1864. |
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from the battle-field of The Wilderness apprised Lee of the fact that the army was. about to move,1 but whither he knew not. It might be to Spottsylvania, or it might be back to Fredericksburg.
So he ordered Anderson to take his corps from the breastworks and encamp that night in a position to move on Spottsylvania in the morning.
Finding no suitable place for bivouacking, on account of the burning woods, Anderson marched that night, simultaneously with Warren, each ignorant of the other's movement.
The former arrived in time to throw the head of his column across the latter's path, to confront him with cannon and intrenchments, and to foil his attempt to seize Spottsylvania Court-House.
Such were the events which produced the situation we have just considered.
Warren did not feel strong enough to encounter the troops on his front, who were continually increasing in numbers and industriously intrenching on Spottsylvania Ridge, so he awaited the arrival of Sedgwick.
He reached the front in the afternoon, and took command of the field in the absence of Meade, who, with all of Hancock's corps but Gibbon's division, had remained at Todd's Tavern, in anticipation of an attack by Lee on the rear of the Army of the Potomac.
Sedgwick felt strong enough with the two corps to attempt to drive the Confederates from their advantageous position, but it was, nearly sunset before his dispositions for attack were finished.
Then a fruitless, assault was made by a New Jersey brigade of Neill's division.
General Crawford again advanced, when he was unexpectedly struck upon his flank by a part of Ewell's corps that was coming up, and was driven a full mile, with a loss of about one hundred men made prisoners.
When night closed in, nearly the whole of Lee's army was in the vicinity of Spottsylvania Court-House, and holding the ridge in front of it, .with strong intrenchments, growing more formidable every hour.
During the day Wilson had penetrated to the village with his cavalry, but, being unsupported, was compelled to retire.
On the same day the brigade of General Miles was thrown out by Hancock on the Catharpin road, with a brigade of Gregg's cavalry and a, battery of artillery, to meet any hostile approach from that direction.
Near Corbyn's Bridge they were attacked, when the assailants were repulsed and driven.
On Sunday night, the 8th of May,
Lee stood squarely and firmly across the path of the southward march of the Army of the Potomac, and he held that army in check there for twelve days.
On the morning of the 9th, Meade's army was formed in battle order before the Confederate lines.
Hancock came up from Todd's Tavern at an early hour, and two divisions of Burnside's corps, on the left, pushed to the Fredericksburg road, driving the Confederates across the little River Ny. In the arrangement of the line, Hancock occupied the right, Warren the center, and Sedgwick the left, with Burnside on his left.
General Sheridan
1 Speaking of this event, a late writer (Professor Henry Coppee) observes: “Spies and traitors were all around our Headquarters. Our signals were discovered and. repeated; and with a rapidity which savored of magic and diabolic arts, no sooner had an order been issued by Grant than it was known at Lee's Headquarters. On the other hand, we had no such information. There were not in the rebel ranks, wicked as they were, men as vile as Northern traitors, who, while wearing the uniform of the Republic, living on its bounty, and sworn to protect its glorious banner, were in secret league with the enemy, and doing more to defeat Grant's plans than did the men who were arrayed in battle against him.” --Grant and his Campaigns, by Henry Coppee, page 302. It is well understood that emissaries of the Peace Faction, professing loyalty, were at this time in Government employment in the Department at Washington and in the armies in the field, secretly giving aid, in every possible way, to the enemies of the Republic
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