The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-05-11

veais. s.a36 sheep and lambs, and IL, 500 hogs.
Great Battles Yesterday ON the James
River and An Georgia.
On the James river, in Virginia. south OF the
Rapidan, and in Northern Georgia, "the work
goes bravely on" From the Army Of the
Potomac we have the definite news of Lees
retreat toward Richmond, his halt at Spottsyl
vania Court House, and, in an uncomfortable
fight at that place, the great disaster to our
arms Of the death Of General Sedgwick, the
heroic commander of the Sixth corps Our
pursuit has been all energy. General Grant,
like Timour, does not "permit the battle field
to grow COOL" He is already face to face
with Lee, and will give him no time to
rally. Grant is even making preparations
to leave his supply train behind SO
that he may 60 forward more rapidly
though Lee is standing still; for Lees halt is
in all probability only to give time for his
wounded to get out of the way. Our wounded
men are estimated at fifteen thousand, lying in
the Fredericksburg streets, and Lees loss is
certainly equal to ours. An army with such
loss as that indicates, and without the ex-
hilaration OF victory in its veins, is too much
shattered to be depended upon for another hard
fight.
On the James river great battle was fought
yesterday, both by our land forces under Gen.
Butler and by our iron-clads with three iron
clads of the enemy. General Butler had re-
ported up to Monday the complete success of his
operations between Petersburg and Richmond.
He had then broken up Beauregard's communi-
cations with Richmond, divided the forces
Of that valiant engineer by the destruc ton
of bridge, beaten that portion Of Beaure-
CARDS forces commanded by General D. II.
Hill, and taken position which he thought he
could "hold against the whole Of Lees army"
We may hope, therefore, that with such an ad-
vantageous position yesterdays battle on the
James was decidedly in our favor.
We can hardly consider, In relation to the
battle Of the iron -clads, that any result but .
good one for our side is possible. Yet the bat
tie was doubtless desperate one; Tor the rebel
vessels-the Virginia, the Fredericksburg and
the Richmond-are doubtless formidable ad-
versaries. With Q victory against the rebel
iron-clads and victory against the
forces opposed to Butler, we may expect
the rapid reduction Of Fort Darling
and the ascent of our gunboats to par
ticipate in the capture Of the rebel capital
And with Lee in full retreat towards his CAPT
tai and Grant at his heels; with Butler fighting
south of the rebel capital, and the gunboats
laundering their dreadful summons to it, how
do the Richmond people feel? Rather scared.
Even their most blatant organs despond, and
talk Of charity. They are weak in the knees,
and do not even humble feeble reference to
the glories of the last ditch. "We had not per-
mitted ourselves says the Richmond Wing,
Ito contemplate the probability Of anything
but victory" II Lee SHOULD be unsuccess-
full" says the same oracle, "we greatly fear
that the majority of the people" will lose
faith in the confederacy and hurrah for the
Stars and Stripes Already the city is in wild
disorder, held only by trembling militiamen,
called out with one days rations. 1t is without
meat, and neither that nor vegetables will be
taken there while it is so much safer for the
farmers to stay at home Food therefore, is at
tremendous prices, and the poor are frantic.
While oil this goes on in Virginia, Sherman,
Thomas and Mcpherson are striking another
great blow for peace in Northern Georgia. at
is probable" we are assured by Secretary STAN
ton, chat a great battle was fought there
yesterday" Thomas at last accounts, was on
the enemy's front, Scho6ed on his right flank
and Mcpherson in his rear IF Joe Johnston
can make anything out Of that situation, either
by fighting or retreating, he must be q
very great strategist. What glorious posi-
ton our military affairs are in when we may
reasonably expect success in the three great
theatres in which the war RACES. Aud should
we have that success in ALL how absolute will
be the humiliation OF the rebel military power.
SECRETARY STANTON AS A WAR CORRESPOND
ENr.-The Secretary Of War has turned up with
great success in new character-that Of war
correspondent. His dispatches OF the last few
days to General Dix are models OF brevity and
precision. We hope he will keep up this cor
resnandenca from day 10 day 10 the end Of the