Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-06-10
GRANTS ADVANCE.
The Approach to Richmond.

was a steady and ancient specimen of the
race. He was questioned as to the military
situation, and gave US the following unique
but rather sound criticism Of military acts
81 hears EN- say dat Massa Lees gwin' to
let you get down near Richmond, and den
he's gwin' to whip you but pears to me,
Masse, dat II let man dat means 10 harm
me get in de door OBJ my house he might put
me out !"
In the campaign Grant and Meade have
their headquarters in close proximity, Grant
always on the right, and on the march gene
rally travel together. OF few moments be-
fore their trains, they with their escorts go
at brisk walk Of an hour or so, aud lounge
about some house for an hour or more, watt
ing for the tsains to approach. Only one such
halt Is usually msde on a march, but they al
ways reach the destination Of the night near
ly an hour before the trains. These halts and
waiting are the only intervals Of rest our
commanders have in these stirring days
These two OF three hours are whiled away
according TO the fancy Of each. A few min
utes ago Grant was sitting on the stoop VI
the old Virginia farmhouse, smoking his oi-
gar, and Meade was stretched at full length
on the grass plot before IT, But through
Meade's busy brain at that moment thought
on the mighty business in hand was passing,
and half rising he inquired Of a staff officer
how far the head Of Wright's column was be-
yond here. The answer given he stretched
out again.
! The contamination of the last and most
important faux movement has brought us
again fairly in from Richmond. While we
lay near Spottsylvania Court House, one Of
the Richmond papers, in defining the situa-
ton, remarked tnat when Grant succeeded
I in crossing the Mattapony, however near to
or far from Richmond, he might be said to
have made an advance, chat liver being then
their line of defense. This line they express
ed great faith in their ability to hold, while
the South Anna wss relied upon with still
greater confidence to give peremptory check
/ to our advance.
/ These two obstacles have been treated with
the same nonohalance as was the formidable
barrier of the Rapidan, so long regarded with
almost superstitious respect as stronghold
all but impregnable. The bold independence
1 Of these successive movements, made with as
much apparent freedom as II no rebel amy
had been in front of US or required mo-
ment's consideration, deserves the highest
admiration. Brandy Station, Belle Plain
and Port Royal have been in turn our
bases Of supplies, and so well matured
have been our arrangements for communicat-
ing with e5 ch that the army has been almost
as pleDtifully supplied as before the opening
of the campaign, except that hard tack has
taken the place OF soft bread.
There is no doubt that the rebel general
has been completely foiled in the fret part OF
his programme for the defense of Richmond.
II was, doubtless, his design, as it was bis
interest, to compel MS to fight our way inch
by inch. He had prepared elaborate forti6-
cations at each available point, and would
have been well pleased TO have us attack him
whenever he made a stand for although we
might ultimately have driven him before us,
we should have been so much crippled in the
process as to require a new army with which
TO commence the siege Of Richmond.
The Heralds special dispatch says, at
the close Of the cavalry fight on Saturday,
In the heat Of the action Custar's brigade oi
Michiganders were ordered up. This COM
msnd, armed with seven-shooters, marched
up, dismounted and Davies opened again his
lines for them. furious assault commenced
Just in time, as the rebels we're reinforced,
but nothing could withstand the terrible coll
/ umn now poured into the rebels. Back they
went for a mile aud half with fearful loss.
= Three of our brigades had whipped theil
= whole corps. Loads Of their wounded were
, carried off
The Times special dispatch Of May Sis,
says The rebel papers admit loss OF 1000.
I The 5th South Carolina regiment lost lO4.
At midnight, last night, the rebels attempt.
ed to surprise Hancock with heavy force
I but were repulsed with heavy loss, leaving
400 or 500 prisoners.
Hancock was in the riae-pits taken from
: them in the evening, and after this repulse i
was determined to advance on the whole line
of Hancock's front. This movement is now
A going on. The enemy is making some resis'
tance, but there are no indications Of a gem
eral engagement.
The Herald's correspondent with the 5tt
E Corps, says of the battle on Monday at 2
NJ The enemy assaulted our line with
general and sudden attack. They advanced
= in two lines Of battle and heavy skirmist
J line. Simultaneously with the opening OF
D volley of musketry came solid shot and shell
( from or more cannon. Our mel
g stood firm and unshaken. The rebel fire wa
= wild aud the missels few over our battle line
: Our men coolly waited to return the fire
: II was a most murderous volley. Our troop
= delivered staggering the assaulting columr
Q and driving it back Five companies opened
= in response to the enemies cannon. Assault
G after assault was made by the desperate foe
but each time our forces turned him bacl
a bleeding and discomforted. The ecntes
!. ceased with our having driven the enemy an'
d occupying the battle-ground. Our losses es
z timatrd at 200 killed, wounded and missing
$ The enemy loss is probably not less thai
n 500. We took 200 prisoners, among then
= tea commander ofRcers. II is said tina, anon
y their dead is general and 2 colonels. Pris
n oners say whole Of Ewel's corps was engage'
n under Farley. Ewell commanding the Who'll
army, Lee being sick in Richmond.
a FoRrREss MONROE, May 81.
J. Lieut.. Gen. Grants communications will
= the White House are completed, and al
IS works well.
D. Richmond papers Of the SOth ult. sa
IS they have changed their views with regar'
) to the military abilities Of Gen. Grant, AM
d say that they have been undertaking HIM
~ They say ne is smarter than they hs
d dreamed Of, and manifest some fears in regar
le to the safety of Lee. or rather as to his sue
,s cess in repelling the Yankee army.
n. A messenger from Gen. Grant reports thS
to on Monday morning our army had reache
1 Machanicsv lila with hut little opposition.