The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-05-06
FROM GENERAL LEES ARMY.
sfces Acrsss she River The Battle
.issi' = Take Place at Mine Run-Th
Yankee Sneng h. &c,
(raoM e5R OWN CORRESPONDENT.

lFRoM e5R OWN CoRREsPoEpENr.l
ARMY OF NoRrHER VIRGINIA.
Thursday, May S, 1854.
1ne armies Of Northern Virginia and o.
tae rotomac are no longer ia hy,erais. Will
plckets walking dull and monotonous beats
everything is life, animation, and activity
Burnside, after long season of preparation
has quit Annapolis, and is once more abou;
to essay the fortunes of war with the ILL
fated Army of the Potomac. Hooker has
also come to help Grant out OF or into. difii
Guilty, most probably the latter; aud Grant,
like the Irlshman who was asked If he would
take the woman to be his welded wife, re.
piled "Yes, and the niggers, too" For the
first time in the history of the Army Of the
Potomac, one element of Its weakness are
the negro troops.
On Monday the enemy struck tents in
Culpeper and began 70 move towards Ely's
and Germanna Fords, on the lower Rapidan'
Immediately above its junction with the
Rlppahannock. On Tuesday night the enc
my succeeded in throwing across force Of
cavalry aud artillery, which on yesterday
was advanced ont towards Charlottesville
and further Oh towards Fredericksburg
During the day of yesterday the enemy
threw pontoons across the Rapidan at both
Ely's and Germanna Fords, and during the
entire day they were engaged in moving
their forces over, consisting Of infantry and
artillery; and doubtless by this writing they
have succeeded in putting over their whole
force. During the day our cavalry annoyed
and harassed them, but beyond this nothing
of interest.
1t would be improper and premature at
this writing to state what dispositions have
been made of our forces; but this much 1
will say: that the vigilance and activity of
Gen. Lee has been unremitting, and that
everything has been done that is likely to
insure success and victory. From present
indications think the enemy will head his
column up the plank road. In this event 1t
is quite probable that the fight will occur at
Or near Mine Run, a small stream, fourteen
miles below Orange Court House and twen>
ty-six above Fredericksburg.
Ely's and Germanna, as have stated, are
lords on the Rapidan river-the former
twenty five miles below Orange Court
House and fifteen miles above Fredericks-
burg. The latter ford is about equi distant
rom both Orange Court House and Frede-
.icksburg, being about twenty miles from
Zach. During Tuesday night the enemy
their pickets on our immediate
'front.', and during the day yesterday our cav
'lry penetrated to Culpeper Court House,
vaich they found abandoned by the enemy.
1t is also reported that the enemy are
the line Of the Alexandria Rail
way, and it is supposed intends making
a base OF operations in case
If success or defeat.
Grants force is generally put at about
0O, 900 infantry. 1t consists Of the First,
second, Third, Fifth, and Sixth corps, which
laye been consolidated into three corps, the
DID Ninth army corps, formerly Burnsides'
he Eleventh and Twelfth army corps, which
AVE been merged into the Twentieth army
,orps, aud placed under Hooker, also six
thousand negroes-these latter forming
Burnside's corps d'arnsee. From oil that l
IAN gather, the Yankee army comes entirely
q obedience to the behest OF power, and
,sve little hopes Of success. Oar army is
aopeful and buoyant, and will no doubt add
another to their many and well earned VIC
tories.
At this writing, 10 A. M. at Orange Court
House, no firing has been heard. The battle
will not occur before Saturday or Sunday, In
Ill probability. 1t will take the enemy until
that time to man@uvre and get in position.
While our Southern boys are lighting, let
our women uplift their voices in prayer to
Ihe God of Battles for the greatest success
and the least destruction Of life consistent
With His Providence. x.