ength, towards noon, they ceased their efforts to retake the position. But they had successfully disputed our further advance. Part of the aptured cannon remained covered by sharpshooters, so that neither arty could carry them off. The only solid advantage gained was the ossession of the angle surprised in the morning. The enemy's front mained elsewhere apparently impregnable, every avenue of approach eing swept by the withering fire of artillery, and their force beg strong enough to hold the position against twice the attacking umbers. After many heroic attempts to force them, the design was andoned.

General Meade began early in the afternoon contracting his line and
assing troops on his left, with a view to turn the enemy's right. All
e afternoon the battle raged with great fury. The enemy made cor-
sponding movements from his left to his right. Every inch of soil,
iddy with gore, was fought over with desperation, and yielded only
en it became impossible to hold it. Neither the rain nor the mire
the roads delayed the rapidity or intensity of the fight. The rival
onets often interlocked, and a bloody grapple over the intrench-
nts lasted for hours, the rebel battle-flags now surging up side by
with our own, and anon, torn and riddled, disappearing in the
ds. The dead and wounded lay thickly strewn along the ground,
fairly heaped up where the fight was deadliest.

fter fourteen hours' fighting, night fell on a battle unsurpassed in
erity in the history of the war. For the first time in the campaign
ecided success was achieved. Warren and Wright, who moved two
rs after Hancock, had not advanced on the enemy's front; but this
not expected, as his position could not there be carried. On the
eme left, Burnside had severely suffered; while on the left centre,
cock had stormed and held an important angle of the enemy's
ks, despite all their efforts to repossess it. Official dispatches add
the day's work also gave us more than three thousand prisoners,
also two general officers, and eighteen pieces of artillery actually
ght into our lines. Between forty and fifty pieces had been at one
captured, but the remainder rested on debatable ground, and were
equently withdrawn by the enemy. The brilliant dash of the morn-
ad secured a strong grasp on the enemy's left centre, and an ad-
e of a mile in our line in that direction. Five determined assaults
made during the day to expel our troops, but all were fruitless.
ore gallant, desperate, or long-continued fighting, on either side,
he possession of intrenchments, had occurred during the war;
the severity of the wounds gave proof of something more than
etry fighting.

e foregoing movements were thus described by the Assistant Sec-
of War, who accompanied the army in its advance :-

"SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT-HOUSE, VA., Friday, May 13, 1864-8 A. M. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War:

abandoned his position during the night, whether to occupy a new position in nity, or to make a thorough retreat, is not determined.

division of Wright's and one of Hancock's are engaged in settling this quesd at half-past seven A. M. had come up on his rear-guard. Though our army is