The Portland daily press., 1864-05-09


considerable force of infantry, by whom he
was gradually forced back upon the I'd corps.
Had not the nanoeuvres of the enemy pre-
vented, night would have found Gen. Han
cocks command at Shady Grove Church, con-
Meeting with Warren ON his right By this
maneuvre we would have occupied the Pike
running in a northwesterly direction from
Germauia Ford, on the Rapidan. The move
ment of Lee soon revealed his real designs
Gen. Warren was ordered to attack him at
once, which he did about IL A. NJ. A deter
mined musketry fight of an hour engued, in
which Warren handsomely drove hun from
his position with the nfiction of severe loss.
Griitin's division of the 9TH corps led the at
tack aud suffered severely, losing nearly 1000
in killed, wounded and missing. Finding his
efforts TO break cur centre futile, the enemy
next attempted 10 interpose an overwhelming
force between Warren and Hancock, the lat
ter of whom, in accordance with orders, was
marching his corps rapidly TO form junction
with the former. Fortunately his advance,
consisting of Birneys DIVISION came up lust
In time to circumyent the rebel General, who
at 2 7. NJ. commenced terrific onslaught
on the divisions of Birney. Gibbons and Get
ty, the latter Of whom had been temporar ily
detached TO form the extreme right of Ham
cocks command. The fight ragged holly until
some time after dark and resulted in the COM
plete repulse OF the enemy at all points.
Our loss in this engagement does not pro-
badly exceed 1000 men. Scarcely any artille-
ry was brought into req,fsition, the character
Of the ground rendering it useless. The bat
tie field 10 covered with a thick growth of I'M
derbrush and medium sized oak trees, and it
is owing to this fact that our losses are COM
paratively light
Our captures in prisoners is about 5000.
When Bancock's corps retired toward Park
er's store. 800 of the 18th Penn. cavalry, UNI
der Maj. BreDtoD, sent 10 relieve the pickets
several miles below, on the Spoisylvauia road,
were attacked by large body of rebel troops
and driven back 10 Todd's Tavern in coniu-
sion, and quite large number were taken
prisoners by the rebels.
WASHINGTON, May s, ) p NJ.
To-Maj. Gen. John A. Dix, New ork:
1t is believed that no fighting took place
yesterday. A part CT the wounded arrived
in ambulances yesterday morning at Kappa
hammock Station, and are on the way here by
railroad. The Department will probably re
ceive dispatches by a train which will arrive
tonight.
A dispatch from Gen. Butler, Just received,
and which left him yesterday, states that a
demonstration had been made by his force
on the railroad between Petersburg and Rich
mond, and had ded in destroying it so
as TO break the connection; that there had
been some severe fighting. but that he had
been successful. He heard from rebel desert
ers that Hunter was d vigorously wounded
Pickett, Jones and jenkins were killed
Nothing has been heard from Gen. Sherman.
iSigned) EDWIN NJ. STANTON,
Secretary OF War.
WASHINGTON, May s, ). p. NJ.
The National Republican has the following !:
"We are glad to state that the result of the
fighting on Thursday ard Friday is all that
the most sanguine friends Of The government
can desire. The dawn OF day en- Saturday
exhibited no evidence of the presence of the
enemy. Gen. Grant with great promptness
took advantage of the fact, aud ordered q for
ward movement. 1t is proper TO say here
that in consequence Of such movements, moth
ing has been heard directly from Gen. Grant
He has more important duties TO perform.
II is believed by these who have the best
means of knowing, that Lee is fastening to
the works of Richmond, not only to save the
remnant of bis own army, but to rescue, IL
possible, the rebel capital from falling into the
hands OF that dreaded chieftaiD, Gen. Butler.
There is little doubt that Lee will have to
make good time to prevent such disaster to
Davis rebel city. There are many things
known TO the government, all of cheerful
tendency, which it is not proper to state at
this time. For instance, it would not be
ations on the Peninsula, up James River, &C.,
but at the same time, in general terms, ii is not
improper for us TO state that everything is
progressing successfully. We are in possess
sion of information that the rebel authorities
at Richmond, seeing the fate which awaits the
city, have taken measures to remove every
thing of value.
The dead and wounded upon the field, men
toned in our last extra to-day, some OF whom
at this writing, have probably reached Rap
pahannock Station, includes the wounded on
both sides. The list OF the killed and wound
ed has not reached the city and probably will
not before tomorrow or next day, as the time
of every one is employed In rendering assist
ance to the uniortunates.
Further details are momentarily expected
Of the two days fight, but it is doubtful If any
thing is received until the retreat and pursuit
terminates. 1t IS sufficient to say that oil the
dispatches from the advancing armies under
Gems. Sherman, Schofeid, Hooker, and Wash
burne, are as encouraging as could be asked
for.
NEW YORK, May s.
The Washington Republicans extra says
that Grant hurled his entire army against the
rebel army on Friday. Lee was driven three
miles, leaving 5000 killed and 10000 wounded
in our hands. Gen. Grant is master of the
field. Lee is in full retreat. Gen. Grant is
in hot pursuit Everything is being done for
the wounded that lies in the power of our
surgeons and ambulances.