At sunrise on the 8th, the Fifth Corps was at Todd's Tavern, four miles
from Spottsylvania, where Gregg had just defeated Fitz Hugh Lee, in a
hard-fought contest on Saturday. The Sixth and Second Corps arrived
during the day. The Ninth moved with the teams through Chancellorsville
farther to the east.
The natural defences of Spottsylvania are two small streams,--the Po and
the Ny, affluents of the Mattapony. The advance of the Fifth Corps was
checked, three miles west of the Court-House, by Longstreet's and
Ewell's corps, which had left Wilderness on the night of the 6th. The
Sixth came up at five o'clock and joined in the conflict, driving the
enemy from the position he had taken on the north bank of the Ny.
On Monday morning, the 9th, it was apparent that Lee, having failed on
Grant's flank, had now placed himself squarely in front, with his entire
army.
One of the great battles of the campaign was fought on Tuesday, the
corps occupying positions as in the diagram:--
[Illustration:
A. Catharpen Road.
B. Brock Road.
C. Pine-Grove Road.
D. Fredericksburg Road.
E. Bowling-Green Road.
F. Richmond Road.
_L_. Longstreet.
_E_. Ewell.
_H_. Hill.
2, 5, 6, 9. Corps positions, 9th May.
............ Position of Grant, 17th May.]
The line of battle was formed with the Second Corps on the right, the
Fifth on the right-centre, the Sixth on the left-centre, with the Ninth
nine miles distant, approaching by the Fredericksburg road. There was a
severe engagement in the afternoon, brought on by the advance of the
Second Corps, which pushed across an affluent of the Po, west of the
Court-House. On the left, the Rebels made an attack upon Wilcox's
division of the Ninth, but were repulsed.
The battle was fought in the forest,--in the marshes along the Ny,--in
ravines,--in pine-thickets, densely shaded with the dark evergreens that
shut out the rays of the noonday sun,--in open fields, where Rebel
batteries had full sweep and play with shell and grape and canister from
intrenched positions on the hills.
It began in the morning. There was an hour of calm at noon, but at one
o'clock artillery and infantry became engaged all along the line. Grant
was the attacking party. There was no cessation or diminution of effort
during the afternoon. The Rebel outer line of works in the centre was
carried by Upton's brigade of the first division, and Russell's brigade
of the third division of the Sixth Corps. The men of these brigades,
(and among them were the stalwart sons of Vermont,) without firing a
shot, moved steadily to the charge with fixed bayonets; they were cut
through by solid shot, their ranks torn by shells, thinned by constant
volleys of musketry, but, with matchless ardor and unconquerable will,
they went up to the line of earthworks, leaped over them, and gathered a
thousand prisoners; they held the ground, but their valor had carried
them so far beyond their supports that it was deemed prudent to withdraw
them.
There was some fighting on the 11th. General Lee sent in a flag of truce
for a cessation of hostilities to bury the dead; but the request was not
acceded to by General Grant.
The early dawn of Thursday, the 12th, beholds the Second Corps in
motion,--not to flank the enemy, but moving, with fixed bayonets,
straight on towards his intrenchments. Barlow's and Birney's divisions
in columns of battalions, doubled on the centre, to give strength and
firmness, lead in the assault. They move silently through the
forest,--through the ravine in front of them,--up to their own
skirmish-line,--past it,--no longer marching, but running now, dashing
on with life and energy and enthusiasm thrilling every nerve. They sweep
away the Rebel picket-line as if it were a cobweb. On,--into the
intrenchments with a hurrah which startles the soldiers of both armies
from their morning slumbers. Major-General Johnson and Brigadier-General
Stewart and three thousand men of Ewell's division are taken prisoners,
eighteen cannon and twenty-two standards captured.
It is the work of five minutes,--as sudden as the swoop of an eagle. The
uproar of the day began. The second line of the enemy's works was
assaulted; but, exasperated by their losses, the Rebels fought with
great stubbornness. The Ninth Corps was moved up from the left to
support the Second. Longstreet, on the other hand, was brought over to
help Ewell. The Fifth and Sixth became partially engaged. There were
charges and counter-charges. Positions were gained and lost. From
morning till night the contest raged on the right, in the centre, and on
the left, swaying to and fro over the undulations and through the
ravines. It was a battle of fourteen hours' duration,--in severity, in
unflinching determination, in obstinacy and persistency, not exceeded by
any during the war. Between forty and fifty pieces of artillery were at
one time in the hands of General Hancock; but, owing to the difficulties
of removal, and the efforts of the enemy, he could secure only eighteen.
During the day, Grant advanced his lines a mile towards the Court-House,
and repulsed Lee in all his counter-attacks.
By this success Lee was compelled on Thursday night to withdraw his
troops from the line he had held so tenaciously, and concentrate them in
a smaller semi-circle. Lee had the advantage of Johnston. It was
Gettysburg reversed.
There was constant skirmishing and continuous artillery-firing through
the 13th, and a moving of the army from the north to the east of the
Court-House. A rain-storm set in. The roads became heavy, and a
contemplated movement--a sudden flank-attack--was necessarily abandoned.
There was a severe skirmish on the 14th, constant picket-firing on the
15th, and on the 16th another engagement all along the line,--not fought
with the fierceness of that of the 12th, but lasting through the
forenoon, and resulting in the taking of a line of rifle-pits from the
enemy.
On Wednesday, the 18th, there was an assault upon Lee's outer line of
works. Two lines of rifle-pits were carried; but an impassable abatis
prevented farther advance, and after a six hours' struggle the troops
were withdrawn.
On the afternoon of the 19th Ewell gained the rear of Grant's right
flank, came suddenly upon Tyler's division of heavy artillery, armed as
infantry, just arrived upon the field. Though surprised, they held the
enemy in check, forced him back, and with aid from the Second Corps
compelled him to retreat with great loss. This attack was made to cover
Lee's withdrawal to the North Anna. His troops were already on the
march.
Grant was swift to follow.