Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-06-04


Of battle as it now stands. Five miles
west Of our line runs the famous Chioks-
homsny, along that river in front Of
covering runs the Virginia Central Rail-
road, from Atles Station to Shady Grove,
Eve miles north of Richmond. The rebel
front is formed midway at this interval
and divides these two points Tee skir-
mish lines o the two armies meet, and to
our ears the morning sir brings crsckle
Of musketry like the shsttering Of some
huge csuldron, while now d then comes
boom Of gun, whose rsverberstions
are easily heard in the Capitol Of Rebellion.
Gaines Mills and Mechsnicsvills, are
within an hours ride Of Fair Oaks, you
can reach it in two hours
trot. Richmond is twelve miles
eff tbs thus that history repeats itself to
the present position Of this army is the re-
suit Of that fine turning movement, which,
commencing on Thursday last, and in two
days planted our corps across the Pamunky
rVer rendered useless the elaborate retel
defenc 8 OF the South Anna and secured
US communication with York River, and
the Chesapeake, and the ample resources
which these waters float off. At this
mement 1 have sent you such re-
ports as his been possible to send,
with such unfrequent opportunities Of
communication as are offered. 1 fear,
however, that no reports which you can
have received, are adequate to set forth
the true presentation of this great opera
ton in strategy. Your readers would re-
quire better maps than can possibly be
accessible to them, sad would need to
bring to them all the study, Of which
you are capable in order to grasp
its relations butts reality is enough that
It has planted this army twenty miles
nearer Richmond; that it has foiled plans
and purposes Of the willy enemy, and has
brought its communication with q secure
and perfect tsse. must not, however,
forbear to emphasize on this point
1t appears to conceived that this move
msnt is understood to be following up Of
the enemy, who is supposed 10 have fallen
back from his lines between the North and
South Anna, conception which does In
justice to the Generslship Of our command
er. 1t was not Lee, but Grant,
tbst took the initiative. Lee
would gladly have rsmsined.
It is certain that both az
mics are moving. Two stories have late
ly prevailed OF the direction in which
Gen. Grant, going. One account repre-
sents large body of Yankees at Negro
Foot. in the upper part OF Hanover, but it
has not been confirmed, and it is very
likely that the more probable statement is
that Grant Put fortifcstiOns slong his
line before the Junction to prevent an at
tack from Lee, and then returning to the
Northern bank of the North Anna, passed
down the Psmunky to Hanover town, q
eW miles sb We the point where boats
can come. Here he is said to have cros-
sed the river with the greater part Of his
force. If Grant has really landed there
he may be said to have already reached
the destination predicted for him. Since
his check at SpOtsylvsnia the York and
the Peninsula, his next base will be the
Psmunky, York, the White House and
West Point This will enable him to re
move the Obstrucions on the threshold Of
his proposed campaign and nothing will he
left but to abandon it and make his way
down the Valley Of the Rsppshsnnook to
head waters OF the York, a monstrous cir
cult to reach point where he might have
liked on the first of May, had not his besd
been added by his victories over Pember.
ton and Bragg. This is the tone Of men
who, knowing the prOdigious labor ex en-
ded in fOrtifying 6 chosen position, see
themselves compelled to forfeit it's sdvan-
tsges, and seek elsewhere, and ominously
nearer their capitol s new line of de-
fence. Certainly, if the Richmond jour-
nslists hnd any satisfaction in the mon.
strous circuit the army has made the
point at which it has aimed, this army
is in q condition to share the sentiments
that march indicated, with the above
extract taken up by this army, is quite
correct. On reerOssing North Anna on
Thursday night and Friday morning, the
corps we're direeted on parelIel roads
down the course Of the Psmunky, to
the turn Of the Hanover, in the
vicinity Of which two divisions Of
cavalry crossed the river, at six in the
morning. Three hours afterwards Rus
sells Division of the 9th Corps, after 8
beautiful march of % miles, made , the
passage. An army apparently not e1-
pectiDg the crossing to be made so far
down the river, had only cavalry force
in observation at this point, the party
we're easily driven of, go being csctured.
The fOrds we're uncovered for the passage
Of an army, which was effected during the
day. 1t is certain that till this move
ment was fairly under way, that Lee
had not commenced msnuevoring neces
sary to meet Grant. Ssysa correspondent
Of one Of the Richmond papers, writing
last Friday night Grant commenced rapid
ly moving towards cur right with his
whole force, and COrrespOn ding movements
are now on our side to meet those Of Grant.
The movements necessary on the part of
the Rebels was a simple change Of front
and -etrogsde march due soEth along
the railroad and ten miles around bringing