The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1864-07-16
oPELoUsAs:
SATURDAY, :::::: JULY 16, 1864.

SATURDAY, s.: go: JULY 49, 1864.
= From our townsman and representative,
the Hon. l.. j. Dupre, who has just returned from
Virginia, we gather the following interesting de-
tails Of the sfing campaign in that State and in
Georgia: Grant crossed the Rapidan on the I'd,
Sd and 4th of May with one hundred and forty
two thousand men, whilst Lee had but fifty five
thousand muskcts and about fifteen thousand
cavalry and artillery, with broken down horses.
On the eth and 9Th the battle of the Wilderness
was fought, we holding the battlefield, strewn
with the dead and wounded Of the enemy. Grant
then endeavored to flank Lee and maneuvred to
do so until the 18th, when the most bloody battle
Of the Revolution was fought at spottsylvania
Court Honse. The enemy was hurled upon our
lines eight and ten deep, and their dead lay in
hesps in front of our breast.works. Their loss
was estimated by Gen. Robert E. Lee at not less
than seventeen thousand in killed and wounded.
From that date to the Sd June, when the battle
Of Coal Harbor was fought on the old field of
June 1862, the two armies marched by flank in
the direction of Richmond-Grant making every
effort to get in between the city and Lees army.
Many conflicts took place between divisions and
brigades of the two armies, resulting sometimes
in losses varying from FIVE to twenty-five hundred
men, but which were not diguiied with the title
of battles. After this last engagement GSaRt
fell back in the direction Of the Richmond andss
York River Railroad, between the Pamunky and
the Chiekahominy, and moved towards the
James River, making strong demonstration of
battle to deceive Lee, as if he intended to renew
the attack against Richmond from the North side
Of the River, but really to cover his crossing at
Mansions Landing. Several, serious engage
ments took place at Bottom bridge and Long
bridge.
We stop here, before giving an account of the
crossing Of the federal army, to relate what took
place'in the Valley, with the troops under Gen.
Breckenridge, and to speak of the Sheridan
Raid and Beanregard's operations against Butler.
On the 18th Of May, whilst Gen. Lee was
fighting Grant at Spotsylvania C. H., Sheridan
appeared before Richmond, between Lee and
the City, at Hanover Court House, with twelve
thousand men, cutting off all COMMUNICATIONS
both by telegraph and by Railroad, between onr
army and the City; and for week threatened
Richmond. Notwithstanding the disparity Of
numbers between Lees and Grants army, such
was the confidence of the people of Richmond
that sno apprehension was felt for Lee's army
9Th. Stuart with his division Of cavalry attacked
Sheridan, and after several days fighting, drove
him ON the other side of the Chickahominy. In
these fights we lost many valuable officers,
'among whom was Gen Stuart. He was high
toned and highspiri.ed commander, an accom-
plished gentleman, and world-renowned rider
Of great dash and courage. In the valley Hunter
and Siegel advanced upon Breckenridge who
met them, pursued them and whipped them
badly at New Market, on the 18th May, where
they crossed the Shenandoah, burning the bridge
in their rear; thus arresting the march of our
pursuing columns Gen. Les then withdrew
breckenridge command to Richmond, and
Hunter and .Siegel receiving re-inforcements, |
returned to Staunton, captured that place, com-
hitting great depredations and advanced upon
Lynchburg, which they threatened for moro than |
week, destroying railroads, factories and private
houses. After the battle Of Coal Harbor Basck. !
enridge was sent back and got in between |
Lynchburg and the valley, and with the COM
mands Of Vaughan, McCausland and Jenkins, |
all cavalry; pursued Hunter, and the last heard |
Of him he was retreating to Bufords Cap by the |
Salem Road, destroying his ammunition tran
we captured large portion Of his provision train
and took many prisoners. In the night Of the
18th june, Grant began crossing his army, and |
on the morning Of the 18th, Petersburg was at
tackled by a large force who were kept at bay /
until the morning Of the 18th, when Gen. Beau
regard, who was in front Of Butler at Bermuda
Hundreds, moved his command, forty-fve hun.
dred strong, to that city and held it against not
lass than thirty thousand Of the enemy. Butler,
in the interim, went out of his Notifications upon
the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad and en-
trenched himself there, but in the night Of the
10th he was driven back to Bermuda Hundreds,
by portion Of Longstreet and Hills corps, who
Joined Beauregard at Petersburg. and on the
18th and 18th, nearly the whole Of Grants army
assaulted tho city and were repulsed with great
slaughter. This is the last Of the official news
Of the fighting between Lee and Grant A large
raiding party under the federal officers, Kautz,
Wilson and Spears. went subsequently around
Petersburg, in the direction Of the sonthside and
the Danyille and Richmond railroads, and were
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