[source: The war of the rebellion: a compilation of the official records of the Union and Confederate armies, series 1, volume 36, part 2, pages 756-762]
[see Spottsylvania for more information]
[page 756]
MAY 14, 1864--7.30 a.m.
General HUMPHREYS:
I have now in position, in hand, Griffin's division, about 2,500, Cutler's division, about 1,300, Crawford's division not yet ascertained, Colonel Kitching's brigade not yet ascertained. My staff are all at work. General Griffin is sending out to get possession of an eminence and house to the southwest, which will give us a nearer view of the enemy from that direction. The enemy is taking down his tents deliberately. I have had some men wounded skirmishing. I amgetting my artillery in position; it is all up. I had relieved Burnside's dismounted cavalry before I received your dispatch, to diminish the confusion about here.
G. K. WARREN,Major-General.
[page 757]
BEVERLY HOUSE, May 14, 1864--7.50 a.m.
General HUMPHREYS:
My men are nearly all in the position that I wish them. My strength is increasing all the time by the arrival of those who lost their way or fell back. Strength present: General Griffin, 2,500; General Cutler, 1,500; General Crawford, not known; Colonel Kitching, 1,000; total, 5,000. My men encountered only cavalry in the attack on the house south. The force southwest from here remains in its place. I understand you can see all I can.
G. K. WARREN,Major-General
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
May 14, 1864--8.40 a.m.
Major-General WARREN,
Commanding Fifth Corps:
General Wright has sent a brigade to the house where you sent a regiment, the house due south from these headquarters; it is known by the name of Bleak Hill.
A. A. HUMPHREYS,Major-General and Chief of Staff.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
May 14, 1864.--9 a.m.
Major-General WARREN,
Commanding Fifth Corps:
The major-general commanding directs that the attack be suspended to-day. You will conceal your troops as much as possible, but throw out your skirmishers well and learn everything you can of the position and force of the enemy. General Wright, as I have already advised you, has sent a brigade to the house on your left from which the enemy's battery was driven.
A. A. HUMPHREYS,Major-General and Chief of Staff.
[page 758]
HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS,
May 14, 1864--2.15 p.m.
General WILLIAMS:
I have just received your order to issue two days' salt meat to the troops and send back the wagons. We issued one day's salt meat this a.m.; the rest is back with the supply train at Fredericksburg, and my quartermaster says it is almost impossible to get it up by the old road. If we can have the straight pike guarded it can be done with ease.
G. K. WARREN,Major-General.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
May 14, 1864--5.15 p.m.
General WARREN:
General Wright, from the Anderson house, is directed with his corps to regain the hill from which Upton has just been driven. You will co-operate in such way as he may desire, either with your batteries or by supporting him with infantry.
GEO. G. MEADE,Major-General.
WRIGHT'S HEADQUARTERS,
May 14, 1864.
Major-General WARREN:
As soon as my troops are in position I shall move forward. Russell, on the right, is instructed to keep connection with your left. I will open with two batteries as soon as I am ready.
H. G. WRIGHT.Brigadier-General, Commanding.
[Indorsement.]
General GRIFFIN:
Read this and tell General Ayres to move up carefully, till he sees a good chance, or Wright's batteries begin, as he says they will. At that time he may expect General Russell to operate from his left.
G. K. WARREN,Major-General.
SIXTH CORPS,
May 14, 1864--6.15 p.m.
General HUMPHREYS:
About an hour ago or more the enemy attacked Colonel Upton, and before I could learn anything about what was going on he was driven from the hill. He had not force enough to hold them back. Shall I retake it, if I can? Artillery at the Anderson house, in connection with mind, would make the place untenable for the enemy, and I have asked General Wright to put some there.
G. K. WARREN,Major-General.
[page 759]
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
May 14, 1864--6.30 p.m.
Major-General WARREN:
Where is that musketry firing? Is it in your front, Wright's, or Burnside's?
A.A. HUMPHREYS,Major-General and Chief of Staff.
MAY 14, 1864.
Major-General HUMPHREYS:
The musketry firing has been along the Ny River, in front of General Wright; not much of it. I am moving Ayres, with 1,000 men, out to take this force of the enemy on their left flank.
G. K. WARREN,Major-General.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
May 14, 1864--7 p.m.
General WARREN:
What is all the cannonading about?
MEADE.MAY 14, 1864.
General MEADE:
It is General Wright. It might as well be stopped. My men will advance if it does. I think the enemy has retired from the house.
G. K. WARREN,Major-General.
[MAY 14, 1864.]
General Wright:
I think the enemy has left the house. My infantry will move on when your batteries stop. Move your infantry, too.
G. K. WARREN,Major-General.
HEADQUARTERS FIFTH CORPS,
May 14, 1864--7.40 p.m.
General MEADE:
I have not received any report from the cheering. I have no doubt General Ayres has regained the hill where Upton was.
G. K. WARREN,Major-General.
[page 760]
HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS,
May 14, 1864--7.50 p.m.
General MEADE:
Ayres reports himself in position where Upton was and has communicated this to the advance of Wright. I hope the Sixth Corps will relieve him and allow his men complete rest to-night.
G. K. WARREN,Major-General.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
May 14, 1864.
Major-General WARREN:
Orders sent to Wright to relieve Ayres. I thank you and Ayres for taking the hill; it was handsomely done.
MEADE.HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS,
May 14, 1864--8.40 p.m.
Major-General HUMPHREYS.
The enemy made but little resistance to our regaining Jett's house. The force that attacked Upton came from the south, from the road between Guiney's Station and the Court-House. The country between Jett's house and this road is mainly open, with a belt of woods intervening. The ground at the house is as high as the Court-House and descends to the southeast. I will send you a sketch. There is no road from here to Jett's for artillery. There can be one got between it and the Anderson house. Jett's place is known as the Bleak Hill. He is a temporary occupant. Troops have been moving to the left.
G. K. WARREN,Major-General.
MAY 14, 1864.
Major-General HUMPHREYS:
I have just sent a prisoner from Anderson's division, of Hill's corps, taken at the Jett house. He says it was at least two brigades that charged Upton, also that the whole corps is at the Court-House and has been in line of battle all day. They have been there for three days.
G. K. WARREN.HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS,
May 14, 1864--9.50 p.m.
Major-General HUMPHREYS:
My infantry picket-line is well posted and connecting with the cavalry north of Ny River.
G. K. WARREN,Major-General.
[page 762]
...
MAY 14, 1864.
Major-General WRIGHT:
Send word to your infantry, now advancing, to be very careful not to fire into my men, who are going toward the house from here; you will lap over them.
G. K. WARREN,Major-General.
MAY 14, 1864.
General Wright:
Can you not put some artillery on the high hill north of the Ny River, at the large house (Anderson's), commanding the position Colonel Upton was driven from?
G. K. WARREN,Major-General.