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[443] march of Warren to seize Spottsylvania Courthouse. But though that officer threw the utmost ardor into the execution of this purpose, it was, by causes now to be mentioned, first retarded and finally foiled.

The advance of Warren's corps was begun at nine P. M. of the 7th. Reaching Todd's Tavern, he was delayed for an hour and a half by the cavalry escort of General Meade blocking the way. On advancing two miles beyond that point, at about three A. M. of the 8th, he was again detained by the cavalry division of General Merritt, which had the day before, and up to a late hour of the night, been engaged in fighting and driving the cavalry of Stuart, who had been sent by Lee to hold the Brock road, and who still barred further advance.1 Merritt, after two or three hours of ineffectual effort, gave way to Warren, who advanced to clear his own path. It was by this time broad daylight. A couple of brigades of the advance division, under Robinson, were deployed in line of battle, while the remainder of the corps followed in column. Numerous barricades obstructed the road, and considerable loss occurred in removing these, several pioneers being killed and wounded while chopping. Finally, at eight A. M. of the 8th, the column emerged from the woods into a clearing, two miles north of Spottsylvania Courthouse.2 Beyond this are woods again, and then the ground rises into the Spottsylvania Ridge.

Forming in line, Robinson's division advanced over the plain. Thus far, only Stuart's dismounted troopers had been encountered, and no other opposition was anticipated; but when half-way across the field, and on the point of rising the

1 ‘At nine P. M., the army began to move towards Spottsylvania Courthouse, the Fifth Corps having the advance on the Brock road. We were delayed about an hour and a half by the cavalry escort of General Meade, and on reaching a point two miles beyond Todd's Tavern, were retarded about three hours by Merritt's cavalry endeavoring to clear the way for us. They gave it up about six A. M. (May 8th), and got out of our way.’—Warren: Notes on the Rapidan Campaign.

2 This clearing will be noted on the accompanying map as that marked ‘Alsop's’

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