, 1864-05-17

sr1ysnia Court House., immediately aftar-
ward, Warren, who now has tho tenier, All
ranced his line Of battle, drove the re5:ls for
half Z mile. and took up strong position.
Up to the present hour, the situation rema!ls
as here described
The rebels have as yet shown: no iisposi-
tion to assume the offensive ut this point. It
WIS confidently expected on Sunday nlyht
that an attack would take place on Eancocs's
front, toward the Catlarpen Eoad, and on
line With the Brock Road Tie troops sto red
great diligence In owing up brea5tYoras-
and brigade vas advanced out Tor mile or,
more from the main front over some cleared
1uud. About an hour before sunset this at
tack w3s made,, 1nIHediatefy upon the re.
tircm, 1T Of tho advance brigade, tile enemy
charged toward our line, but never reached
it. 1her nut q t.:w guns II position :2l
shelled' the woods for a while, brt aid no
harm. : 4 smGll number of Gen. Birue7's
troope, On whom tie attack was principally
made, were wounded by the enemy's mus.
kerry before they withdrew, having received
more hsrnl than they had done. Before this
attack, our advance could see Hill's corps
marching south to join the main body, op-
posing our progress In front on thc branch Of
sition until it was certain the enemy were
gone, Gen. Hancock did not stay the progress
Of the men engaged In forming breastworks,
but added another line in the open ground
around Todd's Tavern, regiment Of
l.eayy artillery working al night to finish
them. It was very pretty sight. Tie Ian
terms of the workmen hung to the blossom.
ing cherry trees, and picturesque groups Of
soldiers digging and erecting the works,
while batteries stood harnessed M, their can.
nontcrs lying on the groul around the car
riaees, in whiting for any emergency. At
spnrise scouts advanced and found the enc
my in small force; and abont noonday Gen.
Il 7oFfE 13s r. a. 1,cf
position, aId advanced with bis corps toward
the river Po, which By night he had, after
considerable resistance, passed. Gen Bura-
side pushing out on the extreme left ad- :
vanccd to place In front Of SedgwIck's
tnsw Wright's) corps. 4 Reconnaissance by
two regiments vas made. These advanced
'Fsme distance without meeting much resist
ance. At the same timo the c4nnonade along
some portions Of the front mas quite brisk
between ours and the rebel artillery.
The prisoners We have are in apparent good
condition. One fellow, who was taken with
forts to avoid capture, on the ground that it
was currently reported that We should mas
eucre all our prisoners, In revenge Tor the
slaughter Of our negro soldiers.
We have fewer stragg1ers than usual,
though not so few as might be. 1t is not
easy TO stragglc In o country where there ia
no communication, and gueElllas loafaround
lnE in the woods. The Provost guard has
all It can do to keep the lngeters up to their
duty.
Gen. Patrick had quite brigade Of them
one day, and believe had serious thoughts
ot making charge with them.
The same fnto1erable heat which We have
had ever since this movement commenced
still continues, and numerous clses Of coup
de se|ta happen every dry. It il, however,
ene compensation for the heat that 1t keeps
the roads in excellent travelling condition,
saving and excepting ths dust, which Is here
vf most malignant type.
Gen. Wright, who formerly commanded
division OF the 9Th, is now In command Of
that corps SO grievously deprived Of its had
BY the death Of tue beloved sedswiek, the
details Of which yesterday sent you. The
grief Of this sad event intcnsitics as 1t be,
comes known throughout the army An
effort was at first made to keep the sal fact
from the knowledge Of his men. General
Wright is IN excellent soldier, and will coin-
mand the 9th we'll.
The road which our troops faced runs
from Orange Court House to Fredericksburg,
and is forty y-one miles long. It crosaes no
river. Proceeding from Orange Court
House, re como at a distance Of ten miles to
Tcrdiersville; ten miles further brings us to
Park er's Store, SIX miles further to Wilder
ness; five miles further to charlottesville;
ten miles more to Fredericksburg.
Just rs close this letter q heayy cannon
aalng has commenced in the front, for Which
I leave Immediately.