The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1864-06-09

Richmond, that 1t has tolled the plans
and purposes Of the willy enemy, and has
brought us in easy communication with a
secure and perfect base. | must not,
however, forbear to emphasize one point,
It appears to be conceived that this move
ment is understood to be following up
of the enemy, who is supposed to have
fallen back from his lines between the
North and South Anna conception
which does injustice to the generalship OF
our commander.
It was not Lee, but Grant, that took
the iniatiye. Lee would gladly have re-
NAMED in his line along the South Anna,
and would willingly have awaited battle
here, but he was forced out of his cher
ished position, just as he was compelled
to eyacuate the lines of Spottsylvania, by
an offensive movement threatening his
communication movement bold, in
conception and mastery in execution
T"There are," says the Archduke Charles,
"battles which are already won by the
mere direction of the strategic line OF ad-
vance y In like sense it can fairly be
claimed that by couple of days march
ing this army has gained victory more
substantial than weeks hard pounding
could in the situation we had won; and
that we are entitled SO to regard this
great flank movement is confirmed by the
tone of mingled modification and brag-
gadocie in which the Richmond press
treats it.
Battles on Wednesday and Thursday.
Headquarters Army of the Potomac,
Wednesday, June Yesterday after
noon Sheridan encountered the enemy S
cavalry on Mechanicsville pike. and after
quite heavy engagement drove them to
within about five miles Of Richmond,
holding his ground. The 9Th Corps
soon after pressed forward and formed
his rear support; and this morning the
9th Corps swings around from It's old
position on the right and moves down to
Cold Harbor and Mechanicsville.
Barlow's division, or the I'd Corps, a
gain distinguished itself last night, just
before dark, in charging upon and carry
ing two lines of the enemy's rifle pits.
The 7th New York Heavy Artillery,
just come, acquitted itself with distin-
guished gallantry, and sustained loss Of
nearly one hundred and fifty.
Our entire lines were considerably ad-
vanced last night, and the impression
seems to prevail that Lee has withdrawn
his main force within the inner defences
of Richmond His losses the past two
days must have been very severe, largely
in excess of ours.
This night headquarters are again in
the saddle, but where it will alight does
not yet seem to be generally understood
The sound of all our cannonading is now
distinctly heard in Richmond, and the
fugitive contrabands who stroll into camp
report the citizens there as in the highest
state of excitement.
The scene in front Of Warren, yester-
day morning, was sad and sickening to
the last degree. The enemy had left all
his dead, and such wounded as we're un-
able to get themselves away, in utter wan
tonness, and there they lay when the
breaking light of morning revealed ghast
ly heaps of dead, dying, horribly man
gled, and more slightly wounded, piled
upon one another and stewed about the
field in all directions.
There can be no question that the enc
my wilfully abandoned his seriously
wounded to our care with the deliberate
purpose of imposing the burden upon US.
9 A. M-Hancock is still hammering
away at the enemy's advance picket line,
elciting thus far little or no response.
Captain Platt, on the commissary de-
partment who was captured yesterday, it
is stated was at the time accommodating
outside our lines.
Our extreme left to-day rests upon the
line of the South River Railroad, giving
us line of some six to eight miles in ex-
tent.
Thursday, June 2-S A. M.-About
1 2. NJ. yesterday, the 9th Corps, on our
extreme left, below Coal Harbor, made a
heavy charge, supported by "Badly"
Smiths forces, which had come up and
taken position. Gen. Wright made a
desperate onset, resulting in carrying the
enemy's first lines of works, and the cap
ture of from six to eight hundred prison
ers. The enemy's loss has been very Sc
we're, and our own considerable. The af-
fair is spoken of by Gen. Meade as one
of great gallantry and advantage to us.
An hour later and Warren was assailed
after the old plan of hurting massed col
umns upon his lines; but having his in
fantry well posted behind earthworks,
and his artillery well in position, the enc
my were repulsed in three desperate char
ges, with frightful slaughter. Warren's
loss is given at about three hundred
The same attempts were also made up
on Hancock's line, and repulsed with e.
quail stubbornness and valor At times,
just prior to, and after dark, our entire
lines would be engaged, but in no case
did our troops wayer, or give an inch of
ground, though the fighting has been the
most desperate of any we have had since
Spottsylvania. Generals Meade and
Grant participated with the men in feel