Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-05-11
THE PENINSULA ADVANCE.
Details of the Expedition of Gen.
w. T.. Smith toward Richmond
and Petersburg.
Correspondence of the N. Y. world.l


| Correspondence Of the N. Y. World1
CITY POINT Va, May 6.
The James river movement has so far been
accomplished very quietly and very success
! fully. We have met with no opposition,
and therefore no battle has yet been fought
The movement comprised feint and an ac-
tual advance up the James river in such O
manner as it now appears has surprised the
rebels most admirably. 1t is stated, how
ever, i'm such manner as seems worthy OF
belief, that Beauregard has been ordered to
join Lee, and that all the available rebel
forces in this part of the country have gone
to that command witha view OF first giving
battle to Gen. Meade and then turning I'M
mediately upon this command, and annlhi-
lating it, if possible. How much truth
there is in this time alone can determine.
With longing hopes, and anxious eXpecta-
tions, we look to the front, and listen for
the signals that may denote the approach
of an enemy. Gen. Smith (''Baldy'') is quiet
and determined, and is not to be turned
aside from his onward progress; for this
command comprises a number OF brave
men and force of gunboats that can bid
defiance to larger force than the rebels dare
detach from Lees immediate presence.
The writer then proceeds to describe the
feints made towards Richmond by way OF
Yorktown, West Point and the White
House, heretofore noticed in the telegraph.
The feint appears to have been successful.
Becoming satisfied that the James river
would take care of itself, the rebels aban-
doned their works at City Point and push
ed in the direction of Bottoms bridge, to
dispute the passage of the Chickahomlny
They were exactly following out the plans
of our military leaders, who did not intend
this force to cross at Bottoms bridge.
Might came, and the troops at White
House, West Point and Yorktown re-em-
barked upon the transports, and lay down
upon the decks and in the holds to slumber
in security. From Bottoms bridge the reb-
ell pickets still peered with anxious eyes in
to the surrounding darkness, and rebel
guerrillas sklllked among the shadows from
bush to bush, fancying they saw CLEAN OF
the sentry's mllsket, and heard in the sigh
inc of the wind the distant beat of evening
taps. Among our soldiers there was little
speculation as to where they were going
next. They saw that they were evidently
performing side-play in the grand trag-
edv upon which the curtain was about to
rise but they were content and slept
soundly, pillowing their heads sometimes
upon each others breasts. All that night
the boats with these troops steamed down
the York river, and rounded the point, some
of them anchoring till morning at Hamp-
ton Roads, where they lay almost notion
less in the quiet waters While the army
slept.
THE GRAND EXPEDITIoN-HoWR RICHMOND Is
TO BE ISOLATED FROM THE SOUTH.
1t was evident that to make the battle
against Lees army and Richmond thorough
ly successful, the rebel capital must be
isolated from the South-that is, its railroad
communications must be cut off so that,
when Lee is defeated by General Meade,
and Richmond assaulted by this force from
the James river, there must be no train OF
cars, with ''steam up" ready to whistle OIL
the retreating army and rebel leaders into
the center of the Confederaay. According
lv cavalry expedition was organized, con-
sisting of some thousands of men well
mounted, under command of Brigadier
General A. V. Kautz. This force left Suf-
folk on the morning of the day before yes
terday TUESDAY, the Sd instant), for Hick-
ford. on the Weldon, Petersburg, and Rich
mond railroad. At this place he will de-
stroy the railroad which connects Richmond
with North Carolina. The road at that place
passes over a bridge some two hundred and
fifty feet long, and the work of destruction
can therefore be easily performed when the
expedition arrives there.
General Kautz's command may be called
an independent one, as he will be mostly
without communications with any part of
the grand armies; and he will probably
hover about the extreme rear OF Richmond,
keeping a shap lookout at the "back-doors"
of the rebel city. Who knows but that
jeff. Davis himself may try to flee, dis
-, nta1 r1poly on1 tb ~
some gallant cavalryman may have the
chance of marching him into General
Kautz's presence at the point of the saber.
In conjunction with this force another
cavalry expedition is riding up, already be-
yond Yorktown, under Colonel West, with
view of harassing the enemy along the
peninsula, and doing duty which shall be
both feint and real movement.
THE REAL ADVANCE.
The real advance up the James river was
by the Tenth and Eighteenth army corps,
to City Point where it arrived.
The following is list of the gunboats
and ironclads engaged in this advance
Acting Rear Admiral Samuel p. Lee, on
the steamer Malvern (tlag-ship), command
ing the naval forces:
RoNcLADs-Onondaga Tecumseh, Can
onicus, Saugua, Atlanta.
DOUBLE -ENDER GUNBoATs - Eutaw,
Mackinaw, Hunchback, Osceola, Commo-
dore Morris, Commodore Jones, Delaware,
Dawn. Shawsheen, and Putnam.
OTHER GUNBoATs-Mount Washington,
Sassacus, Commodore Perry, Commodore
Barnes, Stepping Stones, Poppy, General
Putnam, Zouave, Cohasset Young Amer
lea. Hydrangia, and Rose.
The naval Brigade, Brigadier General
Charles X. Graham, has the following sew
en- Flagship Charles Chamberlain, Fos-
ter Reno, S. J.. Brewster, General Burn
side, Flora Temple, and Jessup.
There are also ninety-nine transport
steamers, forty schooners, and seventy
barges and gunboats. Several of the boats
were fitted up as hospitals.
The landing at City Point was also effect
ed without difficulty, owing, perhaps, to
| the York river ruse, or more probably to
the fact that the rebels have no considera-
BILE force in this vicinity, all being sent tc
Lee, The flag-of-truce steamer New York
i'm charge of Major Mulford, lay,at the point
with four hundred rebel prisoners on board
who had not yet been received by the Con.
federates. The Major stood upon the deck
as the expedition passed, making no sign o.
recognition. :,
To-day further advance will be made
son to Richmond" or rather Fort Darling
and Drury's Bluff. The gunboats and mon
itors will doubtless make the attack, per
haps by noon, while the infantry and fielt
| artillery ATTEMPT to storm the works from