, 1864-05-19
Yesterday Afternoons Dispatches:
The Military situation--General
Butler Attacked but Repnlses
the Rebels.
Sige. N'eets with a DiSastor
but Retreats in Good
Order.
EVERYTHING FAVORABLE FROM
SHERMAN,
WAE DEPARTMENT,
M q

SHERMAN.
WAE DEPAHTMEST,
To Asjor General Dig:
Difl atcl es from Gen Butler, just received
reroft the Euccces of his expedition u1der
Gtn. K.utz; to cut the DanvIlle road, and de.
stIey the iron bridge across the Appomastox.
under covsr Of : thick fog, made an attack
upon General Smiths line, and forced It back
In rome. confusion and with considerable
lofsi but as soon rs the fog lifted General
smith rc-cstablIshed bis lines, and the enemy:
were driven back to their original lines; At
from Petersburg on General Buffers force
guarding the rear, but were handsomely re-
pulled. The troops having been on iaccs.
kant duty for five days, three OF. which were
In rain storm. General Butler retires 1els-
usely within Lis own lines. We bold the
railroad between Petersburg and Elchmond:
Prisoners state that Bragg, and JEFF. Davis
were present on the field, -
Dispatches from Gen. SIgol, received this
evening, report that on Sunday he fought
tho forces of Echols aud 1mboden, under
Brcclinridge, at Newmarket-that the enc.
my's forces were superior in numbers, anu
that Tie gr dually withdrew from the battle
field, and Ind re-crosscd the Shenandoah,
having lost five pieces Of artillery, about GOO
killed and wounded, and fifty prisoners, but
bringing all his trains and all the wounded
that could be transported from the battle
field. He states that In consequence Of thc
long line of trains that had to beEgua1dcd,
be could not bring more tbau SIX rcg cglments
into the fight, besides artillery aud cavalry,
snl that the enemy had about 7, 600 infantry,
beeides other urns, aud that his retroga1e
movement to 2traEburg was effected In per
feet order, without any loss of material or
man.
No report Of any operations By the Army
Of the Potomac have been received to-day.
Adisla.ch from Sherman reports that Ills
advance upon Johnston is progressing to his
tatiFfaction. His supplies are abundant Our
animals ere feeding On the grass and grain
fields, which now afford good pastare-.
(signed,) L. n. STANTON
Secretary OF War.
ANOTHER DISPATCH FROM THE SECRETARY
OF WAR,
New YorK, May ia dispatch to Gen.
ns from ,se seeret15y re Stanton saysi
my last. Grants last dispatch said tho roads
werei improving md be desisaed to move
agt Inst the enemy without delay.
1t is the design Of the Government to keep
up the National fsrces until the rebellion ia
overtArown, and in order to provide against
men IL out, a draft to fill their place, etc,
will be ordered to take place July 1st, b5
which time the new enrolment will be COM
p!etcd. No order is yet issued,
FEoM TIE ARasY~ OF THE POTOMAC.
NEW YonK, May lS.-A special to the Her-
aid, dated "1fcadqEartcrs Army Of the Po-
tonac, May IT, says:
Yesterday, the Sd Division of the 9th
Corps, CT 1nmandcd BY Gen. Birney, was Or
right flank. Our line had scarcely left the
position when the enemy took advantage Of
this occurrence md moved with the apparent
intention OF occupying the advantageous
position our men bud yacatel. Gen, Birney
was ordered back to his former position,
with lozz Of 145 men killed and wounded.
Ateut three o'clock In the morning to-
day, the batteries On our right threw few
shells In the T0oas In front OF them, and q
sharp skirnlish took place, between the
pickcte, which soon taEsided. Since then IN
almost unbro!isn silence his refgned in the
army.
"lec nas taken advantage Of the short re-
spite given him to entrcnch himself still
more strongly In bis already strong position.
IAN order WAS read to tie troops stating
that reinforcemcnts had reached us.
"Cur baggage and supply trains. which
kare been lying on the plank road, near
sent to Fredericksbargn
NEW YoAK, Nav 1s.-specials to the New
York papers say there is nothing Important
from tue front. Both armies appear to be
getting ready for further operations.
Gen. Mcdowell leaves to-day for San Frar-
cisco.
| lie Worlds Washington dispatch, mid.
night, 18th, says: Grants reinforcements
amount to 20. .000. The indications arc tlat
he will avoid another battle 1t .Spotsylvhula
by 4 flank movement, and moTo towards
| Richmond. Lee is massing his right, evil
IDENTITY anticipating such design. Lee Is de-
clared to be depriving other points Of the
| rebeldom Of troops to check Grant, and will
contest every tncn-
NEW YORK, May 1.-THE New York Esen.
9 r is Belle Pluin Correspondent says:
ReIufo1cements for Gen. Grant are going
steadily forward. To-day five steamers load
cd with troops have arrived at this point.
Among tie regiments are the 107th Pennsyi~
Iasia vett raDe, the l1th Vermont heavy artll-
1erJ, 1850 strong, and the Sd New Je1sey bat
rery, ITO men, With ak guns. During the
past week fifteen batteries have LEFT Washing
ton for t. c front, and others arc coming.
Steamers loaded with wbunded are con-
ssantly leavipg lese. Probably 10000 have
LEFT iii CO Friday last.
From I to 5 o'clock this afternoon very
hea,y flri1g ~as heard In the direction OF the
field, but it has cow subsided.
~ ---------,