“The Wilderness, on the Brock road, 2nd Corps–May 11th 1864”
150 years ago a Richmond paper couldn’t give its readers as much war news as it would have liked because its some of it employees were called to military duty. However, people could rest assured: General Lee telegraphed that the Army of Northern Virginia was still holding off the biggest Union army.
From the Richmond Daily Dispatch May 12, 1864:
Thursday morning…May 12, 1864.
The movements on Richmond–Dispatch from Gen. Lee–the enemy reported to be falling back on the Southside — the cavalry raid.
The city was fall of excitement yesterday. As the local forces were out, and the printers were called “to the front,” we are unable to give a very full account of affairs as they transpired, but we think that all the important intelligence relative to the movement upon Richmond is given below:
From Gen. Lee–the enemy again repulsed.
The following gratifying intelligence from Gen. Lee was received at the War Department yesterday:
Spotsylvania C. H.,Via Guiney’s, May 11th.
The Honorable Secretary of War:
Gen. Grant’s army is entrenched near this place, on both sides of the Bro[c]k road. –Frequent skirmishing occurred yesterday and to-day, each army endeavoring to discover the position of the other. To-day the enemy shelled our lines and made several assaults with infantry against different points, particularly on our left, held by Gen. R. H Anderson. The last which occurred after sunset, was the most obstinate; some of the enemy leaping over the breastworks.–They were easily repulsed, except in front of Gen. Doles’s brigade, where they drove our men from their position, and from a four-gun battery there posted. The men were soon rallied, and by dark our line was re-established and the battery recovered.
Doles in the middle (as Jedediah Hotchkiss mapped Spotsylania)
A large body of the enemy moved around our left on the evening of the 9th, and took possession of the road about midway between Shady Grove Church and the Court-House. Gen. Early, with a part of Hill’s corps, drove them back this evening, taking one gun and a few prisoners.
Thanks to a merciful Providence, our casualties have been small.
Among the wounded are Brig. Gens. Hayes and H. H. Walker.
R. E. Lee.
The following private dispatch, from Mayor Slaughter, of Fredericksburg, was received yesterday. It refers to the repulse mentioned in Gen. Lee’s telegram:
Guiney’s, May11, 1864.
I came here to obtain information from Fredericksburg. I hear nothing but the statement that citizens have been arrested as hostages for prisoners we captured there on Sunday.
There was severe fighting yesterday near Spotsylvania C. H. The Yankees, drunk with liquor, attacked our entire entrenchments and were repulsed with terrible slaughter.
Musketry firing was heard to-day in the same direction. The news is generally favorable.
M. Slaughter.
Some anxiety was felt in the public mind as to the supplies for Gen. Lee’s army, which may be removed by the fact that all the railroad damage done by the raiders has been repaired, and Gen. Lee’s line of communication is intact.
