[from our Own Correspondent.]
Battle Field, Near Spotsylvania C. H.,
May 16, 1864.
Since Thursday last there has been no general engagement.
On Saturday night the enemy withdrew from the front on our left, and moved their troops over to the Telegraph road, seizing the Massaponax, and massing a considerable force on our front.
During the day yesterday Gen Anderson swung his forces around on our right, (the enemy's left,) and found the enemy "clean gone."--This required new dispositions on our part, which were accordingly made.
In making this advance for the purpose of reconnaissance Gen. A.'s forces recaptured thirteen caissons and twenty-one gun carriages.
These were the caissons and the gun carriages which were taken from Johnson's division on Thursday last.
The enemy, it is supposed, hauled the guns away in wagons, and left the caisson and carriages for want of horses to take them off.
To-day I rode over the battle-field in front of Fields's front and found a large number of dead Yankees scattered everywhere about over the field.
As usual, their clothing had been stripped from them, and they lay with their swollen forms stretched at full length upon that soil which they had come to desecrate and desolate, and with their faces upturned towards that Heaven whose religion they have mocked and whose God they have defied.
Their punishment was swift and sure.
Would to God that their misguided companions in arms may be profited by the sad scene through which they are called to pass.
Yesterday Gen Lee issued the following general orders to his troops, which in the absence of newspapers for a week past, was well received, for the news it contained no less than for the words of cheer spoken by their beloved commander-in-chief:
May 16, 1864.
"Headq'rs army Northern Va.,
May 14th, 1864.
- "I. The General commanding takes great pleasure in announcing to the army the series of successes that by the favor of God have been achieved by our armies.
- "II. A part of the enemy's forces threatening the Valley of Virginia has been routed by Gen Imboden and driven back to the Potomac, with the loss of their train and a number of prisoners.
- "III. Another body of the enemy, under General Averill, penetrated to the Va. and Tenn railroad at Dublin Depot. A portion of this force has been dispersed by Gens Morgan and W E Jones, who are in pursuit of the remainder.
- "IV. The army of Gen Banks has sustained a severe defeat in Western Louisiana by the forces of Gen Kirby Smith, and returned to Alexandria, losing several thousand prisoners, thirty-five pieces of artillery, and a large number of wagons, whilst some of the most formidable gunboats that accom- panied the expedition were destroyed to save them from capture.
- "V. The expedition of Gen. Steele into Western Arkansas has ended in a complete disaster. Northern journals, of the 10th inst, announce his surrender, with an army of nine thousand men, to Gen. Price.
- "VI.
The cavalry force sent by Gen. Grant to attack Richmond has been repulsed, and retired towards the Peninsula.
"Every demonstration of the enemy South of James river, up to this time, has been repulsed. - "VII. The heroic valor of this army, with the blessing of Almighty God, has thus far checked the advance of the principal army of the enemy and inflicted upon it heavy loss. The eyes and hearts of your countrymen are turned to you with confidence, and their prayers attend you in your gallant struggle.
"General Orders-no. 41.
(Signed,) R. E Lee General.
We also captured the enemy's hospitals at Yellow Chapel Church, on Sunday, near the plank road, containing some seven or eight hundred of their wounded, and some six or seven of our wounded who had neither food nor drink for four days. This is well avouched. Nothing was done to day until about 4 o'clock, when there was some cannonading lasting for an hour, and just before sunset there was cavalry fighting near Smith's Mid on the Telegraph road, lasting for about an hour. Grant's new move indicates, in my judgment, no purpose to fall back, but rather to get nearer the railroad, in order to have less wagon transportation. As usual on the line of their march houses have been burnt. property stolen, good people turned out houseless and homeless; but this has not been all in vain, the avenging Nemesis slept not, but arising in full strength has dealt the enemy a blow, from which the universal Yankee nation will never recover. There has been unusual activity in every department during this campaign, and it affords me real pleasure to say that the Quartermaster, Commissary and Medical Departments have done all that could be done to promote the efficiency of the army and take care of the unfortunate wounded. On the Sunday evening after the Wilderness fights, Grant supposing Fredericksburg to be really in his possession, though not garrisoned by his troops, directed his wounded to go thither, or as many as could walk. About two hundred had gotten there, when Mayor Slaughter organized a force of boys and old men and brought them out to our lines. It is needless to say that Mayor S is now placarded as a "noted guerilla," and a price set upon him. All the accounts received from the Yankee lines confirm the estimate of the Yankee loss at 50,000, and it is not improbable that it will reach 60,000. Fifteen thousand is the estimate of our entire loss. Of this number one third will be able to report for duty in thirty days. The greatest drawback to us is the fact that the roads are deep in mud, and this acts as no small annoyance. This is the fifteenth day our men have been marching, fighting, and lying in line of battle, but their spirits have never flagged, and they are as resolute and hopeful as when they first met the enemy.
X.
