New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-05-07
THE ADVANCE.

| What is certainly known concerning the au-
vance of the Army of the Potomac Is little more
than was known yesterday. We were then
aware that the army had begun to cross the
Rapdan on Tuesday night, and that down to Z
O'Clock of Wednesday evening there had been
no serious engagement. We are still without
later information on which We can depend as
authentic. or which even assumes to fix the date
of reported occurrences and although since
Wednesday it is more than two days and III
those two days an army has been marching
straight upon the enemy's works, we still limit
our assertion of positive knowlege of events to
the crossing of the Rapidan.
There are, however, some further details OF
the movement, which serve 10 indicate the
probable positions of the different corps of the
army with reference to each other The first
actual advance of the army was Oh Tuesday al
ternoon. when the cavalry division of Gen.
Gregg marched away in the direction OF Ely's
Ford, and busted itself with smoothing the
roads for the following infantry. Another diyis-
lion went down to Germania Ford, and both OF
them carried the materials for establishing pom
toon bridges across the Rapidan. AT midnight
of Tuesday, the Second Corps, Gen. Han
cock, marched for Ely's Ford. At the
same hour the Fifth Corps, Gen. Warren.
started for Germania Ford. Four hours later
followed the Sixth Corps, Gen. Sedgwick, also
to cross at Germania. Other particulars OF the
march there are none, but We know generally
that these three grand divisions of the Army OF
the Potomac effected crossing without opposi-
ton, and on Wednesday were advancing on
roads which lie south of that river, and lead to
Richmond. The account Of crossing at
United States Ford, previously reported, re-
ceives no confirmation, but it remains true that
the army has placed itself decisiyely on the
right flank Of the enemy, or, to speak more ae-
curately, has turned the position which the
enemy did occupy. Whether Lee had abandoned
it before Grant put himself south Of the riyer, IL
an open question.
Concerning the roads by which the different
columns of the army advanced, we have no
other knowledge than is contained in the state
ment that they have passed the Wilderness and
have reached All open plain southeast OF that
gloomy forest But on examining the map this
account will be found TO be extremely vague
and somewhat inconsistent with the presumed
line OF march-inc0nsistent still more strongly
with the theory that Lee yet fingers in his tri-
angular stronghold between the bending Rapi-
dan and the Orange County turnpike For the
roads which lead from both Germania and Ely's
Fords lead southeast until they touch the
tumpike then crossing it, pursue for
some distance the same direction, while
the turnpike itself runs from east to
west. If, therefore, the columns pressed
through the Wilderness in way to place them
to the southeast of it, they must have crossed
the turnpike, and have marched on roads which
take them not toward but past the enemy's
flank. Such a march can mcan-supDosing Lee
still cOuchsnt on the Rapidan-but one OF two
things: movement direct upon his main line
of communication with Richmond or a move
ment directly on his rear with view to bring
Oh all engagement by taking his position in re-
verse. If, on the other hand Lee has struck
his tents, iorsaken utterly that long tangle Of
Entertainments, fortified posts, and military
roads which all Winter long he has been con-
structing for the defense of the ground that had
its military center at Orange Conrt-llouse-if
Lee in word is off for Richmond, or for a
battle-ground in its vicinity, the march Of the
three columns Of the Army of the Potomac IL
straight for the front of this new field.
There is an unusual concurrence OF testimony
that Lee is really gone from the Rapidan, and
so far as any just inference can be drawn from
the statement which puts Meade's army south
east of the Wilderness, II confirms these aver
ments. 1t has been suggested also that Lee has
withdrawn secretly and marched rapidly to
strike with his whole force the detachment OF
Grants army which moved up the James River
| from Fortress Monroe. 1t is further intlmated
that Lee, on the presumption that the appear
ance of a part of Gen. ButleI1tzRF at West
Point was bona fide d6fnbff0ation, has
marched toward Hanover Courthouse, in order
to anticipate and interrupt the junction meant
TO have been effected between the left wing Of
Meade and the right wing Of Butler. But
we still hold to the opinion that Lee has not
moved. as on the whole most strongly supported
by probabilities and we look for battle nearer