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CHANGE OF POSITION.

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from the rivers as he advanced, that he might be ready to cross every stream in his way. Every inch he gained was firmly held.

Lee, with all his generalship, in his own chosen positions and possessing a perfect knowledge of the country to which Grant was a stranger, was forced to retreat at every point.

The battle had begun at five o'clock on the morning of Friday. Grant soon perceived, with his practised eye, that Lee was re-enforcing Longstreet, in order to make an overwhelming assault on his left. The Lieutenant-General was instantly prepared for him. By a masterly change of position, as unexpected to our own generals as it was to Lee, he threw his columns forward and held the foe at bay. It was a complete surprise to Lee. The ground was fought over again and again, the enemy at last retreating, leaving us masters of the field.

In an intercepted despatch from Lee it was discovered that he announced to the rebel authorities at Richmond that he had been severely attacked by Grant and his forces thrown into some confusion; that Gen. Longstreet, one of his most efficient commanders, was dangerously wounded; Gen. Jenkins, of South Carolina, killed; and Gen. Pegram disabled.

This official report of the rebel chief was a forced admission that we had won a signal victory.

Gen. Grant was constantly in the field and under fire. His headquarters were frequently shelled by the enemy. But he was familiar with it, and preserved, at all times, his immobility, coolness, calmness and decision. With unshaken confidence in the continued protection of an Almighty arm, and a full consciousness of the justice of his cause and the valor of his officers and men, he moved steadily forward on the works of the enemy.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

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HE fight was resumed on the ensuing Saturday. Intelligence, meanwhile, had been received of the continued advance of Butler up the James River and through the adjacent country of the rebels toward Petersburg. The monitor fleet was removing obstructions from the main channel, and the land-forces were busy destroying the railway communications of the vicinity.

Sherman was reported to be advancing further into Georgia, driving the foe before him. The rebel Gen. Johnson, with a strong force, had been flanked by a gallant body of Grant's former veteran troops, who were already beginning to hear, by telegraph, of the successes of their victorious chief in Virginia.

By two o'clock on Saturday afternoon, May 8th, our troops had advanced under Grant to the new front of Lee. It was soon discovered by the skirmishers that he had again withdrawn. Our cavalry were still pressing forward.

Late in the afternoon the rebels repeated their attempts to flank our right, and get between us and

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the Rapidan. But they were all foiled. At one period of these attempts it looked as if Grant was desirous that the enemy should be drawn into this position, for strategic purposes. It was thought best, however, to repulse him, and it was gallantly done.

By nine o'clock at night it was discovered that Lee had fallen back toward Spottsylvania Court House. His line had grown perceptibly weaker, and our horse galloped rapidly forward, capturing a number of prisoners.

It was clearly not the purpose of either general to bring on a simultaneous engagement. Both the leading spirits were evidently bent on strategy. Lee appeared to be aiming to cut off our communication in the rear by way of Germania Ford; while Grant, as if utterly indifferent to this seeming purpose of the enemy, acted as if he courted it. He knew his position and his men. Lee was to have the choice of being cut off from his capital, or of taking up gauge of battle thrown down to him in the field.

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Brief and characteristic despatches now began to be received from Grant. It will be remembered with what reticence he had pursued his approaches to the rear of Vicksburg. His message to the War Department when he left Grand Gulf to plunge into the Wilderness' of Mississippi will never be forgotten: "You may not hear from me for several days."

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So now in his great Virginia campaign in the OldDominion Wilderness' he tersely says to the Secretary of War:

"I am on to Richmond. All goes well."

To this expressive message President Lincoln added another :

"Gen. Grant has gone ahead, and drawn his ladder after him."

There was little or no fighting on the following day. The Union army was occupied in recuperating, and preparing for another advance. Our progress, thus far, had been a continued triumph, purchased at the costly sacrifice of many patriot lives—a sacrifice richly prized by a ransomed and grateful country. We had gained at every point, and already held in our hands more than two thousand rebel prisoners, while the enemy had taken but comparatively few from us.

The reception of the news by the people now became impressive. It was foreseen by all who understood and appreciated the situation that there must of necessity be much more hard fighting before this rebellious monster of barbarism and outrage could be put to the death it deserved. Hence the popular enthusiasm was restrained and considerate. The war was felt to be one of principle on the part of the United States, a war bravely fought for the tri

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