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El
BY TCLURE & STONER,
trankliti arpoiticcrg.
ILARRISBIIRG.
correspondenco of The Rrinklln Repository
HAIMISDURG, iay:23, 3864
Gov. Curtin returned from Washington on
Wednesday last, after having spent ten days in
ceaseless efforts to promote the comfort and
minister to the necessities of our Pennsylvania
wounded' 47e - the battle-field. He, brings back
cheering news of the spirit and ,confidence of
the gallant Army. of the Potomac, and has abi
ding faith in the early and decisive triumph of
Gen. Grant over
,Lee, and the capture of the
rebel . capital: He was, on the battle-field with
Surgeon Geri: King, giving his.personal atten
tion-ie.- the removal of our wounded, and he re
portathein as now well cared for ,and as com
tertable as it is possible to, make them. The
Christian and Sanitary Commissions hive con
tributedll4l)nd calculation to, ameliorate the
condition of our suffering heroes. But for the
,personal efforts of Gov. Curtin and his prudent
foresight in - preparing for our sufferers in ad-_
vance, : and, for the immense supplies of the
Cominissions 'named, hundreds of our noble
beroes'inUst have died from' sheer neglect, as it.
was not in ,thb power of the government to
meet the sudden and heresy demand made upon
our surgeons and hospitals. It is indeed a
grateful reflection to the loyal people of the
Nation to know that our wounded are suffering
no needless pain or privation. Ali honor to our
faithful Executive and to the-ministers of mercy
who go forth from, the Chtliitian and Sanitary
Commissions, to solahe those who are suffering
that we might enjoy the blessings of free gov-
ernment.
Gov. dintin has-moved into the new Execmt•
tive Mansion on the river bank. It is a beau
tiful and well finished house, and istgrfat
improvernenetipon the old Mansion. The gar- .
risburg people contributed twenty thousand dol
lars toward the purchase or the new 'house, so
that the change has not cost the State anything.
The legislature 'vas strongly inclined to move
the capitol to Philadelphia, and the city autho
rities headed off the movement by procuring a
new ExeCutive Mansion, and an appropriation
for the extension of the capitol buildings. But
for the efforts of the people of this city, the re
moval bill would undoubtedly,-have passed. It
is perhaps well that the matter was so arrang
ed, for Harrisburg sadly needed a reminder
that there was a limit to the .forbearance . of
legislator§ and visitors in the matter of extor
'
tiou. •
, The Union Convention of 'Dauphin county
met last week and instructed the conferees cho
sen to elect Delegates' to the Baltimore Con
vention favorable to the nomination of Gen.
Cameron for Vice President. Both Curtin and
Camitron have been suggested as candidates for
Vice President, but Gov. Curtin has perempto
-rily refused to sanction the use of his name, and
the Telegniph had_ a leader recently, bearing
the air of authority; declining Gen. Cameron.
Pennsylvania wit/ therefore be spared the hu
miliating spectacle of factious squabbles at Bat
' thnore. The occasion is too,grave for personal
aspirations to disturb the harmony of our miun
-oils and impair_tbe of,our National
tict. Some statesman, k y wrii as such to the
people, like Gov. Johnston, 6.1 . Tennessee, will
doubtless be placed upon the ticket with Lin
coln. Johnston was the first man to declare
boldly for coercion in the United State's Senate.
Wdieti treason was running riot around him—
_when the leading perjured traitors like Davis,
--Toombs, Mason, Slidell and others were hold
. -
big their seats in the Senate solely foi the par-
Tos - epf paralyzing the government, so as to give
tfient an easy triumph in their fiendish work,-
Gov. Johnston was the first man to throttle
them and declare—" So help me God, I would
meet treason with coercion—l would destroy
tin; organized power , of rebellion and hold its
territory as dependencies until its people should .
becbme loyal!" , And ho has been faithfulthrough
all the mutations of the war. With such a man
on the ticket, he would add strength• even to
Lincoln in many sections of the country.
The bill re-organizing the militia has been
tigned by the Goiernor-and is now a law, It
provides for a prompt 'enrollment
, of all the'
militia of the State, and for effective inilitary
organizations in every county. It is to be hoped
that the people will respopd to it with a zeal
commensurate - with the importance of the crisis.
The Congressional Conference , for ther - 15th
district met at Bridgeport, opposite this place
last weekoind elected Hon. Thomas E. Coch
ran, of York, and Lqi Kauffman, of Cumber
land, delegates to the Baltimore Cqavention.
A fierce opposition to the election of Mr. Coch
ran was made by some politicians of this place,
hilt it was unavailing, as he was quitetoostrong
in the confidence of the Union men of York
county to be overthrown by trickery.
BELOW is a list of Penntlylvania. Generals
- who have been killed in battle since the com
mencement of the War:
Gen. Reoo, killed, South Mountain ; Gen. Rey
nolds, killen, Gettysburg•; Gen. Patterson, kill
ed by the accidental discharge of his pistol ;
Gen. Bohlen, killed, Second Bull Rim ; Gem.
Jackson, killed, FredeOcksburg w Gen. Vincent,
killed, Fredericksburg: Gen. Hays, killed, Wil
derness.
The following• Pennsylvania_ Generals have
died from natural causes :
Gen: Smith, Gen. Keim, one Gen: Welch
__HENRY WARD BEECHER has written a letter
to a distinguished Indiana politician, in which
lie says:
"In the present exigency , in view of Mr.
Lincoln's past administration, the evillence he,
ties shown, the moral purity of the man, the
great and just confidence which the people put
in him, the danger which there would be, if he
were set aside, of having it regarded as a popu
lar rebuke of his policy, and the confidence that
I feel that, through long learning—he has learn
ed to govern, I am full and strong in my con
, victfou that he should be our next President.
LATEST ARMY NEWS!
Fighting On Saturday and Sunday!
GRANT STEADILY ADVANCES !
Desperate Charge of the Re
bets to Capture Trains!
THEY BE REPULSED WITH GREAT INS!
REBEL GEN, STUART KILLED
WOUNDED
GEN. GRANT ADVANCES ON FRIDAY;
General Lee Falls Back ITithout a Darnel
-
Grant's_ Army: . ltetntorced and
Supplied t
Olierman on ilia 'Move Again !
GENERAL BUTLER FALLS BACK TO HIS
ORIGINAL LINES
GEN. AVER LL MAKES A
SPLENDID RAID!
CEN. SIGEL DEFEATED AND SU
PERCEDED EirCEN.+HUNTERI
AFAIY OF THE POTOIIAC
Fight of Saturday and SnndaY—Narrou
Escape of Gen. Lleade from CaAitnre.F
WASHINGTON, May IG.
Despatches from the Army of the Potomac,
received to-night, say it was intended to follow
up the enemy early on Saturday morning, to
their new position, and attack them vigorously,
but the heavy rain for several days interfer
ed- much with the movement of the. army, the
roads being in- the worst -possible, condition,
rendering it impossible to movethe artilleryand
and trains over some portions of them. Parts
of the sth and 6th Corps formed in position on
the north of Spottsylvania Court House.
The 2d Corps occupied the right of the now
line on the Fredericksburg and Spottsylvania
plank road, with Burnside on its left, the sth
Corps on the old stage road, and the 6th re-ach
ing half a mile further ehst. About BA. M. the
regulars of the 6th Corps, about three hundred
in number, were ordered °Cross the Ny River
to dislodge a regiment of Rebels who were in
an intrenehment behind a house on theirfront,
which they . did 11Q...allanf style,- - killin , 7 and
wounding some, mid caPturing about a dozen,
and driving the remdinder to the woods.,
Our guns in the centre opened and shelled
the woodi in front, but without -eliciting any
reply from the enemy, althbugh they could be
seen through a galss throwing up intrenchnients.
Their new position is deemed a strong one,
but as soon as the army can get into position
and bring the guns to bear unit, they will make
them answer or evacuate. -
The Rebels made a sudden and un6xpected
attack on Saturday afternoon _on that position
from which they had been dislodged in the morn
ing. across the Icy River on our left, and sac
ceeded in gaintng possession of that point. -
1-irtions of the Ist and 2d 13rigadt , i of the Ist
Division,.6th Corps, were placed there to - hojd
it, but were attacked by three- or four tittles
their number, and were compelled to full back
ta this side of the stream, losing abouta dozen
wounded and nearly halftheir numbereaptured:
Gen. Meade had been visiting the line at this
point just at the time of the occurrence, being
at the house of Mr. Anderson, who has a very
handsome residence there, and the Rebels had
nearly reached the house before be was appris
ed of their approach. He, however, got away
in safety, and troops were at once sent to lueet
and drive buck the enemy.
A heavy artillery . fire was opened on them
from which they suffered much, as the shell
were seen to explode in their midst: Our in
fantry finally drove them back across the river,
and captured a number of prisoners. * .A Rebel
major and other officers were taken during the
day. .
Late in the evening our guns on the right
opened fire on a section of u battery in their
front, which scattered the infantry supporting,
when the Ist Brigade of the let Divikion,:Ld
Corps, charged and captured two guns, with
limbers; dr.c., and. a:squatl of Rebels. Our loS's
was very' light.
Operations o f Tuesday—Strength of
Our Army I nereas n g—Care of the
Wounded—News from Sherida n—A
Deserved • Promotion—Gen. Bariow's
Achievement.
Special Dispatch to the N. Y. Tribune. .
llP:Antett A RTERS ARMY 01 , THE POTOMAC,
May 17,1584.
Little was done all day to-'day beyond recon
noitering the enemy ' s position, restin our men,
and getting up supplies and ammunition from
the rear. Toward evening important changes
wore made in positions, and- the general ad
vance made on the suppcisition that our foes
were pushing their retreat toward the- Anna
River. •
HORACE
A strong force was visible from headquarters
with the naked eye, upon the crest of a high
hill beyond Spottsylvania Court House but
there was an evident endeavor on his part to
exhibit his force, which of course cOuld'receive
no other interpretation than that it was a strong
rear guard- established, thus conspicuous to
cover his girth& retreat: -An occasional shell
was dropped in among them, producing its usual
commotion;but failing in every case to provoke
a reply. But we grow in recuperated strength
and numbers, with every hour's delay; while It
js.well knOwn at headquarters that Lee must be
weakened in loss of rations, exhaustion of Isis
men and animals.
There is . some expectation that an engage
ment may be brought on this P. M., but your
correspondent is inclined to think the next con
sidecable battle will, be fought upon the banks
of thTAn,na River, whither it is apparent both
armies are now tending.
Our wounded are nearly or quite all sent in
to Fiedericksburg and Washington. About 300
of these left at the Wilderness were also brought
in yesterday.. They had been robbed of every
thing - by guerillas and Mosebyrs men:
The repo* from the hospitals are exceeding-
CHAMBERSBURG, PA., WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 1864.
ly encouraging. There are less. fevers super
vening, and as yet no hospital gangrene-appa
rent and the general health of the men won
derfully good, in view of the fearful jolting they
have endured in the long and tedious transpor-,
tations. But- for these helpless heroes, Gen.'
Grant would ere this formed a junction with
Gen. Butler, and the gasping Rebellion more
completely within our control:
To-night the glorious old Army of the Poto
mac rests undisturbed by the shot of a single
skirmisher. - The day has been unusually quiet
and monotonous, butthe very monotony is omi
nous of momentous events. To-night, while
down the vigilant lines bands are discoursing
enliving music, movements are transpiring in
the rear which speak of preparations for to
morrow a battle, which will, if possible, be •
more desperate and sanguinary than any of the
recent conflicts.
Two days' rest has recuperated, both men and
animals, full supplies of commissary stores and
ammunition have been received, and the confi
dence of the men in the ability of their com
manders remains unimpaired. When it is an
nounced that Hancock has been assigned an
important part itthe liroOdy drama of to-mor
row, the people may count with,a great degree
of certainty the issue of the-Battle.
Tinportant changes_ of position are.to_be made
to-night, and the!uce_.ess of to-inorrow's attack
will oCwoui se depend ip n lie timely occupt.-
tion • of the lines .alreauy determined upt.m.—
From Thursday morning until Saturday night
at 11 o'clock the several corps were posted from
right to left as Inflows : sth, 6th, 2d and 9th.--=
Our extreme right rested across the road run
ning north-east from Todd's tavern to Spotsyl
venni Court-House, while the left of Burnside's
corps rested on the Spottsylvania and Freder
icksburg pike, within it nine ofthe former town.
Operations on Wednesday—Skirmishing
- —Prospect of a Battle--Lee Obstinate.
Special Dispatch to tbe'N. T. Tribune. ,
WASHINGTON, Thursday, May 18.1 1 1 P.M.
Since' forwarding my first dispatch this morn
ing, -the desultory skirmish firing, which com
menced at daybreak, has grown into a very con
siderable battle. The enemy discovering our
change of position lust night, and taking advan
tage of the same, were found to have massed
all their strength on our right, designing, no
doubt, one inure-desperate ussault to break our
lines and get through to our supply trains. '
This movement of the foe, of course, oiea-
signed a re-occupation of our old positions of
yetterday morning, and it was hereupon our
extreme right, and with the 2d and 6th Corps,
tlint the struggle has been kept up with more
or less severity up to noon to-day. -Our troops
were advanced to within very close range of
their earthworks, when a murderous artillery
fire was opened upon us, occasioning us consid,
erable loss; but our own guns were soon got
into position, and, under cover of their fire, we
charged and took their first _line of rifle pits,
capturing a considerable number of prisoners
and several of their Kuns l ,
- - At the moment of this present writing there
is a cessation of firing along the lines, and the
indications are that there will be no more fight
ing before evening or to-morrow. It is estima
ted that the rebel loss is considerably greater•
than ours, notwithstanding the momentary ad
-
vantage oftheir artillery range upon-us.
The Vermont Heavy Artillery, jut arrived,
participated in this fight, and is highly compli
mented. It is stated that the decisive battle is
not milikely'to be fought right here, and that
within a-few- days at furthest.
LATER.
WASHINGTON, MaY'l9, Midnight.
A special Inquirer messenger has just rrrived
from the army with the following account of
the battle of Wednesday :
\ HEADQUARTERS NINTH CORPS,
BEEORE SPuTTSYLVANIA counT
May 18-7 P. M. JJJ
To-day came very near witnessing a general
engagement. The,programme was for a gen
eral demonstration at daylight, and-, if found.
practicable, without too greatsacrifice, to cut
the enemy's lines. - -•
At five A. M., the First Brigade of Critten
:den's Division, Gen. Jag. H. Ledlie, command.'
ing, was advanced, and soon encountered' an
almost impenetrable abattis protecting a line
of rifle pits, with its front protected by aieross
fire from a battery on each flank.
-The brigade stood up to the work manfully,
and if orders had been given would have charg
ed the rebel works. As, however, the demon-
I stration seemed more for the purpose of ascer
taining the exact situation and strength of the
enemy, the orders were not given. The troops
Of Crittenden's Division were under fire some
seven henna, and the general result upon the
front of Ledlie's Brigade was its advance frill a%
quarter of a mile,. -
The 2nd and 3d Divisions of the 9th 'Corps,
Germ: Parke and Potter upon the left and right
of Crittenden, were also advanced', and found
the enemy in strong position.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT:
HEADQUART,ERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,}
THE FIELD, May 18, P. M.
The close of another day finds the Union and
rebel armies in about the same relative ppsi
tipns which they have occupied for several days
past. We had hopes this morning that it might
be otherwise.
-A heavy force had been concentrated during
the night upon the right, and our line was con
siderably extended in thkit direction. It was
hoped by an early assault /that the enemy's left
'night he broken, and his heft flank turned, and
success was more reasonably to be expected as
theattack wits to be-made from a portion ofthe
line supposed to have, been abandoned by us in
our movement towards the left.
'Everything having been-put in readiness du
ring the night thd assault was made at early
dawn as intended. The 6th Corps, Gee .Wright,
on the extreme right, the 2d Corps next, and
further on to the left a portion of Gen. Burn
side's Corps.
Early as the assault was commenced, the en
-cal was found to be perfectlywide awake, and
fully prepared. Their advance line was readily
pushed back, and our troops re-took the rifle
pits captured in the assault of the 12th inst.,
without difficulty, but on advancing against the
next line of intrenchments they soon tound that
they were to encounter earnest - resistance.
The enemy opened fire upon us from a num
ber of batteries, flouring 'into our ranks a de
structive storm ot canister. Their lireadworks,
extremely'strong and elaborate in theinselves,
were defended in front - by a great depth of
abattis, through which our men would have to
tear their way, exposed all the time to a deadly
fire from the rebels ip their pits.
Such an attempt would haye cost thmisands
of lives within a very few minutes, and, the im
practicability being perceived, our troops were
at once withdrawn. There was but little mull
,ketry,and our chief loss was-sustained from the
fire of the enemies artillery.
The behavior of our troops, generally, was all
that could be desired. Although this assault
was not successful there is no discouragement
whatever. Gen. Meade is observed to be pe
culiarly cheerful, and the feeling is quite gen
eral throughout the army.
It is confidently expected that Gene. Grant
- ,
and Meade have plans matured, and are Malting
pvepcarrying them Out, by which
N r e ea ara n tions for
scarcely fail to be triumphant in, a few
days. It is no cause for impatience that we do
not rush madly forward and waste our strength
in storming powerful fortifications. There are
other and cheaper ways of accomplishing it.
News fr om Grant to BA.M. of Friday—
Th e EnemY Attempt to Turn Our
Hi g ht Flank—They are Repulsed, and
Gi v e it Vp—We Take 300 Prisoners—
Onr toss 150 killed and Missing, and
600 'Wounded—Re-enforeements 1:o r
Meade.
~ WAR DEPARTMENT. IV ASIIINGTON,
Friday. May 20-6: 30 P. M.
clThis afternoon we have dispatches date at
8.1 this morning, from Gen. Grant.
Last evening an effort was made by Ewell's
corps to turn our. right. They 'were promptly
repulsed by Birney's and Tyler's divisions, - and
some of Warren's troops that were on the en
tirerighq About 300 prisoners fell into our
hands, beside many killed' and wounded. Our
Lois foots t up . a little ever 900 wounded and 150
killed and.uussing.
Gen. Grant says that probably our killed and
missing are overstated.
' Over 25,000 veteran rteenforcements have
been for Warded to Gen. Grant. The condition
of the army and his contemplated operatiOns
are entirely satisfactory. The army is abun
dantly supplied.
Under instructions from this Department la_
Col. Sehriver, commanding at Fredericksburg
ands vicinity, nine purse& are in custody
whAre suspected to have been engaged with
Mayor Slaughter. •
The Mayor bad made his bseape betore intel
ligence of the outrage reached Fredericksburff. ,
Dispatches from Gen. Sherman. dated' at e
Kingston, 10 o'clock last ' night, state that du
ring the day he had pushed a column beyond
that place in pursuit ofJohnston, as far as Cass
vile, and there wag shirtnishingin the latter
part of the day with Hardee's corps. The
oars were ,expected • to reach Kingston to-day.
A. hard fight for Atlanta is looked for.
No reports have been received from Gen.
Butler to-day. , :
Mnj. Gen. Hunter has been placed in com
mand of the Department of West Virginia. in
eluding the Shenandoah Valley. ,
Latest, dates from Maj. Gem Canby were at
Vicksburg. ~
_
The Re(' River was reported to be blockaded
by the - shornbatteries of the•enemy at different
points. But measures had been taken by, him,
which were believed to be adequate, for clear
ing the river of all snub obstrudtions and to
enable him to reach Alexandria,-where he will
take command of the army.
E. M. STANTON, See''y of War.
From Vt'ashlngto a—Large Rein force.
Menlo Received by ,Grant—The Com
ing Draft..
s 1 WASHINGTON, May 15.
Maj. Gen. Cadwallader, Philadelphia
have no report of operations since my last dis
patch. The latest information from Gen. Grant
was that the
-roads bad been greatly improved.
Large reinforcements had reached him, and he
designed to move against the enemy. , wittuiut de
lay. It is the design of the Governmenttokeep
up the National forces until the rebellion is-over
thrown ;and in order to.provide against a'ny
inopportune reduction when the service-of the
hundred-days' men go out, a draft to till their
places, and all other reductions, will be ordered
to take place on the Ist of July,.by which time
the new enrollments will be completed. No
'order is yet issued. • '
E. M. STANTON, Sec'y of War.
Dispatch Drops Secretary Stanton.
WASHINGTON, May 21.
To .11frij. Gen. Diz :—Dispatches from Gen.
Sherman state that our forces found in Romp a
good deal of provisions and seven *le iroh-works
and machinery. We have Secured the good
bridges and an excellent ford across the Etowah.
The cars are now arriving Kingston with stores,
and two days would be given to replenish and
fit up.
A dispatch just received from Gee. Banks,
dated at Alexandria, the Bth of May, statesthat
the data will be,completed to morrow; , May 9th,
and the - gunboats relieved. He would then
move immediately for the Mississippi.
Geit. Cauby ' was at the month of the Red
river, on the 14th of May, ceillecting :forces to
assist Banks if necessary.
Dispatches from Gen. Butler. dated at 10
o'clock last night, report that he had been fight
ing all day, the enemy endeavoring to close in
on our lines. We shall hold, on. We have
captured the rebel Gen. Walker,, of the Texas
troops. E. M. STANTON, Scey:of Wan.
Secretary Stanton to Gen. Dik—Grant's
Flank Movement so far Successful—.
Advice* from Gens. Canby and Sher
man—Nothing from,Butler. , .
WAR DEPARTMENT, WASIIINTTUN,
May V, le64—:lo' P. M. 1.
To Maj.-Gen. Dix : On Friday evening Gen.
Grant commenced a movement for the purpose
of compelling - Lee to abandon his; position at
Spottsylvania (the details Of which 'for obvious
reasons should not be made public). It has
thus fur progressed successfully. Longstreet's.
corps started south at 1 o'clock Friday night,'
an hour and a half after Hancock 'moved.—
Ewell's Corps followed Longstreet last night.
The indications are that the Rebel army hits fal
len back beyond the North Anna.
Hoke's brigade has joined Lee
The movement of Gen. Grunt has, thus far
been accomplished witliout any stirions inter
ruption. We now occupy Giiiney's Station,
Milford Station, and south' of theldottapony,
on that line)
A dispatch received thismorinng froui,Gen.
Canby dated May 14, at the mouth of theßedi
River, says :
" We have &errs today , from Rebel sources
that the' gunboats, except two, succeeded in
getting over the falls at Alexandria, on the day
mentioned in Gen. Banks's dispateh."
No dispatches hitve been received to-day from
Gen. Butler.
- . -
Dispatches from Kingston, Georgia, state that
Gen. Sherman's forces are resting and; replen
ishing their supplies.
I E. M. STANTON, Sec'y of war. _
1 Loss of General Officers.
The loss of able General officers in each army.
is oftentimes one of the most serious they can
sustain. 1. Through we have only very limited
informatiodiegarding the • Rebel losses in the
late battles, we can . yet compare the losses of
the two armies in this respect, as follows;
• -
THE RATI9NAI, ARMY.
Billed—Maj. lien. Sedgwick, of Connecti
cut ; Brig. Gens. Wadsivorth and Rice, of New
York; Stevenson. of Massachusetts; Hayes, of
Pennsylvania—total, 5.
Wounded—Brig. Gen. Torbert, of New jer
sey ; Robinson of 'the Regular Army ; Getty of
the same ; Webb, of New York ; Baxter, of
Pennsylvania; W. H. Morrie, of Now York—
total 6.
Captured—Brig. Gens. Shafer, and Seymour
Total number disabled-13
Gens. , Bartlett and Owens were also very '
slightly Wounded, bat as they are still at the
head of thitir brigades' in -the field, they cannot
be considered hors du combat,
THE REBEL - ARMY
}Killed—Maj. Gen. J. E. - 8.-Stuart, of Vir
ginia ; Gens. Jenkinsy:of South tatiolian;
J. M. Jones, of Virginia L. A.. Stafford, of
Lonisiana-4.' ' - • •
Wound6ll—Lieut. Gen. Longstreet, of
inia; Maj. Gen Heth, of Virginia;-Maj. Gen.
Piclietf, of, Virginia; Brig: Gens. Pegram, of
Virginia ; Walker, of Virginia ; Hays of Louis
iana ; Bening, cif Georgia--T7. „N •
Captured—Maj. Gen.-Johnson. Brig. Gen.
Georgh H. Stuart, ofMa ryland2. Total num
ber of Rebel General officers disabled-14. g,
FROM QEN. BUTLER.
DEMONSTRATION ON FORT DARLING.
Beattregard reinforced by .loogstrett's Corps.
The Enemy Repulsed !at Every Point.
OUR moss 13
BEICISITD.VITUNDRF:D, MaylB
All is'quiet with our army to-day. The.ob
jeet of the demonstration on Fort Darling was
merely to draw off and entertain as many of
Lee's troops as possible, and also to attract the
attention of all the rebel forces in and about
Richmond, to enable Oen. - Kautz to destroy the
emmnutheations south of Itichniond.
.
On Monday , ! 16th, the rebels came ,out of
their • entrenchments and carthWorks in front of
Fort Darling, at daybreak, having been heavily
reinforced by Longstreet's Corps, and made,
:three advances, all of which were.promptly re
pulsed by our men.'
- The'enemy lost in these charges from one
thousand to fifteen hundred men, while our loss
was very slight. . .
Gen. Butler having 'learned that Beauregard
'as heavily reinforced by: Longstreet's Corps,
lid also ascertained by the rebel papers and
rebel couriers that the bridge over the Appa
matOx river and several miles of the Danville
Railroad were destroyed, and that the dams,
locks and,embanktnents of ,the canal leading
into Richmond were also destroyed.
He decided to fall back from before Fort
Darling, and gave orders accordingly, and by
:Monday evening our armies had generally ar
rived behind our new lines ' of entrenchments,
having retired in perfeetzder, except General
Heckman's brigade, Whi.V`was badly disorgan
ized and . Gen. Heckman captured. Thiebrig
ade.formed the extreme right wing. Three. of
our sieg4 guns fell into , the hands of the rebels,
the horses being killed. The guns were spiked.
At present it is impossible to estimate our loss,
as stragglers are constantly coming in. We
have lost many prisoners; but their loss in killed
and wounded
. pxceeds ours , as our men were
protested by entrenchments. Several of Long
street's men were captured, who said his whole
force was co-operating with Beauregard.
FROM SOUTH-WEST VIRGINIA!
Good News from Gen. Averill !
REBELS-'DEFEATED - NEAR WYTHEVILLE!
• CINCINNA May 19.
,Despatches have peen received - here dated
Gauley Bridge, West _Virginia, 3:14 IS, giving
an account of a brilliant victory often,
(on the right of our main body of Crook'S army,)
over the Rebels. ,On the 10th instant General
Averill, reached a point-"within folly miles of,
Wytheville, where,he encountered the enemy—
four thousand strong—,under .Geff. Saul Jones
He fought them four hours, - driving them - and
wounded many and capturing some prisoners.
Under cover of darkness the enemy retreated.
Our loss was one hundred 'and twenty killed
and wounded—none missing. Near Blaeksbury
Gen. Averill's command commenced destroying_
the railroad, which was most effectually done
to a point four miles east of Chrietiansburg.—
At the latter a small force of the enemy
hastly retreated, leaving two .three-inch guns,
which we captured. --
HANCOCK'S' SP_LENDID CH OkIIGE.
The special ,
correSpondenee of the Tunes,
writing on Friday, gives the fdlloWing vivid ac
count of Ebuenek'i charge upon the enemy's
works.:
-"I have just. returned from the scene-of Gen.
Hancock's brilliant victory of Thursday- morn
ing. At the point at which his assault was
made, the rebel breastworks formed. an angle
or salient, and his ' 1 men advanced silently and,
without firing a shot, entered the works_ at the
salient and swept.icp the inside of the right,
ranking the splendid hunt of prisoners already>,
known to you. thifortunateiy. the, supporting
line cheered when nearing -the works, other
wise we would the prisoners say, bare captured
both Ewell.and
"The assault Was made between four and
five o'clock,-in the gray of the morning. Bar
low's division,, which had 'the advance, Milks'
brigade leading, went Up in column by battalion
double on the centre ; Birney's division in two
lines,bf battle; and the divisions of Gibbon and
.Mott; in the second line, supporting. The
'storming columh 'rushed over the enemy's
breastworks, which were C•xceedingl,)' strong,
with a ditch in front, and drove the enemy back
for a mile. Here the enemy rallied, and Han
cock at 6 A. M. returned and formed hisline of
battle in the enemy'S works. As this was the
key of the whole position our right was gradu-,-
ally re-fused, and the main body of the army
massed on the left. The 6th Corps (Wright)
which had been. do the right of the 2nd with
drew behind their skirmish line and unitedwith
Hancock's right, and afterward two divisions of
Warren's _were brought over. The history of
the day after 6 o'clock in the morning is all
summed up in five successive and fierce assaults
which Lee made to retake the lost position. At
first Ewell's Corps 'alone confronted Hancock,
but during- the day -Hill and Longstreet were
drawn over from the rebel left, and the whole
"army of Lee flting itself in five desperate efforts
to. recapture the breastworks. But it all
in vain, as every assault met a bloody repulse.
"So terrific Was the death-grapple, however,
that at'different times ,of the day the rebel col
ors Were planted on - the one side of the works
and'olirl on the other, the men fighting across
the - PMPet , Nothing during the war has
equallect.-the' savage desperation of this struggle,
which continued- for fourteen hours, and the
scene of the conflict, from which I have just
come, `presents a spectacle of horror that cur
, Ales the blood of the boldest. The angle of the
works at which Hancock entered, and for the
possession of which the savage fight of the dot
was made, is a perfect Golgotha. N. In this angle
of death the . &Aid and wounded rebels lie, this,
!IL 71. WHOLE NO.. 3,658.
morning; literally in piles—men in the agonies
of dA.ath groaning* 'beneath the - dead bodies of
their comrades. On an area of a few acres in
rear of their position lie not less than a thousand
rebel corpses, many literally torn to shreds by
hundreds of balls, and several with bayonet
thrusts through and through their bodies, pierc-,
-ed on the very margins of the parapet, which
they were determined to retake or perish in the'
attempt. The one exclaniation of every man
who looks on the spectacle is; "God forbid
that I should ever gaze upon such a sight
again."
'Hancock's movement is regarded here as
the most brilliantly-conceived and executed tac
tical operation of the war, and has added to the
splendid fame he won in the three days' 6ghtin
the Wilderness. After the turning movement
of the morning the 6th Corps and two divisions
of the 2nd should be included in the history
of the day. They share the honors of the glor
ious, but bloody field of Spott.sYlvania. Our
loss of yesterday must reach ten thousand."
CONDITION OF RETURNED PRIG
' ONERS.
The Committee on the Conduct of the,War,
has made a report to Congress, on the condition
'of the Federal . prisoners, - returned from Rich
mond, who have 'arrived at Annapolis. Froni
an examination made at the request of the Sec
retary of War, it is proved beyond all doubt, in
tbe'estimation of ,the Committee, that the Re
bel authorities have determined to' subject oar
Soldiers and officers Who fall into their hands to
physical and mental, suffering impossible to de
scribe, many presenting now the appearance of
living skeletons, literally little more than skin
and bones, some maimed for life, and some fro
zen by lying without tent or covering on'the
bare ground at Belle Isle.' The general prac
tice is shown to be the robbery of the prisoners,
as soon as they ,'were taken, of all money, valu
ables and good clothing. The food allowed
was totally insufficient to preserie the health
of &child. It consisted usally of two pieces of
bread made of corn and cob meal, badly cook-
ed, with about two ounces of meal, unfit to eat.
and occasionally a few black - . worm eaten beans.
They'were obliged to sell clothin< , received
from home to •buy food •to sustain life. Those
in the hospitals were little better fed. Worn
and neglectea wounds remained for days on
dressed. One witness, when„ asked if he was
hungry, replied : " Hungry 7 • I could eat any
thing in the World that came before me." They
were submitted to unmerciful and murderous
treatment from those in charge of them. They
were shot and killed for violating rules of
which they had no knowledge. When they
arrived at AnnapOlis their clothing was so filled
with vermin that it had to be destroyed, and
repeated washings failed to relieve their heads
and bodies of the pests. They aro now dying
daily, and the physicians in charge entertained
no doubt that there emaciation and death are
directly caused by the brutal and- merciless
treatment received while prisoners of war.
The testimony shows that the treatment re
ceived at Columbia and Dalton was far more
humane than at Richmond. The Committee
say that - they cannot resist the conclusion that
these inhuman 'practices are the result of a de
termination on the part'of the rebel authorities
to reduce our soldiers by privations and expo-
sure to Such a condition that they never will be
able to render effective service in the field—the
result, like the massacre of Fort Pillow, of a
predetermined policy. They deem it evident
that the rebel newspaper statements, claiming
for the prisoners the same treatment received
by their ou,asoldiers, are glaring and unblusli-.
ing falsehoWl ; and say no one can for a mo
meat be deceived by such Statements who will
reflect that our soldiers, whop when taken p . ria-
Oners, were stout, healthy men, in the prime
and vigor of life, have died by hundredi under
the treatment they have received.
The Washington Republican adds this, state
-ment : " We learn from conversation with one
of the members of the Committee that the scene
witnessed by them at A nnapolis beggars descrip
tion. Of the four hundred men returned—offi
cers and privates—who arrived at Annapolis a
few days since, one hundredqtave since died of
rebel starvation, and one huhdred more, it is
believed by medical men, cannot live. So
emaciated are manyof the men that photograph
ic artists were employed by the committee to
take pictures Of them, for the purpose of show
ing their actual condition and appearance to
both Houses of Congress."
IMPORTANT TO SOLDIERS.
The-following letter from Gov: Curtin to Col.
Frank Jordan, the Military Agent of this State
in Washington, gives important information to
soldiers and their friends :
EXECUTIVE CFIVIIRER, 1
Ilartazsav am, May 18,1864.
CoLoriEL: Having commissioned you as Co
lonel, and Major Gilleland as Lieutenant Colo
nel, I beg leave to call your attention to the first
section of the act of 4th of May, 1864, enlarg
ing the military agency at Washington: "That
the agency heretofore established at Washing
ton by the Governor be enlarged so that the
agent and assistant agent shall have the rank,
pay and allowances of Colonel and Lieutenant
Colonel respectively, to be paid by the Allis.
tent General,-and that the duties of the said
agency be enlarged so as to include the collec
tion of pay, pensions and bounties due to Penn
sylvania volunteers, without charge or expense
to such volunteers—and such other duties as
the Governor may from time to time direct."
In thus reorganizing and enlarging the pow
ers of'the agency heretofore established by me,
the Legislature intended that all the pay, boun
ties, pensions and gratuities of the government
should be collected for the Pennsylvania volun
teer or his family, without charge or expense
to him or them. You will immediately prepare
the agency for the performance of these addi
tional dittiei,-and on your requisition, the nec
essary blanks and books will be provided by the
Quartermaster General of the State. As here
tofore, Dr. J, A. Philips, Assistant Surgeon
General of the State, will remain on duty - at
the city of Washington, and you will continue
so far as possible to provide in every way for
the comfort and efficiency of our volunteers.
the eare of the sick and wounded, for sendieg.
home the bodies 'of those who may die is ths:
service, and to perform all other services that
in your judgment may be proper and receitsa9g_
for the benefit of the citizens of Pennsylvania.
now in the military service of the Government.
The Act of Assembly to which Ihave‘referr
ed authorizes me to appoint two: clerks when
deemed necessary to he employe:l inthe agen c y,
Of such necessity you must be the judge, and I
will appoint clerks on your nomination,
The success of the iinportaut work thus en.
trusted you willitepend, thainly upon yourself *
and I feel sag that ksma will conduct it in
such* maneer as will giv.e, satisfaction to the
people of tile State, and' fella all the expects.
tions, of the. Legislature is tie passage of thin
moat benevolent act(
• Xery respeetfu,lly, your olet eery%
A. G. CunTts.
Col..Fitstrctik,Joapitt!, Agent, Pennsylvania,