The Portland daily press., 1864-03-03
BY TELEGRAPH
TO The
EVENING PAPERS.

Important from the Army of the Potomac.
New YORK, March 2d.-The Tribune's
Washington despatch says reports from head
quarters of the Army Of the Potomac uuder
Date OF March LIST, says it would seem that
Gen. Sedgwick was sent to the extreme left of
the enemy to engage his attention and divert
his vigilance from Rapidan Fords. Gen. Kill
patrick, seizing the advantage of this, crossed
the river aud proceeded to make rapid de-
tour TO the southwest of the enemy's main po-
sition around Orange Court House and Cor
louisville, when Gen. Custar swung rapidly
around on the extreme of Sedgewick via
Madison Court House and Stanardsville.
Our latest information from Gen. Fitzpatrick
was up to O'Clock yesterday morning, Mon
day. when he was reported to be at Spotsyl-
vania, and on the trot.
OF Gen. Gustav we have positive knowledge
that his long lines of cavalry dashed through
Madison Court House before daylight yester-
day morning.
1t is reasonably conjectured by the Tribune's
correspondent, who left the Court House at
noon, that Custar had engaged the enemy at
i O'Clock, for a heavy cannonade was heard at
that hour in the direction of Orange Court
House, and continued up to dark.
The correspondent INDUCES in the specula-
ton that Gen. Kilpatricks movement has for
its object the distribution of the Presidents
Amnesty Proclamation. He says there Is no
truth in the report that the whole army or
considerable portion of it has moved or is
about to move.
The Times Washington dispatch says the
news from the army OF the Potomac up to 0
A. N. to-day LIST inst. says that Custar's cav
airy was sharply engaged with the enemy be-
yond Madison Court House, on Lees left
flank. Madison Court House is in our pos
session.
Fitzpatrick had been heard from and reports
are favorable.
Lees communications with Richmond are
reported cut. Fitzpatrick crossed the Rapid
an on Saturday night and at once proceeded
to Spottsylvania Court House, from which
point he was operating in Lees rear, even to
the very gates of Richmond. A report was
current at Culpepper yesterday that he had
whipped Hampton's Legion badly and taken
several hundred prisoners, including Hampton
himself. The cavalry operation are the lead
ing features in this movement.
Officers wives and children abound in our
camp and are going and coming every day
This don't look much like forward move
ment.
Another dispatch dated Madison Court
House, Monday noon, says Gen. Sedgwicks
corps marched at sunrise on Saturday with
four days rations, and bivouacked at night
miles from Culpepper reached Russels Ford
on Robinson river on Sunday A. NJ, where
most of the corps bivouacked and Gen. Sedg-
wick established his Headquarters.
Tabot's Brigade pushed on to Madison
Court House with cavalry under Capt. Olaf
ton. rebel picket fed from the town to-
wards Orange County Court House. There
the picket,was captured Not single able-bod-
led man was found in the town: all had been
conscripted. The LIST Division of the Both
corps came up TO the support of the others
Sunday night. At o'clock A. NJ. Monday
Custar's cavalry with horse artillery marched
out OF the town to the RapidaD, which was
crossed near Barnett's Ford.
The corps marched for miles on the road
to Madison Court House through lane of
fire and smoke-the brush and stubble in the
field, on both sides, and the rail fences being
on fire through carelessness or design.
LArEsT-The latest news from the front
indicates a battle this morning at Stanards-
vile, between Custar's cavalry and the rebel
infantry.
Rumor persistently places Gen. Fitzpatrick
% miles from Richmond-give US Spottsyl-
vana Court-H House and Madison Court House
and, as drawback, swels the waters OF the
Rapidan six feet since yesterday.