Litchfield enquirer., 1864-05-12

Gen. Wadsworth had two horses killed un- der him, and fell mortally wounded from the third. at one o'clock Friday. Gen. Grant said that he would rather have lost an entire infantry brigade than this brave and wise man.
 LATER-TUEsDAY The news up to Tues day morning fully confirms all that was promised. Monday Gen. Grants victory brightens and looms up in importance as time brings fuller particulars. The official dis patches from Gems. Grant and Meade announ- co that Lee began his retreat on Friday night and on Saturday morning he was promptly pursued by our army. Gen. Hancock, with the Second Corps, pressing forward and pas. sing through spottsylvania Courthouse on Sunday morning. On Sunday, at noon, head quarters of the army were twenty miles south of the battle field toward Richmond. Frede- was occupied by our cavalry at eight o'clock on Saturday evening, and de- pot for the wounded will be at once establish ed there. The news from Gen. Butler is re- garded as favorable. He had Q severe engage. men. on Saturday with Beauregard's troops, in which the latter were driven back, and the railroad destroyed. Among the casualties on our side is Brig. Gen. James s. Wadsworth, killed. Lee, in his report of the battle of Thursday, reports four of his Generals killed aAd wounded, among them Longstreet. severe ly. The news has brought forth from the President the following recommendation for thanksgiving and prayer
 EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, May s,1s64. To the Friends of Union and Liberty:
 Enough is known of army operations with in the last five days to claim our especial gratitude to God. While what remains un- done demands our most sincere prayers to and reliance upon Him, (without whom all human effort is vain.) Irecommend that all patriots at their homes, in their places ofpub- lie worship, and wherever they may be, unite in common thanksgiving and prayer to AL mighty God. ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
 The following are official dispatches from the Secretary of War up to Tuesday morning. Aqj. Gen. Dir
 Dispatches have just reached here direct
  cred yet, but he is '" On to Richmond"
 We have taken two thousand prisoners.
 EDWIN M STANTON,
 Secretary of War.
 WASHINGTON, Monday, May 9-4P
 A bearer of dispatches from Gen. Meades headquarters has just reached here. He states that Lee s army commenced falling back on the night of Friday. Our army commenced the pursuit en Saturday. The rebels were in fuil retreat for Richmond by the direct road. Hanock passed through Spottsylvana Court house at daylight yesterday. Our headquar- ters at noon yesterday were twenty miles south of the battle field We occupy Fredercks- ry occupied that place at 8 o'clock last night The depot for our wounded is established at Fredericksburgh.
 EDWIN NJ. STANTON, Sec'y of War.
 LArEsT.-A special dispatch to the N. Y Times, dated Midnight, May 9th, says:
 A bearer of despatches from Gen. Butler to the President, arrived here this afternoon, and he subsequently, made statement in pres ence of the joint committee on the conduct of the war and the senate military committee
 He states that on Saturday last, Beaure- gard with 1000 men made surprise attack upon General Butler, about ten miles from Richmond. So sudden and unexpected was the attack that General Butler himself mar rowly escaped capture. IAdeed his own or derly was captured within fifty yards of him. The command being in readiness, it quickly passed from the defensive to the offensive DO sition, and the enemy was most signalIy defeated.
 The bearer of dispatches is of opinion that General Butler, having already cut off Beaure- gard, will be in Richmond at an early day, and before Lee or Grant can reach there.
 A special to the Philadelphia Inquirer, dated Washington, May 9th, says that Gen. Meade again meved en the enemy and bad brisk fight at Todd's tavern, just north of Pc river, by night. It was found that the rebel army were retreating on three roads running south toward Richmond.
 Dispatches from Louisville, May 9th. report that Gen. Thomas occupied Dakon Sunday.
 Information hes been received at Washing. ton, of the destruction of the rebel ram, in Albermarl Sound.
 On Sunday the rebels attempted to make another stand, but Meade again fell upon them and the dispatches to night confirm the report that they are retreatng still further to the North Anna river They had succeeded in getting of most of their wounded, up to Saturday night. The colored troops were not put into the engagement, but were held as a reserve with Gen. Burnside. We have lost but two two pieces of artille ry altogether.
 VERY LATEST BY TEL
 EGRAPH.
 Gen. SedSWick Killed We received the following dispatch bv Tele- |