Army of Northern Virginia, near Hanover Junction, May 22, 1864
About dusk on Saturday evening a line of battle, consisting of
Scales's and
Law's
N. C., and
Davis's
Miss., brigades, moved forward from the entrenchments in front of Spotsylvania C. H., and, aided by a brisk artillery fire from our own guns, assaulted and carried the enemy's breastworks, then held by a single line of skirmishers from the Sixth army corps, capturing a few prisoners, but losing rather heavily in killed and wounded, inasmuch as the enemy were posted behind strong entrenchments and our line of advance lay through a tangled undergrowth.
This reconnaissance, for such it was, revealed the fact that the enemy's whole army was certainly in motion.
Gen. Lee had supposed as much earlier in the day, and during the morning
Ewell's corps left the front, moving in the direction of Chesterfield Station.
So soon as this reconnaissance was made, everything started rearwards — a general skedaddling among ambulances and wagons.
Just after dark the whole army "was in motion."
Wright's Ga. brigade occupied the post of honor, as rear guard.
All that bight the teams were moving rearwards.
The troops, however, had a short respite of rest, but were again on the march before daybreak.
All day to-day the troops have been pushing rapidly forward through the heat and dust with a will and spirit that speak their own commendation.
So exhausted and tired have the men become that whenever the halt for rest was called, which is done once in every hour, for ten minutes, on a march, they would fall down and sleep as soon as the rest was proclaimed.
The rest, however, over, and "Attention" called, they would spring up and trudge along, as if quite refreshed by their short naps.
Of course there was some straggling, from the forced character of our marches, but not a great many.
Rumors say
Grant has cut loose from
Fredericksburg, and will make
Tappahannock and
Port Royal his depots for supplies.
I cannot think that we are in immediate danger of a collision, for the reason that
Grant's men must be considerably exhausted and he himself will require a few days at least to recruit and get his men in fighting plight.
I will make no speculations as to the future, or what
Grant will do. My own opinion, however, is, that he is a desperately bold man, and will give the Army of Northern Virginia full work during the coming campaign.--That our final success is certain, I have an abiding faith. X.
