, 1864-05-11
TIE GREET CONFLICT.
Zen. Sutler'S Grand Move.
nGnts
An IHaEEsE FLEET IN TIE
JAMES A1VER,

iur. which nc have compiled from various
sou7cce. It relates to matters with Grant,
Butler and Sherman, and we print them to-
gether ns rarts Of one grand plan Of oper--
tlors:
Hay +, 1864.
TIE ORDERS 1o MOVE AND TIE ADVANCE
The feet was full Of excitement last eve
ming, as orders were received to get under
way Mt an early hour this morning. The
naval portion OF the expedition was IN rcadi-
ness to move on signal and we must credit
The military authorities with being ready
prouptitudc never cxcelled In this or any
otler department Aportion Of our lotilla
was moved up In advance to make arecou-
noissance, and st the s;,ne time to prevent
the gneriilas from harrassing the una-med
transports as they canc up.
AT early dawn thc fron-c1ads, rs we'll as the
rest of the fIotillc, Iove up their auchors and
started ahead. -: It was grind slght-suca an
one as hos never before BEEN Witnessed upon
thtse waters. Five irpn-clads and more than
score Of OGDEN vessels ma ke up onr feet.
We expect before the week has ended to ba
able thr to show rebels tho intention Of our
natal demonstration.
1t the time Of the publication Of this let
ter 1t will be no harm to SAY that the naval
operations are intended to cover the advance
OF tic army, and protect it IRON sharpshoot-
e1s and flying detachmeutAot rebel artillery,
which We may reasonably expect to encoun-
ter IN our passage up this river. The forces
side Of The James River. The 1otilla will
not anly protect the landing, but will keep
far enough 0heAd to prevent the rebels from
annoying the troops during that operation.
TIE REBEL FLIET-AN1 Iron CONTEST DESIRED.
We are aware that tho rebels have three
iron-clads above Fort Darling, and the COM
nandcr OF these vessels may be tempt.d to
come down and try their powers with our
yeseele. Some persons may think that the
clads In our flotii1a; but we must remind
them that not vessel has moved hers for
some days but the fact has been immediately
telegraphed to Richmond. Therefore it is
possible that the Union iron-c1ada may not
have an opportunity to sink, disable or cap
test between the armored vessels. Ths
coming hours arc big with hope and anxiety.
Thousands OF hearts are beating fast with
expectation for the glorious future. Many
claim ere another week has passed away to
tread the streets Of the capital Of the Con
federacy. A1as! many Of these brave fellows
will never see the place- The uner1iug sim
aud the deadly bullet of the foe will lay them
low far this side. Of the goal OF thclr ambi.
ton
MOVEMENTS OF TIE ARMY TRANSPORTS
The army Transports started with the naval
Vessels, and By seven o'clock the whole fleet,
consisting OF about one hundred vessels,
were OIL thelr way up the James River,
| About noon to day the last OF the army yes-
sells started from Newport News. The gun
bo2f Mount Waehtng gton came up late IN the
afternoon, having TWO ordnance and coal
schooners In tow The iron-clad Roanoke Is
stationed Mt Newport News as the flagship OF
1 hat av%A of L.
cope with anything that might slip by our
feet above. l am OF the opinion, however,
that there is no danger of that.
MOVING ur THE RIvER-TnE PREVIOUS FrIar,
The feet passed up the river today With
out experiencing any annoyance from the
gueIillas WHO were supposed to be along the
banks. The whole movement was apparent
y SO unexpected to the rebels that they were
not prepared FOR any demonstration in these
waters. They doubtless expected that our
forces won1d advance from White House !;
for strong force had been sent up there to
1epatr the Wharrce, 10 fell trees and make 3
: great shon. This was done In broad day
Light. and with large fleet Of transports
evidently awaiting the preparations for dis
embarRing. This work WAS prosecuted with
greht vigor during the day, while some of
the transports were sent still further up the
river, their advance being covered by the
| gunboats-
Gen. Butler had given the most positive
| orders II soon Is darkness eet in to re-em-
bark every man and make all possible haste
! in reaching the rendezvous 1t Newport News.
| This movement WAS accomplished during the
| night, aud the whole force was on it, war up
the James River shortly after midnight IN
the mtautime the rebels. who felt confident
that The advance was to be made BY the way
of White House, hastily withdrew their forces
from the James River: At the time tuey
were so engaged, Gen. Butler and Admiral
Lee were quietly, quickly and with certainty
advancing to occupy and to lold the ground
whole movement ID full Of the most consum-
= ate strategy, and hY completely thrown
tic enemy oil their gn1rd. (,
The dotilla IL under command Of Acting
Rear Admiral 8. P Lee, and embraces the
tngshiL Malvern, five iron clads, twenty gun
ers ard seventy barges and canal boats
=: Fon1HEss NoxnoB, May, 4, 1854.
on TUE EVE or MOVING.
ACTIVITY aud silence pervadt everywhere,
and the furious daehing OF ordeElIee, carving
messages from headquarters to the different
chiets Of departments, only breaks the appA-,
dreadful quietuds Is observable In everybody
md everything. The whole scsne betokens
an impending storm, and the set features of
The principal officers and the happy -go-lucky
sort Of appearance Of the rank land file arc
oIhS lne pleiAue u Tue coming 8tf0ggle,
HEADQUARTERS THIS EVENING.
Major General Butler is at his office, sur
rounded bT only one or two fayprites Of his
statf, and Ii perusing some papers which arc
to be disposed of prior to his taking the field.
II he feels the anxiety which ouly General
upon whom Eo great q responsibility rests
can experience, his outward dem eanor does
not Indicate It; for his countcnancc ia "a &C.
rene Us If lie were On the point Of attendiuga
festive party, instead Of gong to the scene Of
strife.
TIE oRaAHlzAT1os or THE TROOPS
to take part in the campaign has been super
vistd by M3jor General ". F.,Smith, who
made his headquarters ut Yorktown. The
18Th Army Corps Is his special command,
with the 10th Corps, under Gencral Q. A.
Gilmore, at present attached to the Depart
likewise commanded By him until the latter
named officer arrived yesterday: from Port
Royal. The 18th Corps WIS encamped at
Yorktown, and the 10Th at Gloucester Point,
When everything was in readiness, and the
trooI.s were properly brigaded and assigned
to divisions, General Butler held review.
Which proved satisfactory to every one con-
cerned,
FORTRESS MoxnoE, Nay S, 1854.
NIGHT SCENE IN HAMPTON ROADS,
as Witnessed here last evening, was one OF the
mcst~ brilliant grandeur, and equallsd only
on one occasion-vk: the rcndezYouslng Of
the Immense fleet fitting out for the capfure
Of Port Royal The night Was clear and
beautiful, and the myriads Of lights flashing
from the hundreds Of mastheads riYalled the
stars In 9riniancy. The water was calm. and
the lazy hplashfpg of the waves on the sandy
beach, occasionally the shriiI Whistlioe Of
steam-tugs ecudding around the harbor with
orders, and the toll1ng of ha1fhour bells on
board Of the naval vessels, wera the only
sounds that. disturbed the stiffness of the
grand scene.
INSIDE or TIE GARRIsoN
everything Was equally tranquil The Com
mauding General issued his orders late In the
afternoon TO bis staff, to get in readiness to
accompany him. The fiat had scarcely gone j
forth before large number of horses Wcra
taken to the wharf, where the headquarters
boat was awaiting the general and staff The
last meal Of these officers In the fort was dis
patched IN haste, amid the packing Of desks
End personal effects. When military move
ments take place every one looks out for Mol,
sidefs.", Yet al the work done Was accom-
plished IN: qniet, peaceful manner, and to
the unin1tfated tho scenes around betokeued
more the approach Of holiday than the pre-
lude Of bloody and dangerous campaign.
:. oRDERs TO MOVE
were Issued to the troops at Yorktown during
yesterday morning and afternoon. All the |
boats were sent around to the York River,
aBd the emharkation progressed as rapidly a. |
possible. At dark the first boat ft1e Meta !
mora) left Yorktown, having Major General |
Smith on board, Who led off the advance. On I
arriving here Gen. Smith called on Cen But /
Ter, and had short interview With him, but |
1ef soon eafter for Newport News. The or
AAtA 3aRY - f11A ~