Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-05-13

ThesPreparations for the Advance--A Bat
tie Inevltabie--AetiEity Of Gen. ButIer--
The Raid of the CsIorsd Cavalry up the
PeninsuIa--The Explosion Of the shaw
seen.
BERMUDA HUEDRED, Va,
Sunday Evening, May Z, 1864.
There is nothing particularly new from
the front to-day. The weather has been
so insufersbly hot that neither the rebels
nor ourselves have been in anxious mood
to fight. The sultry atmosphere, dense
with the dust raised by hundreds Of cart.
wheels and thousands Of horses, seems to
have stifed and chOked the pugnscity out
Of everybody. Only sslsmsnders could
endure it complscently. Beyond an oecs-
sionsl interchange Of shots on the part of
the artillery on the left Of the line, the
status Of the opposing armies remains as
st the close Of the battle last night. The
gunbosts which hold the Appomsttox open
beyond Port Wslthsll early in the morn
ing broke the Sabbath quietness by pitch
ing few shell into squad Of rebel cav
airy that came down within tempting
reach Of their Parrot guns but at this
writing 8 P. NJ, everything is ominously
still.
The storm which inevitably follows the
calm is expected to burst TO morrow. This
afternoon Gen. Butler went to the front
aud made his headquarters in the field.
An advance Of cur entire line is fixed for
dsybreak to morrow.
Refugees and deserters from the enemy
inform US that Lees army has met with
reverse on the Rspidsn and IS falling back
upon Richmond, followed by Grant.
Others report that Lee and Longstreet
have both been seriously Wsunded and are
now in Richmond. These rumors have
been so prevalent to-day, and are told
with so much confidence, that there is q
very perceptible feeling of hopefulness
exhibited everywhere in the army. The
best evidence, perhaps; that there may be
truth in these reports is found in the 8p-
psrentIy sudden determination of Gen.
Butler to advance upon Petersburgh. His
army are enthusiastic and will 20 onward
with eagerness at his bidding. 1 believe
they have great faith in his leadership.
Twice have ridden with him along the
lines, aud each time he was most Welcomly
received. The cheering was hearty
enough to make these Virginia woods
ring again, and could not but have been
grateful to the gallant old Massachusetts,
soldier. The expectation is reasonably
entertained by the army that the ability,
irmness and justice which so prominently
characterized his course at New Orleans,
resulting in restoring that city to her al
legisnce, will find their next field Of ac-
tion at Richmond
can furnish you no further facts re-
specting the fighting last night than have
already sent The railroad wss certainly
cut, and 8 bridge burned This damage
could be repaired easily, but if the fight
tomorrow is successful, one reat avenue
Of rebel supply will be closed.
The cavalry brigade, commanded by
Col. West consisting Of Cspt Hills Co.
Of the first New York Mounted Rifles, and
the First ColOred United States Cavalry,
Col. Gsrrsrd, and Second Colored United
States Cavalry, Col. Cole, arrived here to-
night. They return from q raid OF the
Peninsuls, which has put the black regi-
ments on their mettle for the first time,
and demonstrated them to be made of ster-
ling stuff. Starting from Willismsbgrgh
on Thursday morning last, when this ex-
pedition set ont from Fortress Monroe
they galloped up to the Psmunkey, stop
ping At the White House, meeting littls op-
position except from a few guerrilIas, and
returned to Willismsbnrgh the next even
ing. On Saturday morning they went out
q second time, travelling over nearly the
same ground, and meeting q great deal of
opposition. fhe bushwhsckers turned out
in force to annoy them-these rascals at
tacking them from their coverts st every
step Of the way. But trifing obstacles Of
this sort did not deter the troopers from
reaching the Chickahominy, which they
crossed some distance south Of Bottoms
Bridge, having to swim their horses across
the stream. Indeed, all the bridges over
tho S4atsE seursss VI GIU r5nInsuIa have
been destroyed, and swimming the horses
was the common way of crossing. Wher-
ever the raiding party appeared the inhab-
itsnts were stricken dumb with fear, which
is not to be wondered at when it is con-
sidered what "a internal noise two thou
sand negro throats can add in the way of
cheering to the clstter of four thousand
hoofs, when throsts and hoofs and all are
hidden in an enveloping cloud of dust. At
the Chicksbominy the rebels had thrown
up redoubt, from behind which they op- |
ened musketry fire. The proper disposi-
tion Of forces was made and the negroes |
had the satisfaction of chasing the traitor
ous ohivalry out OF the work Three of |
the rebels were left dead and several were |
wounded. During the raid i've of the col /
pred soldiers were killed, and fifteen or
twenty wounded; but it is thought that the
DushWhsckers paid dearly for this loss.
On the way up the Peninsula various army
lignal stations of the rebels were de-
Itroyed
This afternoon the entire body Of cav
Try reached the James river, at Harrison's
landing, and were brought up to this
,lsce on steamers. They seemed full Of
iDergy ss they disembsrked, ,notwithstsnd-
ng their long ride, and ask to be sent to
he front tomorrow. I learned these
scts from Major Brown, Of one of the
egiments, who says that the conduct Of
he blacks was excellent throughout the
aid, and that their officers, after this
'rsctiosl test Of their endurance and fight.
ng qualities, would lead them anywhere. |,
do not think have seen prouder and
lore self satisfied men than these black
roopers appeared 10 be as they stepped
rom the boats tonight, in their dusty
lousses and ragged blue psntaloons, each
lanking his sabre and jingling his brazen
purs.
Hon. Luther Day
The Rsvenns Democrat makes the fol-