10—Noon. The cannonading has been incessant all the foreucon. Nota moment of lull has existed since sunrise, and I should not be eurprised if Lee was making towards tho line of the Richmond and Fredericksburg Railroad, ar the reports of the artillery seem to be further and further hourly to the eastward. THE WASHINGTON TELEGRAMS. The First Despatch. Wasiincton, May 10, 1864. A measonger got in last night from the army, who left Spottsylvania yesterday at twelve o’c!cok, and came on horseback to Aquia creek, and thence came up oo @ gunboat, At twelve o’clook yeaterday a heavy fight was going on At Spottaylvania Court House, We held the place at that hour, and Lee gave evidence of being weakened and of failing back. The messenger had an escort of one hundred and Ofty " 3 yuerillas were frequently encountered Upon tic way, It is not imprebabie that many of tha escort were captured when returning to the army. Our wonnded are reported to be fifteen thousand, most of whom are at Fredericksburg, and so thiok that thoy are lying in the stroets and upon the pavemenis, A cavalry patrol ordered out could not do duty, as it was difficult to pass between the rows of woundea without trampling upon them. It ts said there are between two thousand and three thousand rebel wounded (left upon the field) there also. ‘The brigade in which were the Baxter Zouaves was cut up badly. The Second Despatch, Wasiincton, Muy 10, 1864. It is believed from the reports which bave reached hero to-night that there was no general engagement yesterday. But, as houvy firing was heard this morning at Aquia Creek, in the direction of Spotteylvania Court House, the contest must have been renewed. Our forces do not occupy the latter place, but aré within several miies of it. Large numbers of wounded are reaching Fredericks- burg, and many of the officers who are wounded are ex: pected to arrive in Washington to. morrow. Tne Third Despatoh. ‘}.sumwton, May 10, 1864, The Army of the Potomac has had @ portion of a day te Fecuperate. General Burnside on Thursday began the asack on the left with great fury, and with an encouraging degree of success, He hada fight the day before, in which, to use his own words, he “whipped Old Longstreet.’’ Our army could not be in a more cheerful condition. All the men are sanguine of success, and they count the days when they shall in triumph eater the rebel capital. Gen. Lee lately issued an ordor in relation to supplies, in which he said communication with Richmond was cul Off and i was impossible to furnish the men with sores, Gen. Hill's corps had no rations issued for three days. Genera) Lee enjoyned upon bis men the necessity of capturing pplies from the Yankees. Up to this moment they have failed to capture a single wagon. The roads are in excellent travelling order, but very dusty. All the battles thus far have been a series of attacks and repulses, Muskets were almost entirely used. The swampy vature of the ground reudered artillery imprac- ticable. Lee absolately claims a victory, when he withdraws from our front and marches towards Richmond, General Torbett's division of cavalry whipped the rebel cavairy near this place and drove them from Spotteylvania Court House, but, being reinforced with infantry, they drove our cavalry a short distance, The Maryland brigade, Fourth diviston, Sixth corps, com- ing to their support, the fighting was exceedingly flerce. General Torbett and General Robinson were both wound- ed, and are on their way to Washington. In Fredericksburg to-day there were over twelve thousand § of our onded, who have been crowding into the town since Sunday morning. When the first party of threo hundred maimed and bleeding soldiers came into the city, Mayor Slaughter and Mr. Mayer, a prominent citizen, rallied @ few guer- ilias avd marched them into the rebel lines as prisoners of war. Mayor Slaughter and his (riends are now in tho guardhouse of Fredericksburg. Pontoons bave been laid across the Rappahannock bo- low Fredericksburg, over which there will be communi-+ cation to Aquia Creek, where our transports lie, a dis- tance of about eight miles from Fredericksburg. Guerillag abound throughout the country in our rear, A roport gained credence on Tuesday morning tbat our cavairy had captured at Guroney’s Station a train of care which pad been sent from Richmond for the rebel wounded, and that they tore up the track there, ‘The bodies of Genorals Sedgwick, Wadsworth and Hays reached Washington to-night. A large pumber of wounded have arrived from Acquia Creek. THE WOUNDED. Wasninetox, May 10, 1864. Tn consequence of the capture of the reports of the Hxnatp correspondents on Saturday, and the full Jiste ot killed and wounded which had been compiled by the Henan corps of army correspondents, it is impossible to relieve the intense anxiety of those who have friends io the Union army to know of thoir safety or otherwise, But a few of the wounded have as yet arrived hore, and none of them are seriously injured. It will be impossibie, for two or three days yet, for the bulk of the wounded to be transported to this city. 5 ‘The Sanitary Commission sent down to Pelle Plain ano ther steamer loaded with hospital supplies and a largo number of nurses to relieve the suiterings of our wound. ed, The Commission wi!!! continue to send forward sup, plies and aesistance as they may be needed, and Money for the Woanded, Bostow, May 10, 1864. ‘Three physicians left Fitchburg, Mass,, yesterday, with $1,700 in money and & large quantity of supplics, com- tributed by the citizens for the wounded, Physic Hospital Stores for the Wounded. Wasunatox, May 10, 1864. ‘The United States Sanitary Commission sent this morn- ing to Aquia creek a steamboat which had been previously chartered and loaded with some seventy or eighty tons of hospital stores, also a barge loaded with wagoos aad horses for transporting these supplies to Fredericks burg OF elsewhere, With the steanboot and barge were sent sixty relief agents and purses, all carefully trained for the werk. By ‘ feecing stations’’ at various poin the Commission bope to meet the most urgent need. Narses for the Wounded. Tarwtow, N. J., May 10, 1864. Governor Parker has sent some persons to Fredericks. burg to act as curses to the wounded soldiare of thie CONTINUED ON RIGHTH PAGR