The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1864-05-13
TRANSCRIPT
WAR NEWS.
General Meade has issued the fol-
lowing address;


General Meade has issued the fol-
lowing address;
HEADQuARTEps, ARMY OF PoToMAc, ! .
May 4th, 1864.
Soldiers Again you are called upon
to advance on the enemies of your
country. The time and the occasion
are deemed opportune by your com
handing general to address you few
words of confidence and caution.
You have been re-organized, strength
ened and fully equipped in every re-
spect. You form part Of the several
armies of your country, the whole I'M
der the direction of an able and distin-
guished general who enjoys the conf
dence of the government, the people
and the army. Your movement being
in cooperation with others, it is of the
greatest importance that no effort
should be left unspared to make it sue
cessful.
Soldiers The eyes Of the whole
country are looking with anxious hope
TO the blow you are about to strike in
the most sacred cause. Remember
your homes, your wives and children,
and bear in mind that the sooner your
enemies are overcome the sooner You
will be returned to enjoy the benefits
and blessings of peace
Bear with patience the hardships
and sacrifices you will be called on to
endure. Have confidence in your off
GERS and in each other Keep your
ranks on the march and on the battle
field, md let each man earnestly i'm
plore Gods blessing and endeavor by
his thoughts and actions, to render
himself worthy of the favor he seeks.
With clear consciences and strong
arms, actuated by high sense of duty,
fighting to preserve the government
and the institutions handed down to
us by our forefathers, if true to our
selves victory under Gods blessings
must and will attend our efforts.
GEO. c. MEADE,
Maj. Gen. Commanding.
The Army of the Potomac has adj
yanced towards Richmond, and the
struggle for the possession of the rebel
capital has begun.
Our army moved on Tuesday night
and has now crossed the Rapidan.
The crossing was made at Jacobs, Cul-
pepper, Germanna and United States
fords, and was effected without serious
opposition.
Lee has been compelled to fall back
from the strong position where he has
held us at bay all winter Whether he
viii make a stand this side of the de
fences of Richmond we are not advised.
1t is the opinion of some that he viii
fight at Charlottesville Any hour
may now bring us news of battle, but
we are inclined to the belief that it viii
be footrace for Richmond The reb-
el capital will undoubtedly be Aanked
and invested should Lees army occupy
its defences, and the country may rea-
sonably hope that this time Richmond
will fall
All the corps did not succeed in eros
sing the Rapidan till Wednesday morn
ing. At every point Lees picket lines
fell back till the I'd corps had passed
little west and south of the Wilderness
when one division of A. p. Hills (reb-
ell corps attacked our cavalry and
drove them back short distance.
Our infantry soon came up and q
serious skirmish ensued, lasting more
or less till dark and was on the whole
a triumph for Grant. From one tc
two hundred prisoners were captured
The report that battle was fought
on Wednesday is a great mistake Or
Wednesday night the two armies rest
ed and by five o'clock on the morning
Of Thursday, General Grant issued or
ders for an advance on Lees lines.
THURSDAYS BATTLE.
The position of the Union troops af
ter they had crossed the river was as
follows:
Gen. Hancock held the left, Warner
the centre, and Sedgwick the right
The whole army then marched to ;
plain near the spot where Gen. Hooker
fought his famous Charlottesville fgh
a year ago, and the rebel Gen. Lee
discovering that he would be forced t,
come out of his works and give battl,
or be entirely fanked, at once moved
for that purpose.
The offer of battle was what Gen
Grant desired and he readily accepted
the challenge.
Thursday morning brought the gen
eral conflict and the battle opened Will
vigor The Union troops were thrown
upon the enemy with terrible force, anC
the contest ragged with almost unpar
allelled fury until night.
BY this time the rebels had beer
pushed back about two and hal
miles, fighting fercely the whole time
The rebel dead and dying were left Of
the field and the greater part of tn,
enemy's wounded were also left behinC
by the defeated army Of Gen. Lee.
The slaughter was frightful, but il
such an excitement it would be impos
sible to make any estimate of the losses
on either side, or even to give a Sigh
idea of the appearance Of the felC
when the sun went down.
The troops were full of enthusiasm
Warren on the left became at first Tia,
most warmly engaged, and then Han
cock in the centre, where the fighting
soon grew very sejere, Hills rebel di
vision lighting terribly. The BATH,