WILDERNESS CAMPAIGN. 



777 



and began a march along the Brock road, towards j 

 Spottsylvania Court-House, 13 miles distant. Han- 

 cock was to follow him, and Sedgwick and Burnside to 

 march by way of Chancellorsville. The hope was en- 

 tertained that the point in question could be reached 

 before Lee became aware of the movement. Warren, 

 however, met with obstructions, first from Union cav- 

 alry which occupied the road, and afterward from barri- 

 cades of heavy trees which had been felled across it. 

 Hours were lost in consequence, and it was 8 A. M. be- 

 fore the head of the column reached a point 2 or. 3 

 miles from the Court-House. No opposition had been 

 met except from dismounted cavalry, but at this point 

 an unexpected and severe check was received, in a 

 murderous fire of musketry which hurled the leading 

 brigades backward, until met by Warren, who rallied 

 and reformed them. Griffin's division was similarly 

 received, and Warren's corps, as its divisions succes- 

 sively came up. formed into line of battle, and at once 

 began to intrench. 



This check was due to the head of Longstreet's col- j 

 umn. then commanded by Gen. Anderson, which was ' 

 already on the ground. The attempt to surprise Jxie 

 by a flank movement had. in fact, failed. He had been I 

 apprised by Gen. Stuart that the Federal wagon trains | 

 were moving south ward. At once conceiving of Grant's 

 design, though ignorant of the threatened point, he or- 

 dered Anderson to move from the breastworks, ami en- 

 camp at a point where he would be in position for a 

 march on Spottsylvania in the morning. The burning 

 woods, however, rendered bivouacking impracticable, 

 and Anderson marched on through the night, so that 

 it was rather by accident than design that he readied 

 Spottsylvania in the early morning, in time to throw 

 the head of his column across Warren's line of march. | 

 Mingled accident and design had foiled the attempt to 

 flank Lee's army. 



The remainder of the day was consumed in the 

 march of the two armies, and night found them both 

 in place, Lee's veterans planted directly across the south- 

 ward course of the Army of the Potomac. There had 

 been several collisions diirinj: the day, but no events of 

 importance. Anderson bad occupied a range of hills 

 about a mile north and mirth-east oT the Court-House, 

 where he hastily intrenched, the remaining corps of the 

 army, as they came up, falling into line with him and 

 throwing up defensive works. This process continued 

 during the 9th, the Union forces similarly intrenching, 

 so that by nightfall each army was covered by a contin- 

 uous line of formidable breastworks. 



Grant had decided to attack on the 10th. On the 

 preceding evening Hancock had crossed with three of 

 his divisions the Po lliver, a small affluent of the 

 Mattapony. Two of these divisions were ordered to 

 be recalled to take part in the designed attack. The 

 third, Barlow's, soon found itself in a perilous position. 

 While it was repelling a sharp attack, the woods l>o- 

 tween it and the river burst into flames, and it became 

 necessary to fight the Confederates and the fire at the 

 same time. The stream was recrossed, but not with- 

 out heavy loss,the assailants also losing heavily. During 

 the day two assaults were made on Lee's lines, one at 

 10 A. M., the other at 3 P. M. The point assailed was 

 a thickly wooded eminence known as Laurel Hill, which 

 was crowned with earthworks. Both attacks were re- 

 pul.icd with heavy loss to the assailants. At 5 o'clock 

 tin' main assault began. The Second corps had now 

 joined the Fifth, and Hancock and Warren led their 

 ijien against the position which had already been twice 

 attacked. A desperate struggle ensued. The Union 

 lines advanced with great intrepidity, and penetrated 

 the breastworks at one or two points. But they were 

 met with a storm of shot and shell that flesh and blood 

 could riot withstand, and were driven back with fear- 

 ful slaughter. An hour later they marched to the as- 

 sault acain, and were again repulsed with heavy loss. 

 The attempt was attended with far more serious con- 

 sequences to the Union than to the Confederate troops. 

 VOL. IV. 2 x 



Nearly COOO of the former had fallen, while the latter 

 had lost not more than 600. The losses of the whole 

 day's dreadful work, however, were more evenly dis- 

 tributed. It is stated that the total losses by death, 

 wounds, and captivity were 9000 Union and 8000 Con- 

 federate troops. 



Thus ended the first day of the battle of Spottsyl- 

 vania Court-House. Great as were the difficulties he 

 had met and the losses he had sustained the determin- 

 ation of Gen. Grant was not weakened. On the 

 morning of the llth he sent to the secretary of war a 

 despatch whose closing words have become historical : 

 " I propose to fight it out on this line, if it takes all 

 summer." 



The 1 1 th passed in preparations for another battle. 

 Grant had determined to attack Lee's line at its right 

 centre, which seemed a vulnerable point. We are told 

 l>y Southern historians that Lee nad weakened this 

 point by the withdrawal of artillery, having reason to 

 believe that Grant was contemplating another flanking 

 march, and that a deserter had conveyed information, 

 of this fact across the lines. Hancock's corps was des- 

 ignated for the assault, and moved into the requisite 

 position during the night. In the early morning, under 

 cover of a dense fog, the attacking column swiftly and 

 sHently advanced towards the weakened salient, held 

 by Johnson's division of Ewell's corps. The Confed- 

 erates first knew of their danger by a sudden outburst 

 of cheers, as Barlow's and Birney's brigades dashed 

 upon and across the works, breaking down all opposi- 

 tion, and capturing Johnson and almost his entire divis- 

 ion while unsuspectingly at breakfast. In addition 

 two brigades under Gen. Stewart were taken, with 

 nearly 30 guns and many colors. More than 3000 

 prisoners were captured. Lee's army was cut in two, 

 and the most desperate efforts were necessary to avert 

 irretrievable disaster. 



One of the most terrible conflicts of the war ensued. 

 Lee hurried up troops from both directions, while the 

 flying Confederates, who had been pursued through 

 the woods for about a mile, rallied behind a second line 

 of breastworks and turned on their pursuers. The re- 

 inforcements from Hill's and Longstreet's corps drove 

 back Hancock's men to the position they had captured, 

 and heavy masses of troops pouring upon them con- 

 fined them within the triangular area of the salient. 

 On the other hand the Sixth corps was sent to the as- 

 M.-tancc of Hancock, while Warren and Burnside at- 

 tacked the Confederate lines along their whole front. 

 These lines, however, were so strong that, despite the 

 attack, their defenders could spare men for the central 

 struggle. Here the fight was furious and sanguinary. 

 Lee was determined to retake the lost portion of his 

 works, and hurled all the force he could gather on Han- 

 cock. The battle was hand-to-hand ; both parties at 

 times planted their flags on the breastworks within a 

 few feet of each other. The carnage on both sides was 

 dreadful, but despite Lee's persistence all his efforts 

 were in vain. He continued to fight till after night had 

 fallen, when he withdrew his shattered columns, leav- 

 ing Hancock in possession of the works he had cap- 

 tured. 



Thus ended the battle of Spottsylvania Court-Hpuse, 

 one of the most desperately contested and sanguinary 

 of the war. The losses during the campaign, from the 

 crossing of the Kapidan to the close of the battle just 

 described, were, according to the official report. 29,410 

 men killed, wounded, and missing. The Confederate 

 loss is not known. It was less severe than the Union, 

 in consequence of their defensive attitude and the 

 strength of their intrenchments, but was severe, and 

 probably greater in proportion to the disparity of forces 

 than the Union loss. Lee could not as well as Grant 

 afford to have his army depleted. On the morning of 

 the 13th he withdrew his troops behind an inner and 

 shorter line of intrenchments. His position seemed as 

 strong as ever, and Grant hesitated to attack, confront- 

 ing the enemy till the 18th, on which day an unsuccess- 



