after heavy fighting in which the woods and CHAP. XIV. part of the breastworks took fire; the enemy gained no advantage anywhere, except for a moment at a point where some of Jenkins's men, eager to avenge their fallen general, rushing through the flames, seized a part of the burning works, from which, however, they were speedily driven by Colonel Carroll. The day closed with an attack by General John B. Gordon of Early's division upon the Union right, where the brigades of Generals Shaler and Seymour were thrown into some confusion, losing several hundred prisoners, the two generals being among the number. Exaggerated rumors of this mishap soon spread through the army and—it may be said-survived long afterwards. General Wright, however, immediately restored order, withdrawing his lines somewhat; and Early, seeing only the confusion of his own troops, was more anxious to secure himself than to pursue.1 It was not until the next morning that he discovered the ground he had gained. Grant, "Personal On the morning of the 7th a profound silence May, 1864. brooded over the desolate space between the two armies. Neither appeared in the humor to renew the struggle. Each had suffered frightfully. "More desperate fighting," says Grant, "has not been witnessed on this continent than that of the Memoirs," 5th and 6th of May." The National pickets and skirmishers were pushed forward all along the front; they found the enemy everywhere retired behind his trenches; a strong reconnaissance 1 "It was fortunate," he says, "that darkness came to close this affair, as the enemy, if he had been able to discover the disorder on our side, might have brought up fresh Vol. II., p. 204. Grant, "Personal CHAP. XIV. ordered by Meade about noon had no effect in bringing him out. An assault by the Union Army on the Confederate works was needless and inMay 7, 1864. judicious. At half-past six in the morning Grant drew up his orders for the march by the left flank to Spotsylvania. The reasons he gives for this movement are: 1. The apprehension that Lee might hastily retire upon Richmond and crush Butler, who, according to news received that day, had reached City Point. 2. The hope that by a swift movement he Memoirs." might get between Richmond and Lee, and thus secure a battle on more open ground. He was not without hope that Lee might attack again in the afternoon, but each side had apparently experience enough of the other's intrenchments, and the afternoon wore away in quiet. The only serious fighting this day was at Todd's Tavern, where Sheridan attacked the entire cavalry force of Stuart and inflicted upon him a severe defeat, driving him a long distance on the Spotsylvania and Catharpin roads. Vol. II., p. 211. The trains were set in motion about three o'clock, and the army began its flank movement soon after dark. But General Lee had observed the movement of the trains in the afternoon, and not being certain whether Grant was moving to the left or falling back to Fredericksburg he ordered Longstreet's corps, now under command of R. H. Anderson, to march to Spotsylvania in the morning to operate on the right flank of his enemy. Anderson transcended his orders, with a success due partly to accident and partly to his excess of zeal. Finding the woods in his route on fire, and no suitable place to bivouac, he pushed to Spotsylvania during the night; and thus it came about Lee Ms., Con- federate that Warren's corps arriving, in the neighborhood CHAP. XIV. of the Court House the next morning after a laborious march which had been delayed as much by the difficulties of the road as by the Confederate cavalry, found themselves confronted by Longstreet's veteran corps in position. Both generals were grievously disappointed; for Grant had hoped to pass beyond Spotsylvania in his night march; and Lee, who on the evening before had seen nothing to convince him that Grant was retiring,1 had changed his mind completely on the morning of the 8th, and telegraphed exultantly to Richmond, "The enemy has abandoned his position and is moving towards Fredericksburg. This army is in motion on his right flank, and our advance is now at Spotsylvania Court House." His delusion was further shown by his ordering Early to pursue by the Brock road, which he imagined entirely clear- a route which Early at once found impossible, and which, he says, would have led him through Grant's entire army. Yet so strange are the chances of war-this flagrant error inured to Lee's advantage. He had succeeded, favored by his own mistake and a fortunate disobedience of orders in his lieutenant, in placing himself squarely across the path of the Army of the Potomac. The sanguinary work of the Wilderness was all to be done over again. Lee's position at Spotsylvania was even stronger than his former one; the country was more undulating, there were more accidents of terrain to be taken advantage of; and he but rather that appearances would indicate an intention to move towards Spotsylvania Court House." 1 Taylor to Stuart, May 7: "The general thinks there is nothing to indicate an intention (on the part of the enemy) to retire, VOL. VIII.- 24 "Early's Memoir of Year of the the Last War," p. 23. 1864. |