Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-05-07
SEVERE FIGHTING ON THE RE.
TREAT.
MORE TREASURY coRRUp,
TIONS!
LOYAL PATRIOTS FURNISHING THE REBELS
WITH MUNITIONS.
Abolition Officers Supplying
Kirby Smith with Mate.
rial 10 Slaughter our
Soldiers.
Advance Of the Army of the POtO-
mnc-Lee AbandOns his Line on
the RaPldan.

| mnc-Lee AbaDdOns his Line on
the RaPIdan.
New YORK, April @.
Worlds Special
| HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE PoToMAC,
April 4th-6 A. M.-The order to march
was issued from General Meade's Head
quarters yesterday morning, and was dis
semnated through the army by o'clock
L. NJ. General Gregg's cavalry division
accompanied by portion of Canvass pom
toon train, moved yesterday afternoon to-
ward Richardsville and was engaged until
late ut night repairing the road to Elysford.
Soon after midnight that division moved TO
the ford named and established crossing.
About midnight the Sd cavalry division.
with another portion of Canvass pontoon
train, left for Germana Ford, five or six
miles above there, to establish q crossing
| 1t is reported at this hour that both efforts
were successful. The advance of the second
corps, Hancock commanding, broke camp at
midnight and moved down the Stevensburg
and Richardsville road, toward Elysford
The entire corps were on the march before
o'clock this morning in the same direc-
ton, and expected to effect crossing soon
after daylight.
The 9TH corps, under Major General War
ren, commenced moving at midnight. The
advance. consisting of two divisions of in
fantry and portion of artillery, passed
| through Stevensburg at midnight, closely
followed by the remainder of the corps, all
marching toward Germania ford. The 5th
corps was closely succeeded by the 9Th, un-
der Sedgwick, which quilted camp at A.
NJ. Both the 9th and 9Th corps are under
stood to be crossing at Rapidan and Ger
mania tords. The entire movement resolves
itself into the crossing of the Rapidan at
two fOrds toward the right flank of the en-
| emy, placing itself, after crossing, on line
nearly parallel with the river between Or
ange Court House and charlottesville
At the present hour the movement is under
way, and there is probability that it will
be successfully accomplished without Sc
we're opposition by Lee, to whom this bold
rush must be more or less of surprise. 1t
is not probable any serious engagement
will be fought to-day. Cavalry skirmish-
ing and artillery dueling are likely to
make up the days fighting, unless the enc
my contests the advance in force.
| Worlds Special
| WASHINGTON, May 5.-There is no doubt
now, from the intelligence received from
| Brandon Station, but that Lee has entirely
| abandoned his line on the Rapidan, and
| with his army taken the roads running
| from the south of that stream to Orange
| Springs, destined either for the intrench-
ments of Richmond or for q position at
Hanover Court House. There is no indica-
tion of rebel movement into the valley of
Virginia, and the fact of Lees general re-
treat, as he did formerly to Mine run and
beyond, seems clearly established.
New YORK, May G.-The World says
passengers who arrived in this city from
Rnl 10 inr o1a fhof ;nfo
ton had been received there from rebel
sources, as well as from Norfolk and Fort
ress Monroe, that General Smith with
very large army disembarked on the south
side of James river, not far from Fort
Darling. His object was, of course, q mat
ter of mere speculation, and might be feint
to distract the rebels and prevent them
sending reintorcementS to Lee; but If it was
in earnest, and meant that Fort Darling
and Petersburg were to be captured, and
Richmond cut off from railroad commune
cation from North Carolina and the South,
If the news is correct and it is generally
believed in Baltimore, the occupation OF
West Point last Monday was merely to de-
ceive the enemy. Still all is mere unau-
thenticated rumor, and Smiths army may
be destined for West Point to cooperate
with the extreme left wing Of Meade's
army.
Times Specal.l
Culpepper Bridge is strongly fortified,
and will he used as depot for stores. 1t is
reported here to-day that a strong column
of troops under Couch and Seigel Is march,
ing for Winchester, up the Shenandoah
Wiley as a cooperating column destined
eventually to cut the Virginia and Tennes-
see Railroad, while Buffers force or part of
it strikes the other railroad at or near Pc
tersburg, thus severing all railroad commu-
nication between Richmond and the South.
General Butler took the field in person at
the head of his army on the Peninsula yes
terday, and his host, marshaled by such
leaders as II. Smith, Gilmore, Ferry and
Weitzel and an immense fleet OF troops and
a strong squadron of monitors and gunboats
convey it up the river to the gates or back
door of Richmond; and perhaps ironclads
may once more try the strength of the rebel
batteries which line the James, Pamunky
and Rappahannock. A feeling prevails
that there is desperate work before this ar
my, but there is enough strength for it,
The ironclads lie in the still waters off
Newport News the gunboats are in COM
munfcation with them. A dispatch from
Grant to one of his Generals here, says that
forty-eight hours will determine whether
he was to have battle on the Rapidan or
whetherunder the works around Richmond.
Granite dienatch was written vastardav