time he had ordered, and steadily drove the enemy in confusion nearly two miles. The contest was desperate, the rebels fighting with reckless heroism, yet unable to resist the valor of our soldiers.

The attack on Sedgwick had proven only a feint, the real attack being made by Longstreet on Hancock, who held our left. All efforts to dislodge him proved ineffectual. Again and again were these columns flung upon our lines with terrific power, occasionally pressing back our men some distance. In seeking to stem the tide, the beloved General Wadsworth, of New York, was shot in the

heart. Amid fearful car

nage our men again ral

ROBERT E. LEE.

lied, forcing the enemy

back with heavy loss, taking up their former position. Night closed upon the bloody scene; neither party had gained a decided triumph; the Confederate leader had found a foe who had come out to fight, and one that would take no step backward. The Union commander was

at his headquarters, calm and determined. To a member of his staff he had remarked: "I notice that these Southerners fight desperately at first; yet, when we hang on for a day or two, we whip them awfully."

On Saturday morning there was some slight skirmishing, but neither party seemed willing to attack. It had not been Grant's intention to fight in the Wilderness. It

was Lee who had chosen this as a battlefield, and in leaving it he confessed that he had been defeated in his attempt to prevent the advance of the army under General Grant.

In the two days' terrible slaughter in the Wilderness, Grant had lost nearly 18,000 men. Among the National killed were Generals Wadsworth and Hays; and Generals Getty, Gregg, Owen, Bartlett and Webb, wounded. Lee had lost fully 12,000 men-Generals Jenkins and Jones killed, and Generals Longstreet (severely), Stafford (mortally), Pickett, Pegram and Hunter, wounded.

At noon it was reported to Grant that Lee was in full retreat toward Spottsylvania Court House, thirteen miles.

distant. Having sev

eral hours the start, and inside line of march, he was able to secure the high ground that surrounds the Court House before the Union forces could arrive, though the pursuit was immediate and by forced marches. Arriving on Sunday, the Confederates were

found strongly entrenched. The greater part of the day, and that of the next, was spent in bringing up the Union forces and assigning them to their proper places, and locating batteries. While employed on Monday in giving directions to some of his artillerymen, the Union General Sedgwick was shot dead by a rebel sharpshooter. His loss was an irreparable one to the army, and caused sincere mourning throughout the entire army, for he was beloved

by his soldiers. Headley, in his History, speaks of his death in these words:

"Words of eulogium, which would seem like flattery if spoken of other men, are inadequate to express his virtues. A thorough soldier, a skillful general, and one of the very best of men, he was at once respected and beloved by all who knew him. Simple in heart and manner; modest as a youth; very generous to all around him; never seeking his own aggrandizement to the detriment of others, but rather preferring theirs to his own; he was the modern example of Chaucer's 'very parfit, gentil knight.' Forever green be the turf above his quiet grave at Cornwall Hollow, watered by the tears of friendship, and cherished by the pious care of patriot pilgrims."

In these movements for position, the Confederates had been unceasing in their attacks upon the advance lines, and disputed every inch of ground.

By the morning of the 10th everything was in readiness for battle, and an attack on the enemy's line to carry his entrenchments was ordered, but failed. Assault upon assault followed. Late in the afternoon a successful and memorable charge was made by the Second Brigade of the Sixth Corps. Springing over the enemy's works, they captured upward of a thousand prisoners and several cannon, but were compelled to retire from their perilous position, owing to non-support on their left

In no previous battle of the war had there been such fearful carnage. Fully ten thousand men on each side had fallen, with no decisive results. Thus ended the first day's battle of Spottsylvania. At midnight Lee withdrew to his inner line of defense.

On the 11th the battle was renewed, and was but a repetition of that of the preceding day. Assaults and counter-assaults were made with unsurpassed heroism, and met by the most stubborn resistance. By a singular coincidence,