102 



AEMY OPERATIONS. 



Some reconnoitring movements were made, and 

 the enemy, apprehending an attack on their left, 

 moved artillery from their right to left, tow- 

 ard the point threatened. During the after- 

 noon rain fell for the first time since the army 

 moved. It was determined during the day to 

 make an assault early the next morning on 

 the enemy's left, where their batteries were so 

 strongly posted as to annoy Gen. Grant's lines. 

 The 2d corps was selected to make this move- 

 ment. Soon after midnight, in the darkness 

 and storm, Gen. Hancock changed the position 

 of his corps from the extreme right to the 

 left, filling up the space between Gens. Wright 

 and Burnside. It was then near ground well 

 commanded by the enemy, and requiring a 

 quick advance in the morning. 



On Thursday the 12th, at the dawn of day, 

 veiled by the twilight and by a dense fog, the 

 2d corps moved up to the enemy's lines. Gen. 

 Barlow's 1st division and Gen. Birney's 3d 

 division formed the first line; Gen. Gibbon's 

 2d division and Gen. Mott's 4th formed the 

 second line. The advance of Gen. Barlow 

 marched in column of battalions doubled on 

 the centre. As the corps moved over the 

 rugged and woody space intervening the ex- 

 citement increased, until it broke out in a rush 

 at the hostile intrenchments. These the corps 

 leaped, with loud cheers, and dashed among the 

 astonished enemy, compelling their surrender 

 in mass. An entire division was surrounded, 

 and officers and men captured. Three thousand 

 prisoners and two generals Maj.-Gen. Edward 

 JcLnson and Brig.-Gen. G. H. Stewart were 

 taken. So complete was the surprise that the 

 hostile officers were taken at their breakfast, 

 and within an hour after the start of the corps 

 Gen. Hancock reported as follows: "I have 

 captured from thirty to forty guns. I have 

 finished up Johnson, and am now going into 

 Early." The second line of rifle-pits was im- 

 mediately stormed, and after a stubborn resist- 

 ance wrested from the enemy. A heavy can- 

 nonade then commenced all along the line, to 

 which the enemy replied with the utmost spirit. 

 The whole line now pressed up to support the 

 2d corps. The 9th corps rushed in on the ex- 

 treme left, converging toward the penetrated 

 space, and joined its right to the left of the 2d 

 corps. The 6th corps advanced against Gen. 

 Swell's left, and on the extreme right Gen. 

 "Warren's corps became hotly engaged. About 

 9 o'clock the enemy began to charge desper- 

 ately upon the 2d and 9th corps, to recover the 

 lost works. For three hours a bloody fight 

 continued. At noon, however, they abandoned 

 for a time the attempt to retake the position 

 so obstinately held. But the further advance 

 of Gen. Hancock had been successfully checked. 

 Most of the captured cannon were covered by 

 the guns of the sharpshooters, and neither party 

 were able to bring them off. Meantime the right 

 and centre had charged the enemy's position 

 with great intrepidity, but without success, his 

 position being found impregnable. Every ave- 



nue of approach was swept by a most destruc- 

 tive fire of artillery, and his force was strong 

 enough to hold the position against twice the 

 attacking numbers. 



Gen. Meade now sought to turn the enemy's 

 right ; and after a temporary lull in the after- 

 noon, began to crowd his troops down toward 

 the left, still keeping up his artillery and in- 

 fantry fire. The rain began to fall at noon, but 

 the carnage went on until night. The enemy 

 finding that the Federal right had been merely 

 holding him in front from reinforcing his right, 

 and had now abandoned his front, also con- 

 centrated on his right. Every inch of ground 

 was fought over with desperation. The dead 

 and wounded lay thickly strewn along the 

 ground, and heaped up where the fight was 

 hottest. After fourteen hours, night fell on 

 one of the severest contests of the war. The 

 movement of Gen. Hancock in the morning 

 was the first decided success of the campaign, 

 having secured an advance of a mile in the line 

 at that point. About three thousand prisoners 

 were reported to be captured. The loss in 

 killed and wounded was estimated at ten thou- 

 sand, and that of the enemy was supposed to 

 be equally severe. The artillery which had 

 been captured remained on disputed ground, 

 and was subsequently withdrawn by the enemy. 



On Friday the 13th it was soon apparent that 

 the enemy had withdrawn his main force on the 

 left, by falling back to a new defensive position. 

 The storm increased, and rendered the roads 

 very heavy. Skirmishing and artillery firing 

 were kept up by small bodies of the troops 

 during the day. At noon Gen. Meade issued 

 the following address to his army : 



HEADQTJABTERS AEMY OP THE POTOMAC, | 

 May 13, 1864 J 



SOLDIERS! The moment has arrived when your 

 commanding officer feels authorized to address you 

 in terms of congratulation. 



For eight days and nights, without almost any in- 

 termission, through rain and sunshine you have been 

 fighting a desperate foe in positions naturally strong, 

 and rendered doubly so by intrenchments. 



You have compelled him to abandon his fortifica- 

 tions on the Rapidan, to retire and to attempt to 

 stop your progress, and now he has abandoned the 

 last intrenched position, so tenaciously held, suffering 

 in all a loss of eighteen guns, twenty-two colors, eight 

 thousand prisoners, including two general officers. 



Youf heroic deeds, noble endurance of fatigue and 

 privation, will ever be memorable. Let us return 

 thanks to God for the mercy thus shown us, and ask 

 earnestly for its continuance. 



Soldiers ! Your work is not over. The enemy must 

 be pursued, and, if possible, overcome. The courage 

 and fortitude you have displayed render your Com- 

 manding General confident that your future efforts 

 will result in success. 



While we mourn the loss of many gallant comrades, 

 let us remember that the enemy must have suffered 

 equal if not greater losses. 



We shall soon receive reinforcements which he 

 cannot expect. Let us determine, then, to continue 

 vigorously the work so well begun, and, under God's 

 blessing, in a short time the object of our labors will 

 be accomplished. 



(Signed) GEORGE G. MEADE, 



Major-Gen. Commanding. 



Official : S. WILLIAMS. 



