Zeifivengtt R. W. JONES, JAS. S. JENNINGs ,} Editors. "One Country, One Constitution, One Destiny," lIVIWINATAI% 1%2 WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 1864. FOR PRESIDENT IN 1861, GEN. GEORGE B. McCLEI,LAN, 'Subject to the Decision of Use Democratic No- tional Convention.] “While the army is fighting, you as cit izens see that the war is prosecuted for the preservation of the Union and the Constitution, and of your nationality acd your rights as citizens.” CEO. B. McCLELLAN. _ggitl'he Constitution and the Union place them together. If they stand, thty must stand together; if they fall, they must fall together.”--Daniet Webster. The Latest War News. Since our last paper, the news from the army of the Potomac has been very exciting. It is somewhat difficult, from the multitude of reports and dispatches, to understand pre cisely what progress has been made since Gen. Grant and his army crossed the Rapi dan on the 4th inst. The fighting commenc ed on the sth, near the old Chancellor battle field, and continued almost every day until Thursday last, without any very decided re sult, but showing a steady advance of the Union army and consequent retreat of Gen eral Lee. On Thursday morning however, an attack was made by the corps under Han cock and Warren, which resulted in a most brilliant and decisive victory for the Lnion arms. Several thousand prisoners, three Generals, and about four hundred inferior officers with some thirty or forty guns were taken. The fighting continued thr=ughout the day, and with further successes in our favor This reverse compelled Gen. Lee to fail back South of Spottsylvania Court House, beyond the Potomac river, upon which he had made bis /apt stand. On Friday there does not ap pear to have been much fighting ; and we have no reliable advices that there was much more on Saturday. All accounts agree that Gen. Leo has been seriously damaged and has been compelled to retreat towards Rich mond. Meanwhile, Gen. Sherman with his caval ry turned Lee's right, and getting in his rear destroyed the railroads leading to Rich mond, thus cutting off his communication with the capital, besides detroying an im mense amount of government supplies and property. After taking the Linter line of cue= fences at Richmond, he crossed the Chicka hominy, and jeined the forces of Oen. But ler, who is operating south of Richmond.— About the time of Grant's advance, Gen. Butler left Fortress Monroe, with a strong force, and landed at City Point, on the James River, below Richmond. Ile suc ceeded without great loss in destro)ing a portion of the railroad leading fon Rich- mond to :Petersburg, thus preventing Gen. Beauregard from reinforcing Lee. 110 still occupies the railroad, and at last advices has taken the outer defences of Fort Darling on the James. The reports from the Army of the Tennessee are equally flattering. Dal ton has been taken and occui ied by Sher u*n, and Schofield has won a brilliant via tory, capturing several thousand prisoners. So far the prisoners taken by Gen. Grant amount to 12,000, with some 40 guns, Our losses, however, have been very great. The loss of the enemy in killed and wounded cannot be ascertained, but are represented *as frightftilfy large. Guns. Stuart, Jenkins, Pegrgm and other rebel generals are killed, and Longstreet seriously wounded. 1f properly sustained by the Government with reinforcements and supplies, the pros pects of General Grant and hit . , gallant army are cexttunly very flattering. Large rein forcements are said to bezoing on, and Sei gel with his corps is reported as passing through the blue ridge in 'the direction of ' Gordonsville. It should be remembered by the 'Gr'overn ment at Washington, that General M'Clel land had Richmond almost in his power at one time, and with the reinforcements pray ed for, would, we honestly believe, have ta ken .the city. But the advance of Stonewall Jackson down the Shenandoah, so frightened the dignitaries at Washington, that McDow ell and his splendid army could not be spar ed from the defence of the city, and conse quently the brilliant prize was lost. As Jackson is dead, and the Shenandoah occu pied by the union forces, the government may overcome its national timidity, And keep Grant supplied with men and toed. eir The Republican press is criticising the late a ties on Red river with great severity. Gen. Banks has evidently lost ground with his party ; and the New York Times demands a rigid investigation into the conduct of the • battles. Norgauxu.—Col. George A. Wood ward, son of J udge Woodward of Phil adialphia, 4itto bas been :06AM as slain Rapidan, is a- Toodward who Pl,[P 1110. BATTLES OF FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. The Fight Between Hancock and Longstreet. Desperate Charges and Repulses! A Itilda fa l ba Attack by the Enemy Milroy 9 sOld Division Severely Criticised NEW YOLK, May 10.—The .Herald has the following relative to the kitties of Friday and Saturday :—A five o'clock in the morning the contest was renewed along the entire line, and the roar and hum of battle came trom every quarter. From certain indications it was concluded that Lee was reinforce ing Longstreei, on Hancock's front, and part of Burnside's corps according ly moved to his support, taking posi tion to the left of lien. Warren, and completely filling the gap into which the brigades had been thrown the pre ccdit cr evening. On moving at daylight towards their assigned position, through a close forest, they 'found it occupied by rebels, pre pared to dispute possession. The fight ing at this point was over by nine o'clock, finding it imposible to dislodge the reoels from their position. Early in the morning Hancock was driven close to his breastworks by a su peror force, but subsequently rallied his men and succeeded in regaining most of the lost ground. Between 10 and 11 o'clock, however, Longstreet succeeded in turning the lilt of his ad vance and throwing it into great con fusion. This extended along the line, and came near involving the whole corps in inextricable confusion. He was once more forced back to his breastworks, and the rebels actually planted their colors inside these, but could not sustain themselves and were ejected, At thin time heavy reinforcements were thrown to his support from Burn side's corps, and his men rallied, and taken well in hand, all danger of fur ther disaster was removed. The charge of Longstreet was completely over whelming. • Solid masses of infantry were hurled against Hancock, time af ter time, with an impetuosity nothing could withstand. It was exceedingly fortunate for the Sixth Corps, and the whole army, that he checked the enemy at this critical period, and drove them back with as much precipitancy as they came. The ground in front of Han cock had been fought over a number of times, and the wounded and dying on the field were vast. At night, Hancock occupied his own breastworks, and had nothing but pris oners and rebel dead to show for the slaughter of two days' fighting. lle behaved with conspicious gallantry throughout, and was in the field in per son, when danger was thickest. Gen. Warren was also hotly assaulted along his centre line, mid the utmost surprise was manifested at the number of troops Lee was able to bring into action.— This Collis retained its first position, however, till darkness came on. About midnight, a charge was made, at which we gave way, and were un able to regain the ground thus lost.— This, of course, compelled the abandon ment of a great portion of the line of breastworks, and brought the skirmish ing line within a half a mile of Grant and Meade's quarters. Sedgwick's corps _maintained itself against the vigorous assaults of superi or numbers at different times during the day, and had no serious reverses until late in the evening, when a charge was made on its extreme right for the purpose of turning it, as was done with trancock in the morning. Milroy's old division was driven back in great con fusion. At length the enemy succeed ed effectually turning our right. The behavior of this division was se verely criticised by those supposed to . know more concerning the aithir. This probably necessitated the transfer of our sick and wounded, and all the supply trains, from Germania Ford road to one leading to Cliancellorsville• The latter were in motion the whole night amid at daylight, had Lee occupied Germina and cut off the retreat of the army by that route, it would have given 'him the advantage, and might have worked in calculable mischief by causing an undue extension of our line, 4nd a correspond ing weakening. The contest on Friday was unsatis factory. Many officers, were despond ing by fearing Lee would in some man lier defeat Giant, and superficial observ. ers might construe our repulses that day into a defeat, but no such forbodimig found *.resting- place in the minds of those who knew the tenacity of purpose and fertility of resource, characteristic of Grant. The advantages on the next day ver ified those hopes. The battle recom menced by daylight on Saturday, but the firing was desultory an d scattering. No fierce attacks were made on either side. Both Generals were intent ou strategy, and neither, therefore, was anxious to bring on a general engage ment. General Lee seemed intent up on cutting our communications via the Germania Ford, but Grant appeared utterly indifferent to this, and seemed rather to court it by withdrawing Sedg wick from his no§ition, and throwing it back by Germania Ford, near his own headquarters, and pushing Burnside out on the Spottsylvania Court House road, threatening Lee's communications. 4 new line of battle was formed by a change in position, which extended nearly north and south, which gave Lee the choice of being cut off from his Cap ital, and risking everything upon the wager of battle. At 2 p. m., Burnside yeas well undpr way to Spottsylvania. Lee had thrown his infantry on our right, and drove in our cavalry pickets on the Germania. road. The result could only be a pre cipitate retreat on the part of Lee, to prevent our being thrown between him self and Richmond, or a deadly contest in an open battle, that would only end in his exterminatiou. lie discovered his error aud,te appearance had started h ot h„, f , ivettr,(.oo,... Some think he will be found on the North Anna river, while others are equally certain that there is no tenable position -for him to fall back to between this and Richmond. The Peninsular Movement. WASITINGTOZZ, May 10.—The follow ing is the official report of General But ler : WasumoroN, May 10.—" Major Got. Dix : "I forward a dispatch this moment received, from Gen. Butler. It 1 ells the story, "EDWIN M. STANTON, ''Secretary War." "HEADQUARTERS, NEAR BERMUDAI HUNDRED LAMDIN(i, May 9, 1864. ; Edwin M. Stanton, Secret - 0y of War : "Our operations may be stinted up in a few words. With seventeen hundred cavalry we have advanced up the Pen insula, forded the Chickahominy, and safiAy arrived at our present position.---;- These were colored cavalry, and are now holding a position as our advance towards Richmond, General Kountz, with 3,000 cavalry, from Suffolk on the same day with our movement up the James River, forded the Black Water, and burnt the railroad bridge at Stoney Creek, below Petersburg, cutting in two Beauregard's force, at that point.— We have landed here and entrenched ourselves. We have destroyed many miles of railroad, and have got a posi tion which with proper supplies we can hold against the whole of Lee's army. I have ordered up the supplies. Beau regard, with a large portion of his com mand, was left south of the cutting of the railroad by General Koinitz. That portion which reached Petersburg un der Hill I have whipped to-day, killing and wounding many and taking many prisoners, after a severe and well con tested fight. Lieutenant General Grant will not be troubled with any further reinforcements to Lee from Beauregard's forces. [Signed.] BENJ. F. BuTLEn, Maj. Gen. Commanding BERMUDA HoantEn, May, 10.—Fight jug commenced yesterday noon, and continues to-night between Gen. Hick man's brigade and several other brigades under Gen. Smith. Gen. Beauregard commanding in person during the tight. Our forces 'drove the enemy back three miles, nearly to Peter,,,burg. We 11 ,, ,1 the railroad between Richmond and 7 't tersbnrg. General Konntz' ca V.: ," succeeded in destroying some portn.,l, of the Petersburg and Weldin, N. C., railroad at Hicksford, and captured many prisoners. Ex Ect-rivz MANsioN, Washington, May S. TO THE FRIENDS OF' UNION ANID is known of our army op erations within the last five days to claim our especial gratitude to God, I% hile what remains undone demands most sincere prayers to, and reliance upon, Ilini NVit.llol.lt whom all human efforts are vain. I recommend that all patriots at their homes, in their place of public worship and wherever they may be, unite in common thanksgiving to Al mighty God. [Signed] ABE I lAM LINCOLN, 4N - F;w Yom, May 9.--The following are dispatches from Secretary Stanton to Maj. Gen. Dix, dated Washington 9th, 4 P. M ; Dispatches have just been reoeived Mere direct front General Grant. They are not fully deciphered yet, but he is "on to Richmond." We ]nave WWI 2,000 prisoners. [Signed] EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of -War. WAsriiNn-roN, May 9th, 4c. bearer of dispatches from General 11.1ead's Headquarters has just arrived here.-- He states that Lee's army commenced falling back on the night of Friday, and our army commenced the pursuit on Saturday. The rebels were in full retreat fir Richmond in the direct road. Gen Hancock passed through Spottsyl vania court !louse at daylight yester day. Our headquarters at noon yesterday were twenty miles south of the battle field. We occupied Fredericksburg. The depot for our wounded is estab lished at Fredericksburg. [Signed] 14 - ',,Dwri SrANToN, Sec'y of War. 11"Esunm - fox, May 9—ln the Senate this afternoon, Mr. Collauier read the following telegram from the Sec'y Of -War: Dispatches have been received from Gens. Grant and Meade, stating that they were ' , ion to Richmond." Lee was in full retreat, with Gens. Sedg. wick, Hancock, Burnside and Warren close on his heels. The following. is a list of casualties, as far as heard li•om at the present time: Brig. Gen. Hays, of Pittsburgh, Pa., killed ; Brig. Gen. Jas. G. Wadsworth, of New York, killed ; Brig. Gen. Webb, of N. Y., wounded ; Col. Wilson, of the 4;ld New York, wounded; Colonel Stone, of the 2d Vermont, wounded ; Col. ~eyroy Stone, of the Pennsylvania Buektails, injured by a fall from his horse ; Col. WeA, killed ; Lt. Col, Tyler, wounded; Lieut. Col. West, wounded; Major Dorlin, of the 4th New York, wounded ; Major Wm. B. Darlington of the 18th Pennsylvania cavalry wounded. Piin.ADEr.pmv, May 9.--" The Evening Telegraph has the following list of kill ed and wounded : Colonel Woodward, son of Judge Woodward, of Pennsylvania, killed : Colonel Carroll, of the 95th Pennsylva nia, killed ; Colonel Gwynne, the 118th Pennsylvania, wounded in the temple ; Captain Briggs, of the 11th Pennsylvania, wounded in the thigh ; Captain Bryens, of the 2d Pennsylva nia captured. Gen. j. f ongstreet was shot by a bullet in the neck, and is stutel to be mortally wounded, Our Iron Clads Advanceing on Rich- mOnd. PHILADELPIILk May 13, 6 P. M.—The Evening Telegralth has a dispat;.;h recta Fortress Monroe, just received, stating that all the obstructions in the James River have been removed, and that our ileet of iron-dads is advanceing on Rich mood. . Dispatch from Seeretary Stanton. WAsmiiaroN, May 10.—To Major Gen eral Dix: A dispatch has been received this evening from General Grant, dated at Ip. in. yesterday. The enemy made a stand at Spottsylvania, C. H. There was some hard fighting, but no general engagement had yet taken place there. I deeply regret to announce that Major Gmeral Sedgwick was killed in yester day's engagement at Spottsylvania, be ing struck by a ball from a sharpshooter. Ills remains are at Fredericksburg, and are expected here to-night. The army is represented to be in excellent condi tion and with ample supplies. Generals Robinson and Morris are wounded. No other casualties to gene ral officers are reported. General Wright has been placed in command of Sedg•wick'g corps. General Grant did not design to re new the attack to-day, being engaged in replenishing from the supply trains, so as to advance without them [Signed,] E. M. SrAyroN, Secretary of War More. Good News from the Front \%Asttt\(;•rox, May 10.—A messenger from Spottsylvania Court House yester day morning, states Hancock was com pelled to retire on the Spottsylvania road.untilt he was joined by General Burnside, when he held his ground until Sunday morning, when the battle was renewed, and we drove the rebels to Po river, and on the 7th their whole amiy was retreating, and by night had been driven in every direction. This morning, we put artillery into play, and when our• messenger left, heavy cannonading was going on. In the three days operations we cap tured about 3,000 prisoners, and lost about 12,000 in killed, wounded and prisoners. Another Advance in Georgia--A Big Battle Probably Going On. W.I.smNnToN, May 10.—Gen. Dix : A dis patch from Gen. Thomas, received at mid night, states that we are fighting for posses sion - of Rocky Fall Ridge, and that Gen. Mc- Pherson had taken Snaky Creek Gap, and was seven miles from Resola this taunting. On Saturday the Rebels were forced from Tunnel Hill by Thomas, and took a po. s ition •at Buzzard Nest, just north of Dalton. This r,•:•14., , -i , t ,, d as a very strong position, from was unable to drive the enemy ttbont 13 wiles gill !dace XEcl'hersim the enemy's rear, 1.,,0,: the front, and from Cleveland. w.e. toll Cl.t on that MOE El . Le now in progres.4. beer, rceivtAl from Nothi.A Giant ni• I:atlte, (Signed) CONFIRMATION OF THE GOOD NEWS Rebel Gen. Stuart in Bad Humor. PIIILIDELPII TA, May, 11.—The Enquirer publishtd at five o'clock this morning, has glorious news from the army. - A dispatch from Gen. Hancock to Gen. Grant, written yesterday morning, says: "I have captured from thirty to forty guns. I have tinished up Johnson, and am now going into Early." Maj. Gen. Johnson, of Ewell's corps, and Brig. Gen. Stuart, have both been captured. Burnside, at last accounts, was report;: i working in the enemy's rear, mid taking I ,arge numbers of pris oners. Sheridan had captured three trains with his oavalry, one filled with Union prisoners. The captured guns were mostly Napoleons, and many of them were marked U S. Johnson, the rebel General, was very sociable when brought in, and conversed freely with his eaptor,s, but Stuart, when taken, refused to take Hancock's hand, saying it was against his principles.— [` his Stuart is not the cavalry offwer of that name, but is a General from Mary land DAN-. Later from the Front, Grant has Won Another Victory. NEW YORK, May 12.—s Wasli n Q:t on special says a dispatch just received from the army of the Potomac states that Grant has won another victory. Lee's whole left is crushed, and we have cap tured a whole rebel brigade. Burnside chased ::well over three miles. The Wur fit has a rumor from N \rash ington that the 10th mid 18th army corps are on the North bank of the James River, they are to be sent - around to re inforce the army of the Potomac from the North—that they comprise too small au army to capture 1 tiehmond, and are too numerous to permit theV being kept out of the field. The World's special says, Grant massed nearly 4000 pieces of artillery against Lee's position at Spott sylvania Court House on Tuesday, and fired for two hours when the assault was finally ordered, the advancing columns met with but feeble resistance. Lee's line did not waver until just before the close of the battle, then it fell back and we gained considerable ground. The oorrespondence frotil Gen. Butler's army contains nothing later of that General's operations than was announced in his. dispatch. FROM GEN, SRERMANTS ARMY Orept Degtruction of Property WA SiiiNGToN, May 12.—T0 Genenii Dix: No dispatches from the army of the Potomac have been received since 1::30 last night. General Sherman has not been heard from, owing probably to the damage to the line South of Nashville by the recent storm. A dispatch from Gen. Sherman dated Headquarters of the Cavalry Corps, May 10th, states that he turned the enethy's right and gpt into their rear, they had destroyed f'rom 8 to 10 miles of TUilroad, two locomotives, three trains and a spry large quantity of supplies, .and since he had got Into the rear there was great excitement among the inhabitants and with the army.— The enemy's cavalry had tried to annoy his rear and flank him but had run off and he had re-captured 500 of our men, two of them colanda, E. Sec.'y of,War I 2o General Dix :—A - dispatch re ceived from the Army of the Potomac, at 5 p. m. yesterday, says. both armies held their position at Spottsylvania without material change. The enemy have been dri)len to their breastworks. The 6th corps, under General Wright, had carried the first line of the enemy's rifle pits. There was heavy skirmish ing during the day. Nothing has been heard from Gen. Sherman or Gen. Butler since mine of yesterday. [Signed] E. 'AI. Sr.mrox. BErtmt - D.I.NnuED, May 12 —At daylight this morning the rear guard advanced. At Ba. in. General Butler and staff left the old headquarters, and at 10 a. in. the whole force was in the direction of Petersburg and the Rich mond railroad. At noon the enemy discovered entrenched. The 10th NC,II" Hampshire charged and drove the ene my from his entrenchments. There was skirmishing all the after noon on oar right, but no general en gagement. A number of rebels were captured including one Colonel. There has been no fighting on the left.— Officers and men in good spirits. The Petersburg Express of the 11th says : "Gen. Lee is in Richmond wounded." The telegraph lines be tween Petersburg and Richmond have been cut for several days, as well as the railroad. Desperate Battle on Thursday-30 to 40 Guns Captured—Stonewall Bri gade "in Limbo." NEW YouK; May 13.—A I Vora special dated HEADQuAurEus Amrf Or mu PO TOMAC. Battlefield near Spottsylvauia, Thursday, May 12, eight o'clock, a. in., says:—Our army this morning was en tirely engaged in the fiercest of its bat tles and is pressing - on to victory. After the sanguLary but generally - unsuccess ful battles of Tu sday, our army, during yesterday, was comparatively quiet. A feeble demonstration against our right wing was repulsed this morning. A re connoissance was made on the right to the enemy's left. It was intended to assault the enemy's right in force, and a column, consisting of a portion of the 6th Corps and Birney's division of Han cock's Corps was first intended to under take this work which was afterwards abandoned. In the forenoon two companies )11 the left of the Sixth Corps commenced driv ing some sharp-shooters from their posi tion in a house connirtmling a. partial view of our lines, killing and capturing several of their number. In the afternoon, rain f,41, and to some extent continued until dark, drying time dust, changing the atmosphere, and rals itig the spirits of our troops. They 6uilt fires and supplies were cooked. Bands Legan to play in the forest along our lines, undisturbed for once by the enemy who had no amunition to waste. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of \Val Meanwhile the news arrived t' wards evening that Gen Sherman . rt ted to the vicinity of Bettye] Orange railroad, taringup I,i miles of die track, eaptnring a reoui sup ply train, and rueapturing Jbove three hundred ot our men, taken prisoners in the old Wilderness battle. This news, so inspiring wherever it was known, that a general jubilee of cheers succeeded the to nent, and during the night arrangements were pushed l'or an attack on our side this morning The enemy had been seen pushing troops towards our and otcnibly errecting abattis in the front of Han cock's troops. It was shrewdly and rightly suspected that this was only a blind to hide the real intention of the enemy. It was therefore anticipated. rater midniJit the Second Corps (Ilancock'so pushed to the left, and the Sixth- Corps (Wright's) between that and Burnside, who commanded on the left of the Spottsvlvania road. At 1- : 30 this mornin: , Hancock at tacked the enemy Fronting hint, iiisL making a fierce opening with cannonade and then resistless' charges against the very heart of his position. The cannon ade was replied to with vigor. The charges of our men were as vigorously resisted, but the determination of the onset overwhelmed everthing. The troops rushed in' on the rifle pits of the enemy, bayoneting them in their works, cutting their lines and capturing, on the first charge, over 2,060 men and several guns, including the greater por tion of itonewall Jackson's brigade, be longing to the division commanded by Gen. Ned Johnson and forming part of Ewell's corps. Gen. Johnson himself was taken prisoner. The assault continued till nearly the whole division of the corps was captur ed and other troops amounting to 1,000 men. A dispatch was this moment received announcing the capture of 7,000 prison s and 30 guns. The battle is still pro °Tessin, - The Sixth Corps on the left of the Second, has moved into battle, and are pushing the enemy. Warren's Fifth Corps moved lip to its support on the right. • The battle is becoming general. Nearly all our artillery is enci , ed and the clangors and whistles of grape and solid shot, the roar of musketry and ex plosion of the enemy's shells, fill the forest with awful tumult. Shell burst around me while I write. Battle Overwhelming in Our Favor. LATER.—T elv e o'clock. It is just now reported that Hancock has turned the right flank of the enemy below Spottsylyania Court House, and ;s pt•ess lug on. The battle everywhere is.over whehning in our favor. A terrific firing just commenced on the left, near Grant's headquarters. The battle is going on with 'terrible energy, and our tilleCkSS is said to b. certain. Prisoners are constantly coming in. The following is a dispatch sent by Gen. Hancock this morning : "Neur Spc,gsylvankt • Comt House, May 12, Ba. to.—l have captured thirty to lorty 7 one Bans. I have finished up Johnston and am now going into Early." [Signed) W. J. HANcocK. The guns captured have arrived at headquarters. Gen Stuart, conunguid- WASHINGTON, May 11 a brigade in Johnson's division, was captured. Burnside's calttrun is reported to have moved down on the railroad 'towards Fredericksburg, going in on the ene my's rear. Gen. "Warren, with the sth corps on the right, is now sending heavy lines of skirmishers to feel the enemy's works in his front, which are supposed to be abandoned. It is impussihle to ascertain all partic ulars at this writing, but our victory is considered going on to a decisive re sult.. Gen Wright is slightly wounded, but is still in minnand. of the Oth Corps. MAL GEN, JOHNSON CAPTURED, ALSO, GENE. STUART & R. JOHNSON, Brilliant Ruse by Hancock. Nuw - Vont:, May 13.—A Ilerild special, dated headquarters Fifth Corps, May 12th, 1. A. )1. Says : Gen. _Hancock made a brilliant capture at 4 o'clock this morning, of au entire rebel including Major Gen. Ned Johnson, Brig. Gen. George Stuart tvid Brig. Gen.. Robert Johnson, commanding brigades. Between 2,000 and 3,000 prisoners and two batteries of six pieces each, fell into our hands. Taking advantage of the fog and darkness last evening, Hancock man aged to change the position of his troops unobserved by the enemy, and while the darkness and fog still prevailed, pounced on them this morning, like a wolf on the flock. He took the capture completely by surprise, and having sent his prisoners securely to the rear, turn ed their own guns on the enemy. Butler Besieging Fort Darling. WAsiuNGTox, May 13.—Secretary Stanton, iu a dispatch to Gen. Dix, da ted this morning, confirms the news of Hancock's success, and slates that But ler is besie!ving Fort Darling, and Gen. Kautz, has been sent to cut the Danville Railroad. FIRST ms - 2.vrcH FROM GE N . . (HIAN-T I\ 7 AsinNoTox, May 11.-11 : 30 p, no. Gen Dix : Dispatches from Gen. Grant, dated at eight o'clock this morning, have just reacked this department. He says : "We have now ended the sixth day of very hard fight ing. The result to this time is much in on,r favor. Our losses have been heavy, as well as those of the enemy.— I think the loss of the enemy must be great( 1 ••\Ve have taken over five thousand .prisoners in battle, while he has taken from us but fur except strag!ders I ln•opose to fight it out on this line it it take.; all scounicr. The Government is sparing tie pains to support him. "Ilnv, - us; _Aff. brANToN, Seeretary of War." GENERAL SIGEL lIERD FROM Linaiburg and (ordons Lalated. WasniNcToN, 3fay I:3.—AD extra says: officer, who arrived here to ; orly, reports that, at two o'clock yestur ! day aftemo;m, a dispatch was received at the trent, from C-;-cueral Si,ei, coin ! manding, dated at Butiar's Mountain, between Charlottsville and - .Lynchburg, at 10 a. nl. , announcing that our cavalry I,:id torn up the railroad between Char ! lottsville and Lynclibur?:, twenty-six miles below the former place, and also that the track of the Gordonsville Rail ! road Leta\ een Charlottesville and Kees ; - wick bad been destroyed. All the bridges between the above points on both road,6 have been destroyed. When returning, our tbrees encountered a body u[ rebel cavalry, who came, from the di rection et' Carter's Mountain, and a skir mish ensued, which result( in the ie pulse the rebels, who tle' - ;, in the di iwtion they had came. This was the only rebel ftwee met with during the raid. Further News or tilt: Fliiht Nrw 17, 13.—. A special to the fro:•/,/ says:—Tlie army of Potomac opened its 7th day of battle this morn ing with a brilliant success. Dispatches to-night direct from the front, state that Han cock's corps on the center, just west of Spotsylvania, moved at an early hour on A. P. Hill's co rps, and after several skirmishes, drove Health's division and a part of capturing 2.000 prisoners and one; Majiw, General, two Brigadier Generals and fifty field and line officers. At nine o'clock, a, m. no other fighting had occurred. Army Six Miles Beyond Spottsylvania. NEw Your:, May 13.—A Trill et lee spe— ell, dated Washington, May-12, says:— Our army is now herd from six miles beyond Spottsylvania Court 11 ouse.— We fought again yesterday, and drove the enemy most gallantly capturing a large number of prisoners and guns, and several General officers are among the Latest.--Lee on the Retreat. ` SPOTI'SY INA'S' A, C. H., May 1:).—:-At live o'clock this morning, Wright's Corps advanced to the attack, in pur suance of orders issued yesterday after uoon, and found that Lee's army had retreated during the night. Banks in More Trouble. NEw YouK, May 13.—A New Or leam; ;otter pt . the 7t - h, in the Express, a report that 6011. P.:l:lliti is re treating by a land route to Brashear Citv, it being impossible to - do so by the Red River, as the steamer City Belle, on her way up the other day with a agiment of troops to rcintOrce him was captured with all on board, and the boat tc.rned. Two other boats had been captured and hurried. The 73d New York Volunteers were badly cut up in the engagements on Thursday and Friday last. They went into action with seven hundred men, and on Thursd4y evening they could muster but eighty who were fit for duty. Their fighting was almost unparalleled for ob stinacy and eqergy. I Gen. Meade's Address. Ile Claim S,ooo i Prlsoners The Work to be Pushed on. Play 11.—Despatches dated 7 lleadi waters Army of the Poto mac. May 12x., have been receiv ed. The ssociatral Press messenger briii:*s the tbilowin: 117:‘1,2i•urrf:us ARMY Or TUE Poro- May.l3:—Soldiers, the moment has arrived when yOur commanding Gene ral .C,2els authorized to address you in terms of congratulation. For eight days and nights, almost without inter mission, in rain and sunshine, you have been gallantly fighting a desperate foe in positions naturally strong and render ed donbly so by entrenchments. You have compelled him toThbandon his for titications on the Rapidan to retire mid attempt to stop your onward progress, and now he has abandoned his last en trenched bosition so tenaciously held, suffering a loss in all of 18 guns, 22 col srsiind 8,000 prisoners, including two General officers. Your heroic deeds and endurance of fatigue and privation will ever be memorable. Let us return thanks to God for the mercy thus shown and ask earnestly for its. continuance. Soldiers your work is not yet over, the enemy must be pursued and if possible overcome. The courage and fortitude you have displayed renders your com manding General confident your efforts will result in success. While we mourn the loss of many gallant o companions, let us remember the enemy must have suf fered equal if not greater losses. We shall soon receive reinforcements which he cannot expect. Let us determine then to continue the work so well begun and under God's blessing, in a short time the object of our labor will be ac complished. [Signed] Mi:AnE, 'Maj. Gen'l Commanding, (Official) S. Wnanms, A. A. G. WM Gen. Warren in Pursuit.—He captures a Pontoon Train.—Lee's Army Ut terly Exhausted. NEW Youx, 310 y 14.—A World's Washington special dispatch of the 13th says:—Near dark our centre for the first time, occupied Spottsylvania This morning our pickets sent word that Lee had flillen hack on the roads run ning straight to the Po river and Pen -11 \ I:ivt-rn. At seven o'clock this morning it is said that Gen. Warren had come up in pursuit iu time to capture one of Lee's pontoon trains. The rebels, however, were on the South side of the river.— Prisoners state positively that Lee's ar my was entirely worn out and fearfully reduced by tremendous losses. Gen. Grant SUN Pursuing Lee. W.l -111 N( ,T,wN, May lA.—lnformation re22.l\ eil at the War Department at noon to-day, from the Army of the Potomac, bays that they were still pushing in Lee's na". Monday Morning Dispatches. WA si 11 N( idox, May I.s—Midnight. Latk_st the Times, received from the front, from unofficial SOIiTCCS Up to one o'clock yesterday, On Satnaday evening just before dusk, the enemy made an attack on the position occupied by the sth corps, pi incipally with artillery, but were final ly driven back with severe loss. The cannonading was furious for several hours. We lost a number of valuable ollic..?rs and 3000 men killed and woun ded. After the repulse of the rebels, one division of the sth corps made a charge on the rebels and captured a reb el battery and a number of r risoners. Lee's force is believed to be in line of battle about two miles beyond ISpott slvania C. H. in a southwesterly di recti S's!veral important charges Lave been made in our position, and Grant will bring to bear a superior force on all sides. Fresh troops are arriving. A general assault was to have been made on the enemy, but owing to the I,ad conduct of the roads - 1; filch have boen rendered almost impassible, our arinvfiLilod to get into position, and the atia, k had to be aban loned in cone quence. My lin;irmaiit says the int: pression prevails that there will be hard fighting yet. The enemy was agarn gradually driv, rat away, forcing his position. At night we not oniy Leld the ground we had taken at the commencement, but advanced to a stronger -.position. We have taken about 2,000 more prisoners, in%king our total captures about 12,500. My informant says the impression pre vailed at headquarters that there would be hard fighting yet. WastllN(irox, May 15.—A special to the World says that the killed and wounded have almost been made good I.ty reinforcements which have already reached the Army of the Potomac.— Troops have been hurrying through this city. Their numbers- will not. amount to less than 20,000. THE LATEST NEWS. The whole army is in rapid retreat,. with a large force of fresh troops on its track. Grant, it is said, will crush it before it reaches Richmond, if he has to use his teams to do it. Sheridan is still operating in Lee's rear, and can and will do much to impede his retreat. Prisoners state that Lee's army has suf . -. fered appalling losses, and is utterly exhausted. And now where will Lee's army retire to' We feel satisfied that it' the rebels aro promptly followed up there is but 4ttle more fight in them.— If they coop themselves up in , Rich mond, their destruction or capture is only a matter of time. If they fight before it, they are doomed to an oter whehning defeat : and if they go beyond RiOnnond, where will thoy stop, or how will they travel ! Both railroads South of Richmond are by this time in our possession. The railroad^orth find West are either oc cupied or destroyed. They are cut oil' from all reinfiweements. Beauregard. is held in a vice by Butler. Jolinstor has far more than he can attend to at home. Georgia, involving the tate of the whole territory West of it, ei of tar more importance than Richmond and Virginia.
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