, 1864-05-09
Rebel Loss 5000 Killed
10000 Wounded.
GRANT LEFT I'M POSSES.
SION OF THE FIELD.
BRILLIANT OPERATIONS OF
GEN. EUTLER,
COMBINED LAND AHO NAVAL
MCYEHEkT UP JAMES
RIVER.
LATEST From GEN. SHERMAN
AND GEN, BANKS.
Evacuation Of Petersburg It's
Destruction by the Enemy.

%o<A A0tAoA ~ AAN AACAAA{S
Gen Grant Moved For
ward on Saturday.
Especial Dispatch to the Chicago Tribuncl
WARRINGTON, May 4.
The following account Of events Of wednesd.,
is from your special correspondent with the army
GES. GRAs1's HEADQUARTERS,
GERnAs1A FoED, May 4, IN.
The whole army Of the Potomac today effected
the passage Of the Rapidan. Wilson's cayalr,
division forded the rver at Gesmania Ford; Gen
GregR's division ut E1y's Ford. eight miles below
At day-break the few mounted pickett
the enemy that were in sight scampesed Oft BE-
fore them. The pontoon bridges were at once
thrown aczoes the s1rer, and the infantry that had
marched to the fords during the night commenced
crossing,
At shout 8 o'clock a. N. Gen. Hancock's corps
and the reserve artillery crossed at Ey's Ford and
Gen. Warren'a at Germans. sedgw,ck's corps
followed the latter.
The passage OF the river continued all day At both
points. All the troops are over at this hour,
The trims vii cross during the night Gen. Han.
cock is encamped On the Charlottesville battle
ground, Gen Warren is ut the old Tilderness Tav-
ctn, and Gen Sedgwiek at the Tavern and Germs.
mia Ford
Both Gems. Grant and Mcade'e headquarters arc
1t this point for the night. Not shot Eas
fred during the crossing. Immediately after
reaching the south bank Gen. Wilson and Gen
Gjegs' cavalry pushed forward, the former to Par.
ker's store. the latter some distance beyond Chan.
cellorsvt1e- They discovered nothing Of the enc
my but weak parties OF cavalry, developing the
fact that there Was strong rebel force south Of
ne. About dozen prisoners we.e takon by our
cavalr., among whom were seTeral carriers. One
Of the lattes had dispatch from Gen. Khodes to
Gen. Ewe1l, informing him that the Yankees hAd
crossed in force ut Ger1nanIa and E,y's Fords.
There is absolutely nothing known Of the move
mcuts Of the enemy Mt headquarters to night It
is supposed, however, that Lee Is concentrating
and that We will meet him in force. Tomorrow
efforts will be made at all events to aece.aln hi.
whefrabouts. The army will be pushed south.
wefta1diy to the open country beyond the Wilder.
nesa provided developments in regard to the ene.
my do not neceesitate d change of this pr,
pore.
The movements to-day were made in fine order
and with crcd!abe precision; there Was hardly any
siraEclinE- Notwithstanding the hard work dur
ing the night md day, the troops ate nu OF spi1lt
The most auspfcious weather farors the advance
Gen. Burns!de's command consisting Of four d.
visions, commanded By Generals Potter. Fe.rera,
Wilson and CIittenden ia expected to come M w1.h
The enemy tomorrow afternoon.
GEN. GRANTS HEADQUARTERS.
May 5-l1PM
Is expected Last nigLt, the army came up With the
enemy today. a battle has been fought between
par.s Of IL and the whole rebel army, but az at
Gettysburg the bloody eccues OF the day were only
prelude to the bloodfer work, and II is to be
hoped ,.more ausp'cious resu1ts on tomorrow.
ReEeillc sounded at 8 q. n and the whole army
Was ncasn in motion. AT daylight according to the
order Of the dur, Gen. Haucockfs corps WAS on the
march from Charlottesville southwestwardly on
the PamunkY road to Grove Church Gen War
rcu'e co.pr from Old Wilderness tavern to Parker's
Store On the Orange Court Plank Road 8sds-
,yick's cozps was to follow behind Wat1eu's. Gen.
Sheridan WAS to concentrate the whole cavalry
rorps at the Piney Branch Church, few miles
south Of Charlottesville, md start upon general
aunt after Stunrta cayaly, the main body Of which
tsa4 reported to be concentrated.
Tht different bodies had been in motion but
>hort time, when At about o'clock reports came
from both the turnpike and plank roads, running
almost parallel from this vicinity TO Orange Court
House. Tint the enemy were advancing with In
fansry and artillery towards us from near Old and
New VerdfrsvIl]e. The evidence accumulatins In
the course Of the next two hours that strong rebel
columns were moving upon uB from the direction
mentioned. Genls. Grant and Meade came up from
Ceruania Ford, and orders were issued to halt the
various columns Of infantry, concentrate and form
them for battle at the point commanding the ridge
Eruntng from Northwest to Southeast, across both
roads. over which the enemy were advancing.
About half mile to the west OF this point al.
forde 1iue position for the formation Of battle
front, and was selected for this purpose. seds-
y, k- IL -i-1A TTv--
centre, anu Hancock was expected to come up on
the left. Warren and sedswick got into line
about eleven o'clock, and soon after skirmlshing
was heard On the front.
About noon Gen. Warren uns ordered to push
Grifdns division forward to The right and left Of
the turnpike and ascertain what the enemy were
about. Bartiett's brigade moved to the LEFT and
Ayers 1egulars to the right Of the road, sabetnee
following In reserve. Aner advancing about three
quarters Of 4 mile they suddenly found thcmselve
confronted by well formed, strong rebel position,
on a thick1y wooded ridge
a eevere trht ensued1 Our two brieadeR held
their ground against evidently grea'er numbers,
for nearly m hour, but the enemy succeeded in
uvertoppiug Ayer.' regula. brigade. and forcing it
Lack. The flank Of Bartleit's brigade being ex-
roeed. 1t was aleo eoon forced back for
.ome dis.ance. Two meces Of the 3D.
massachusetts battery had to be left behind, in
son-eoence OF the killing Of nearly ali the horsce
md fell into the hands Of the enemy. SWEET
-er's brigade and WadBworth's Of Robertson's d.;
vision. were ordered and hurried forward. Brisk
mneketry and artillery firing were Kept up for an
hour longer when the enemy drew Of from that
,ast Of our lines The loss In this affair WAS quite
,evtae, Weis and nart1ett'e bsagaaes principally
.naering. No oennIte figures can now be given,
tut the total 1oes viii probably not exceed 6oo in
tt)led. wounded and missing.
Among the wounded are Gen. Bartlett. sltghtly,
Col. Hayee 18th Mass., slightly, Col. Given, 11sth
peppe,, Col Eurnev, 9th Mass, Col. Ltmbsrd. 4th
Aich, We took about so prisoners
Hsncock's corps had been ordered TO turn OF On
the road BE had started out to march over cross
rsad ar rapidly ss possible for this point and was
ardertd at once to stay this dangerous demonstra-
ton. nancock's advance meets the divisions and
arrived just in time to form with GettJs to the left
nnd right Of the plank road, leading directly from
thahcellorevtlie 10 Orange Court House. Gen.
sta.' ofuefed them to complete the formation OF
'ne me OF hattie About three o'clock in the atter
uoon' aite1 the fight On the centre had ceased, a
..sssn.sH .",ss... " the enemy was discovered,
nans meaning 10 throw a force between
nnn"Ns and the remainder of the arny.
eetl5's division OF seaw,ct,s co-ns
ns'taek inc advancing enemy In order tn rive the
rma'nlns M osstrion Of Hancock time 70 eomn m
ano 'os'n. They did 30, and nt onc. h,s,ilr
epeaeFu mem In woods 70 thick tb,t Il ,,o.t
Impossible to advance in line - ""e a4+to"'
n o"'sion Of the Second Com. nm, r.,,.
up anu ss1c.y FORMED on the right Of Gc,tv,s r.r
'Aa ~ ana o'ooons divisions in a second linz
AZ thcS came up, the enemy IN v,st fo,s."
cnesvcticaly and repeatedly m ,sa ,otee pashed
n.os furaoue muFkct aeht con,innsa ~ aont and
hour. The htavy ttmbcr aud dane. t"o
EtndcTrd the use Of artillery Impossible