The New York herald., 1863-07-08
GENERAL DIX IN Chief COMMAND.
The Troops in the Field Placed Under General
Keyts, with General Getty as
Second in Command.
SEIRMISBES on THE LINE or ROUTE.
The Engagements Between Colonel
Vests Brigade and the Rebels,
&c.. &C.. &s.
Mr.. stephen Hayes Dispatches.

HEAD uARrgRs FOURTH Amy CORPs,
In nn FInD, July 2, 1853. J
The object Of the reoccupaton Of the peninsula ground
rendered ever raoe by The battles Of last year.
being rapidly developed by the fresh events trans
piring here. not Of much passing interest and
national importance the casual observer were those
which eliminated from time 70 time during the previous
campaign, yet they may be fraught with advantages
70 the nation equal 70 those ardently hoped f,r
and confidently anticipated Iom Gen ,ral McClel
lan's operations against Richmond in 1882. The best
eSbr,s the most single devoteduess Of purpose, with
the practical experience Of patriot soldier are strained
10 tbe accomplishment Of the important duties entrusted
70 The general commanding the operations Of this depart
ment In the field.
REoCcuPArIoN THE PENINSULA BY GENERAL KEYEs
was determined on by tho government several weeks
ago. and communicated to N jor General Dix, command
ing the Department Of Virginia. The government at the
same time selected Major General +. d. Keyes TO com
nand the forces which intended 10 concentrate
therc and TO carry those plans which being
demonstrated 70 the country No prudent and ju
dicious selection could have been made In view Of the
DUTY 10 be performedoperating In an enemys country
for General Keyes commanded corps under General Nc
Celan that BILE chiefs rst occupation OF the penin
sula til evacuation Of Il. He participated every
action, and conspicuousy distinguish. himself At the
battles Of Fair Oaks q ID Seven Pines.
GENERAL KEyES ACTIVITY.
On being informed the views OF the government
his appointment TO the command Of the forces the
insula, General Reyes set 10 work TO the
forces intended for him. and 70 great extent super,n-
tended many Of the details Of dsembarkaon and ioca
ton camp Of the various regiments - they arrived
large number Of troops having been concentrated
Yorktown, and supplies collected tho river Colonel
Spear whh the Eleventh Pennsylvania cavalry and some
New York and Massachusetts, cavalry, made a sudden
dash the White House, and drove OIL the rebels who
had been up 70 that time holding It, The troops collected
Yorktown then hurried 70 the White House, and
General Keyes then submitted the plan operations 70
General DIX which he s now carrying out, and which
tha. general approved.
oBJECT on THE FIpKDruos.
General Keyss, after due deberaton and much study
Of the subject the chances agains. success, and
after ascertaning nearly possible the strength
served for the deences Of Richmond and It's approaches
determined 70 make reconnaissance in force by two
routes 70 The rebel capital as might be. For
this purpose two separate forces were necessary at the
outset only For according TO the design Of the general
commanding, it was expected that both, acting pre-
arranged plans, would be able to join their forces at
the point fixed Tor each the limit Of the march,
continuing the march forward on returning ~ their
encampmenls st White House, might at the time be
deemed most desirable both forces at this time being
supposed TO have accomp shed their separate undertake
outline OF what they will be enough
at this point especially as regards the expedaon under
accompanying the expedition Will give you full nforma.
tion on that head, and will but refer to General Getys
instructions In SO far as II Is necessary 70 explain General
Keyes' movements.
GEsxRAL cErrY's orERAross-oESERAL KEYEs' rnNr
General Getty, with force consisting OF Infantry,
cavalry and artillery probably to the amount OF
eight thousand men started from White House under in
struci,ons TO proceed Hanover Junction, and
there completely possible destroy South and North
Anna bridges and much OF the railway track lime
and his strength would enable him TO accomplish This
doppfb fbp al be
cut of from all railway communication with that capital
imperative necessity TO carrying into execution
muortant project OF General keyes In carrying
out this preliminary plan the commanding general selected
himself what he expected and desired 10 he the ghtng
part of the programme. This to start from White
HOUSE with force Of some five thousand men, composed
OF the three arms IN military proportion 70 demonstrate
against whatever force might b. iouad guarding the
ChcKahomny, possible TO bring them out, lure them
for little distance from their cent al position
Bottom bridge for General Getty clear and unob
structed roads, and, when advantageous position
olered form line battle and attack whatever rebel
foe might be opposed 10 him This latter alternative,
however 10 be adopted only IN two ntingenccs-one
The OF the rebels attacking the other should
be found desirable offer them battle even on
ground. with fair prospect OF and the
event General Getty operations being any way
pendent on such action This, briefly was the plan laid
down BY General Keyes and the OBJ ect sought 10 be at
tanned by the expedition which accompanied.
Pursuant general orders the commanders OF brgades
batteries and detachments reported at headquarters
Tuesday evening" for special instructions for the order Of
march On the following morning "Wednesday the en-
OF preparation. little before daylight the advance
troops Of General Gettys command were the march,
and the guard hurrying forward when rum
pet and drum called the troops composing General Reycs
expedition into lipe. AT the appointed hour, almost
n the minute, the advance cavary vdeies took the
road 10 Baltimore Cross Roads followed immediately by
the head OF the advanced column. The troops carried
but Two days stons and hundred rounds q amun
tion per man, the march much possible beng
encumbered by baggage wagons and trains, rapid move
ments and long marches being anticipated. Only
wagon was allowed to each brigade bcadquarlers obe 10
and two 70 the Pennsylvan cavalry proper allowance
of ambulanccsso read the orderswere allowed to each
column
Scarcely had the head of the nrst column begun
on the outskt q the eDcampment when kcyes aud
stat rode from headquarters towards the front Tho
Generals s,ar tho occasion composed OF the FOL.
head, MAJOR jackson, Capt. Howard and Capt. Rice.
Through the Kindness of Capt Howard was mounted
a captured secesh horse which kept well up th
the sta during the march and the many inspections per
sonay made by the General during the two days Of our
operations The usual line and order of march were Oh.
served during the expedition.
MARCH
In this order the expedition took up the march for Bal
more Cross Roads-the rst designated batting place on
the route 70 Bottom bridge The morning, ike many
succcedng ones was cloudy and threatening rain, and
for the rst mile the lay through opening n the
woods, the read being 10 many places aoodcd and in
OF very badly rutted and cut up. AT eight o'cbck
marty and good sumor . & .s aSs
and laughed along tho road The rst pola Of interest
resched wa. 81. Peters church, where Gen Washington
married The memories attached The sacred edpee
from this circumstance appeared known to many 10
the rans-men who served in the pennsui1 campaisn-
and, from time 10 time the church caune iu view
the vecrans pointed II out 70 their younger eompanions
with an expianatiou d the interest attached u a. Once
twios the columns had be halted from the imp6,
mens the broken roads but these we're OF short
duration Gen kcyes not permitting the slightest "
OF energy at any point under any circusn stapecs
when abouf bsk the distance between wbits House and
Baltimore Cross Roads had been gained HrsaAter sere
raj Terry joioed 10 with bis sta and the two gsaraA
rode together, chatting on military matters. Prcc,sey
MT twelve O'Clock the head Of the advancing co,,rn
reached Baltinpore trcfs Roads
rHs foR,k was rHRs D4~wyn.
and General Kcyes, with bis staff rode 10 the front
the road inquiry ws made 10 the appearance
of rebels when the Gcnersi infcrmed that reboi
pickeis had been within three and four mne~ OF
whe Hosse every day FOR several days, ard that they
had fsijen back beore videt,es that mornlg
General Keyed having gone 70 The extreme 'front.'
foFnef by Colonel West that he had been Snaepg the
b,stlwhackers from The woods sarCund Hail,~e ,r~s
Roads and that he thought tbc enemy force