The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1864-05-11
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC
Two Days Fighting In Virginia.
Gen. Lee. Defeated and IN
Retreat.

wlthou serious opposition. thursday
LEE attacked our moving columns with
his entire force, for the purpose of break
ing the army in two. In this he failed
Not more than one-haif of General
MEADE's army was engaged, yet the
ground was held in the main. On Friday
the fight was renewed under more favor
able auspices on our side. and the enemy
was driven a considerable distance,
leaving his dead and badly wounded in
our hands. Up to eleven clock Saturday
morning there had been no fighting, and
LEE was believed to be retreati, o The
result, therefore, Of the two DAYS. fight
ing was an indecisive victory over the
rebels-Indecisive in so far that the
victory cannot be considered complete
until the enemy is crushed There is q
report that LEE left 5000 killed and 10.
900 wounded on the field but this is
probably an exaggeration; but his losses
Z were doubtless very heavy, as were also
those of the Union army. The particu-
lars which we publish of Thursday
battle, show that the conflict was a des-
perate one; and was almost exclusively a
musketry contest, it being impossible.
owing to the peculiar character of the
ground, to use artillery TO any extent.
The Army of the Potomac fought SPLEEN
didly, and the rebels did the same On
Thursday night BURNsIDE's Corps ar
rived, having made forced march from
Manassas egualing those celebrated
marches which he made in East Ten
nessee. This enabled GRANT to hurl a
tremendous force against LEE on Friday.
which resulted in driving him back
several miles, GRANT, according to late
dispatches, was pursuing. LEE can
hardly receive re endorsements, while
GRANT must be further heavily strength
ened. SIGELs corps, which left
Martinsburg a week ago, must now be
near at hand, and Gen SMITHS forces
from Fortress Monroe are also expected
to form a junction with GRANT. Weak
ened, therefore, as LEE has been, and
GRANT gaining strength as he moves,
there seems to be excellent ground upon
which to base hopes for results that shall
decisively triumph. Gen Buffers
movement from Fortress Monroe, which
is part Of General GRANTS comprehensive
plan, was also n success. He landed
safely and without opposition at City
Point, south of the James river, and only
fifteen miles from the rebel Capital A
late dispatch reports that he had taken
Petersburg. This would cut off com
munication by the seaboard line of rail
road, and jeopardize the only remaining
road leading South from Richmond We
also hear from the column which moved
from Charleston, Kanawha, week ago,
under General Crook. 1t reached Prince
ton on Saturday. A force Of twenty
five hundred rebels at that place re-
treated precipitateIy, leaving most of
their equipage behind. The destination
of this column we do not know; but by
this time it has struck the East Tennessee
and Virginia Railroad, when it would be
distant from Lynchburgh something over
one hundred miles. Thus we see our ar
mics are laundering all round Richmond,
simultaneously forming a circle which is
steadily contracting
In the Southwest our armies are also
striking. JOHNSTON is retreating before
SHERMAN, and while THOMAS is striking
i'll front, other Corps arc moving on his
TANKS. 1t is believed that Genera
SHERMAN largely outnumbers JOHNSTON
the latter having it supposed. been weak
end to reinforce LEE, under the i'm
preston that SuERMANs army was being
depleted to strengthen the Army of the
Potomac. There can now be no shifting
of forces from one point to another. The
rebels have concentrated in two armies
We have virtually done the same. The
rebels have put forth their entire strength
We have not done this, to the same
extent; but our forces are largely con
centrated, and the indications now are
that they arc equal TO the work that has
been undertaken. The objective points
are the destruction of the redel armies
Toward this the progress thus far must be
regarded as satisfactory; and with the
determination that is manifested to
gather the fruits of victories, we may
hope for glorious culmi- y of the
Spring campaign. However great may
be the work still before our armies. the
loyal people will find in this mornings
news cause for rejoicing such as has not
been presented since the commencement
of the war. For further grand achieve
ments we shall not, it now seems. have
long to wait.
The casualties reported are: General
Hayes killed; Generals Getty and Gregg.
Colonel Hoys and General Owens,
wounded General Hancock received
a slight wound while ranyiug his men to
resist A. p. Hits onset Two of C eneral
Burnside's staff are reported to have
been killed while carrying dispatches
The action on Friday fought under for
miisos difficulties by our troops. The rebels
were strongly in,re nched. and the wood covered
ground inpsded our operations An attack on
the rebsl positions was ordered at 5 A. NJ. bu,
the vigiIant foe anticipated even this early hour
and Ewel.'s corp. made the fist onset. The
battle was . stubborn one. Again aud again
Lee tried his fayoTi,e game CT attempting TO
break our lines but At ting was he more
than partially and temporarily successful. Our
most notable loss WA the brave General Wads-
worth. Night closed shs bloody contest, our
troops occupying their old ground. Before day
light on Saturday, Lee had begun his retreat
moving directly Tor Richmond. Our army com
meneed pursuit on Saturday. On Sunday our
headquarters were twenty miles south of the
battlefield Fredericksburg has been occupied
a. depot for our wounded Tho losses on bcth
sides were large, but cannot At present b stated
very definitely. We have taken 20O0 prison
ers- Longsreet's wound is described BY Lee in
h,s oof vsrv chesrful r~p,rs of Thars..avss haf