The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-05-27
WASHINGTON, May %, 10 P. NJ.

To Gen. Dir:
On Friday evening Gen. Grant commenced a
movement for the purpose of compelling Lee
to abandon his position at Spotsylvania, the
details of which for obvious reasons should not
be made public. 1t has thus far progressed
successfully.
Longstreet's corps started south at 1 o'clock
Friday night, an hour and half after Hancock
moved. Ewelrs corps followed LOngstreet
last night. The indications are that the rebel
army has fallen back beyond the North Anna.
Hooker's brigade has Joined Lee.
The movement of Gen. Grant has thus far
been accomplished without any serious en-
gagement or interruption. We now occupy
Guerney's Station, Milford's Station and south
OF the MatapOny on that line.
A dispatch received this morning from Gen.
Candy, at the mouth of Red River, says we
have rumors to-day from rebel sources that
the gunbOats, except two, had succeeded in
getting over the falls ct Alexandria on the day
mentioned in Gen Banks dispatch.
No dispatch has been received to-day from
Gen. Butler.
A dispatch from Kingston, Georgia, says
Gen. Sherman's forces are resting and replen-
ishing thir supplies.
(Signed) E. M. STANTON,
Secretary of War.
WASHINGTON, May %.
To Nag. Gen. Diz, ". T.:
Dispatches from Maj. General Candy, dated
Mouth of Red River, midnight, May Is, state
that Admiral Porter had reached Alexandria.
The remainder of the gunbOats will arrive to-
night.
Gen. Banks will probably reach Semmesport
on the Atchafalaya tomorrow.
A dispatch from Admiral Porter, dated on
board the flagship Black Hawk, Mouth of Red
River, May 18th, states that the portion of the
squadron above the falls at Alexandria have
been relieved from their perilous situation, ow-
ing to the indefatiguable exertions of Lieut..
Col. Bailey, acting engineer Of the 10th army
corps, who proposed and built tree dam of
six hundred feet across the lower falls, which
enabled all the vessels to pass in safety, the
back water of the Mississippi reaching to Alex
andria, and allowed them to pass over the
shoals and obstacles planted by The enemy to o
point of safety.
Col. Bailey will be Immediately nominated for
promotion for distinguished and meritorious
services as an officer.
An official report from Cairo dated may %,
states that army gunboats were all safe at the
mouth of Red River and Semmesport.
Major General Sherman, by dispatch dated
$3.50 p. NJ. last night, reports that he would be
ready by this morning to resume his opera
tons. Returned veterans and regiments he
says has more than replaced all losses and de-
tachments.
we have no Official reports since my last
telegraph from Generals Grant or Butler.
Official reports of this department show that
within eight days after the great battle OF
Spottsylvania Court House, many thousand
veteran troops have been forwarded to Grant.
The whole army has been amply supplied
with full rations of subsistence. Upwards of
5000 sick and wounded have been transferred
from the field and placed under surgical care
over 5000 prisoners have been transferred
from the field 10 the prison departments and
a large amount of artillery and other nipple
ments of active campaign brought away.
Several thousand fresh cavalry horses have
been forwarded to the army, and the grand
army of the Potomac is now fully us strong in
numbers and better equipped and furnished
than when the campaign opened. Several
thousand reinforcements have also been for
warded to other armies in the field and ample
supplies to all during the same time.
Over 80, 600 volunteers have been mustered
into the service, clothed, armed equipped and
transported to their respective positions.
This statement is due to the Chief of the
army staff and bureau and the respective corps
to whom the credit belongs.
(Signe6 E. NJ. STANTON,
Secretary of War.