Bright and warm. The following is Gen. Lee's dispatch,
received yesterday morning—the italics not his.
HEADQUARTERS
ARMY NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
May 5th,
1864.
HON, SECRETARY OF WAR.
The enemy crossed the Rapidan at Ely's
and Germania fords. Two corps of this army moved to oppose him—Ewell by the old
turnpike, and Hill by the plank-road.
They arrived this morning in close
proximity to the enemy's line of march.
A strong attack was made upon Ewell, who repulsed it, capturing many prisoners and a few pieces of artillery.
The enemy subsequently concentrated
upon Gen. Hill, who, with Heth's and Wilcox's divisions, successfully resisted repeated and desperate assaults.
A large force of cavalry and artillery
on our right was driven back by Rosser's brigade.
By the blessing of God, we maintained
our position against every effort until night, when the
contest closed.
We have to mourn the loss of many brave
officers and men. The gallant Brig.-Gen. J. M. Jones was killed, and Brig-Gen.
Stafford, I fear, mortally wounded, while leading his command with conspicuous valor.
R.
E. LEE.
A dispatch from Gen. Lee this morning says Hill's corps was
thrown into confusion yesterday by an attack of the enemy when some of the
divisions were being relieved. But afterward we recovered the ground, strewn
with the dead and wounded of the enemy. Then we attacked their whole line,
driving them behind their breastworks. He concludes by thanks for our ability
still to withstand all assaults. No doubt Grant has overwhelming numbers, and
Lee is under the necessity of sparing his men as much as possible, while his adversary
leads into action a succession of fresh troops. Gen. Longstreet is wounded.
Gen. Beauregard is at Petersburg, charged with the defense
of this city and the railroad. Troops have been marching toward Drewry's Bluff
during the day. If the attack be delayed 24 hours more, we shall be strong
enough to repel even the then greatly superior numbers of the invader.
But there is more anxiety manifested to-day. Senator Hunter
and Mr. Ould, the agent of exchange, have been in the office next to mine once
or twice, to drink some of the good whisky kept by Mr. Chapman, the disbursing
clerk of the department. Mr. H.'s face is quite red.
5 P.M. The tocsin is sounding, for the militia, I suppose,
all others being in the field. It is reported that the attack on Drewry's
Bluff, or rather on our forces posted there for its defense, has begun.
Barton's brigade marched thither to-day. It is said the enemy have 40,000
men on the south side of James River—we, 20,000.
There is now some excitement and trepidation among the
shopkeepers and extortioners, who are compelled by State law to shoulder the
musket for the defense of the city, and there is some running to and fro
preliminary to the rendezvous in front of the City Hall. . The
alarm, however, I learnt at the department, is caused by reports brought in by
countrymen, that the enemy is approaching the city from the northeast, as
if from Gloucester Point. It may be so-a small body; but Gen.
Ransom, Gen. Elzey's successor here, doubts it, for his scouts give no
intelligence of the enemy in that quarter. But the 19th Militia Regiment and
the Foreign Battalion will have the pleasure of sleeping in the open air
to-night, and of dreaming of their past gains, etc.
SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's
Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 2, p.
200-2
