Virginia and Virginians eminent Virginians, executives of the colony of Virginia from Sir Thomas Smyth to Lord Dunmore. Executives of the state of Virginia, from Patrick Henry to Fitzhugh Lee. Sketches of Gens. Ambrose Powel Hill, Robert E. Lee, Thos. Jonathan Jackson, Commodore Maury |
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BATTLES OF SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE. |
 | Virginia and Virginians |  |
BATTLES OF SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE.
On the 7th, Grant moved slowly toward Spottsylvania Court House,
where his army arrived late that evening, and on the next day, the 8th,
was fought the first in this locally designated series of battles. The
first engagement took place between Longstreet's corps, commanded by
Anderson, and the Federal 5th corps, under Warren, who was supported
by cavalry. The Federals were repulsed with heavy loss.
On the 9th heavy skirmishing was kept up throughout the day, but
there was no general engagement. What may be regarded as the great
battle took place on Thursday, the 12th, and for long weary hours it
continued. It was a furious and dead-lock conflict. The ceaseless roar
of artillery and rattle of musketry continued from early dawn until the
darkness of night put an end to the contest. An intelligent writer, who
was upon the field and an eye-witness of the terribly sublime scene, says:
"It would not be impossible to match the results of any one day's battle
with stories from the wars of the old world; but never, we should
think, in the history of man, were five such battles as these compressed
into six days." The loss on either side was 10,000, and neither gained
any advantage.
On the 14th, Grant moved his lines by his left flank, taking a position
nearer the Richmond & Fredericksburg railroad; and here he once
more assaulted Ewell's line, but was easily repulsed. It was claimed
by the Federals that it was but an effort to turn Lee's left flank and not
intended as an attack. On the 19th and the 20th, the two armies moved
Milford Station and Bowling Green, with the Army of Northern Virginia
in his front toward Richmond. During the 23d and the 25th, he
made several futile assaults upon Lee's lines. He had now but one alternative,
and that was to move his army around from the North Anna,
and beyond the Pamunkey. This he did, and on the 27th his advance,
under Sheridan, occupied Hanovertown on the Pamunkey, 15 miles
north-east of Richmond, but here again the movement was intercepted
by Lee. Grant, now despairing of reaching Richmond from that point,
turned away to his right, and on the 1st day of June took up his position
near Cold Harbor. This was the nearest point to the Capital City
yet reached.
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