Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-05-20
VERY LfTE5T.


New YORK May 10.
The Heralds correspondent with General
Grant writing on Monday, says: Yesterday
the third division OF the "a corps command
ed by Gen. Biiney was ordered to fall back
from the position on the right flank of our
lines 1t had scarcely left It's position when
the enemy moved up to occupy the advantage
Gus ground our men had vacated
Gen Birney was then ordered back to his
former position, which he reganed after
sharp encounter with the rebels and loss Of
las men, killed and wounded Since then
an almost unbroken silence has reigned in the
army. Lee has taken advantage Of the shor.
respite given him to entrench himself more
strongly in his already strong position. Three
days rest to the weari-d amy has vastly i'm
proved its condition.
The rebel entrenchments are very strong
as they appear IN our front
The Worlds Washington dispatch dated
midnight, states that Gen. Grants reinforce
ments have made his army at least 20 600
stronger. The indications are that Grant
will avoid another battle at Spottsy lvania, by
a flank movement to the left, and move to-
wards Richmond and SO compel Lee TO leave
his lines and attack or else retreat
Lee is massing his right evidently antici-
pating such design. Lee It is declared is
depriving all other points of rebedom Of
needed troops to check Grant, and will con-
test every inch OF ground
day or two ago party Of guerrillas on
the road to Belle Pain seized several ambu-
lances with wounded they took the horses
and wagons and left the passengers upon the
road. A dozen Of them were alterward cap
tured.
WAsHINaroN, May ls-lI,15 A. NJ.
To Maj. Gen. Di1.
We have no reports Of operations since my
last dispatch.
The last information from Gen Grant was
that the roads had greatly improved Large
reinloreements had reached him and he de-
signed to move against the enemy without
delay.
1t is the design Of the government to keep
up the national forces until the rebellion IS
overthrow and in order to provide against
any inopportune reduction, when the service
of the 100 days men goes out draft, to fill
up their place and all other reductions, will
be ordered to take place on the LIST Of July,
by which time the new enrollments will be
completed. No order is yet issued.
(Signed) f. NJ. STANTON. Sec. of War
Special Dispatch to the Commercial.
CINCINNATI, May IS.
Dispatches from Gauley Bridge, Va. says
that courier has arrived direct from Gen.
Crook He has fought three battles near
Newbern, Pulaski County, Western Va. with
the forces under Gen. Morgan, Sam Jones
and A. j. jenkins, gaining a complete victory
over the enemy. The enemy lost over 600
in killed and wounded, and 800 prisoners.
Gen. A. j. jenkins fell into our hands NOR
tally wounded. Oar lose was four hundred
in killed and wounded. A large railroad
bridge over New river at Newbern, with sew
eral miles of track, was destroyed. Gen.
Crook was at Newbern on the 9Th inst.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washington, May ls.
TO THE PUBLIC.
paper purporting to be a proclamation
of the President, countersigned by the Sec
rotary Of State and bearing date Of l7lh day
of May, is reported to this Department as
having appeared in the New York World of
this date, this paper is an absolute forgery.
No proclamation of this kind or of any
other. has been made, or proposed to be
made by the President; or issued OF propos-
ed to be issued by the State Department Of
this government.
(Sgned) VIM. II. SEWARD,
Secretary of State.