Washington telegraph., 1864-05-25

The VIRGINIA BATrLEs.-After We
had gone to press last week We received
the frst intelligence of the opening of o
series of grand events in Virginia, to be
famous hereafter in the history of the
world, and if disastrous 10 the enemy. des-
tined to terminate the contest.
For the benefit of such subscribers as
did not get the first impressions Of our pa
per, We republish Gen. Lees report OF the
opening fight on Thursday the 9th inst.
HDoRs. Army NORTHERN VA.
May 5,h 1854.
To Hon. SECRETARY WAR:
The enemy crossed the Rapidan at Ely.
and Germania Fords Two corps Of the
army moved against them, Ew clrs by Old
Turnpike and Hills by Plank road. They
arrived this morning in close p roximity to
the enemy's line of march. when an at
tack was made upon Ewel', who repulssd
it and captured many prisoners and four
pieces of artillery. The enemy subse.
quently concentrated upon Hill, who.
with Heaths and Wilcox's divisions.
successfully repulsed the repeated attacks
Large force of cavalry aud artillery on our
right flank, but was driven back BY Ros.
ser's brigade. By the blessings of Goo
We maintained our position sgainst every
effort until night, when the contest clos
ed. We have to mourn the loss of many
brave officers ard men. The gallant j
n. Jones was killed, aud Gen. Stafford,
fear, is mortally wounded, while leading
his command with conspicuous valpr
| (Signed) r. E. LEE, Gen.
Next morning the enemy renewed the
attack with great fury. After desperate
struggle in which Gen. Longstreet was
wounded, we drove the enemy on the left
wing, but met with a slubb ,rn re istance
on the right. In the evening the eusuy
turped back towards Chance llorsville and
Fredericksburg. Our loss was severe in
these two battles, but everything look ID
we'll and cheering.
Meantime on the 9Th the Federal feet
came up James river, and landed about
10000 men uuder Butler at Bermuda
heights above City Poiut. Their supposed
object being to cut the railroad commun-
cation between Petersburg and Richmond.
The enemy was also reported advancing
up the Peninsula.
In the battle of the 5th We captured a.
bout 1000 prisoners. including 40 officer.
Since publishing the above accounts,
we have received the Chicago Times of
the 18th inst, with further Northern ac-
counts, besides various reports from
Southern sources, kindly furnished us
by friends in Camden aud Shreveport.
Our readers will compare them, always
bearing in mind the mendacious habit
of the Federals to claim victories under
defeat.
Philadelphia, May 11th-About noon
on Saturday, Gen. Hancock discovered
the enemy in front of him retiring south
towards Spottsylvania, seven miles dis
tant Federal cavalry were sent after
him, but made no impression on the enc
my, who retreated in good order. There
is nothing known Of any retreat Of the
lConfederates Oh the right
Gen. Sedgwick's troops were so COM
pletely exhausted By their terrible con-
test on Friday, that they were unable
to do anything, and no attack was made
against the enemy there. Whether they
retreated from Mine Run or not Is not
known, and is of no Importance They
held Germania Ford on Saturday when
Sedgwick doubtless withdrew his troops
towards Fredericksburg, which, we
think, was the object of the Confede-
rates.
fredericksburg was occupied and the
wounded sent there. There is reported
to have been $4,000 Of them. and they
filled the streets so thickly that cav.
AIRY patrol could not do duty.
A short distance south of Spottsyl-
vania there is stream called the Po
river, one of the headwaters of the Mat
tapony. 1t runs east and west, and, like
nearly all Virginia streams, has high,
steep banks, and, though narrow, is
deep. On this stream Gen Lee made
stand, and on Saturday and Sunday no
attack was made by Grant. There is
news from there at II o'clock on Non
day. when battle was going on, but
nothing definite is reported, aud no ad-
vantage seems to have been gained on
this small stream. Lee evidently has
intre uchments, and again obstrncts
Grants march. In the contest at Spott-
sylvania Gen. Sedgwick was killed.
Gen. Butler does not seem to have ac-
complished as much as Grant. He is
still at City Point, and has sent dis
patch to Washington stating that he
will hold it. The news from Butler
his own di>patches-is as late as any
we can get this morning. 1t brings his
history down to Monday morning. The
report that Butler has cut the great
Southern railroad between Richmond
and Petersburg, is untrue He has cut
a railroad southeast of Petersburg
which, from various indications, we be-
leve to be the one running north to
Norfolk. TO cut the road to Weldon,
he would have TO go through Petersburg
or make circuit of many miles, which
there 10 no notice Of his having done.