The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-06-03
GRANTS NEW MOVEMENT.
Occupation Of Guinea's Station,
Bowling Green and Milford.

Il
Bowling Green and Milford.
The Right Flank Of the Enemy
Turned.
The Philadelphia Inquirer contains very full
particulars of the new movement of the Army
OF the Potomac. We copy the material parts :
MIDNIGHT MARCH OF HANCoCK's CORPS.
HEADQUARTERS SECOND CoRPs, May 21. p.
M.-This corps has made march to. day of
about twenty miles-an advance further into
the enemy's country. We left the vicinity of
Spotsylvania at IL o'clock last night, marched
east by south to the Bowling Green road.
crossing the Richmond and Potomac railroad
a short distance north of Guinea's Station, ad-
vanced south to Bowling Green along the tele-
graph road. then southwest some two miles to
Milford Station, have crossed the Mattapony
river within quarter of q mile Of that point.
and are now in q good position southwest of
that stream. AS write hear hundreds of axes
vigorously piled, chopping timber for breast
works, within half mile to the front, and as
many spades are working just rs busily,
though more silently.
MILFORD OCCUPIED AND THE REBEL ARMY
FLANKED.
Milford Station is equidstant from Freder-
icksburg and Hanover Junction - eighteen
miles from each and forty miles from Rich
the rebel army as its depot of supplies, but be-
ing appraised of our advent in this direction
they succeeded in removing nearly everything
before our arrival. How they ever got hint
of our intentions is a profound mystery
Probably not dozen men in the Army of the
PotomOc knew our destination, yet it is stated
that the enemy were fully informed twenty
four hours in advance.
1t will be seen by what have already stat
ed, that we are between the rebel army and
the railroad, which has formed its line of COM
municat'On with Richmond and at the same
time hold q commanding position on its right
flank.
Warrens corps is to connect with Hancock
on the right, and by tomorrow morning the
entire line of battle will doubtless be estab-
lshed on this side of the Mattapony River
this corps forming the extreme left. We are
now a number of miles from any other portion
of the army, and do not know what is trans
piring on the right. Gen. Hancock has re-
ceived q dispatch from Gen. Meade, dated
about midday, stating that up to that hour all
was quiet. but some little cannonading has
been heard since. This movement of this corps
is bold one. If successful we have reason to
anticipate from it the most brilliant results,
and if the tried courage and ability of COM
mander can insure good fortune, we may
confidently rely upon it under General Han
cock.
A FlGHT-THE REBELS OUT-MANEUvRED.
Although diminishing commenced several
miles before reaching Bowling Green. the enc
my made no serious resistance until our caval-
ry arrived in the vicinity of Milford's Station.
Here Colonel Hammond found q strong line of
infantry in his way, formed along q road rum
ming Obliquely to the one on which he was ad-
vancing, their left occupying o hill near the
junction of the two roads and fortified on the
top with rifle pits. He at first charged them
with his men, except skirmish line, mount
ed, but found their position was too strong.
He then sent back to Gen. Torbert for rein
forcements, and pending their arrival dis
mounted his men and formed in line. The 10th
Pennsylvania, from Col. Chamberlains COM
mand, soon joined him and were also dis
mounted. Onr troops then advanced, making
their heaviest attack on the enemy's right, and
after some sharp fighting, driving them back
from the road along which they had taken pO-
sitiOn. Our left, driving the enemy before it,
was then swung around, and charged the hill
where the enemy were intrenched, from the
rear, thus rendering the rifle pits of no avail
for their protection. So suddenly was this
maneuvre effected that we were upon them
before they suspected our approach from that
quarter, and sixty-six of them were captured.
The troops engaged on the part OF the enemy
were portion OF Piekett's division, and were
sent here yesterday to guard the depot.
THE ENEMY AWARE OF THE MOVEMENT.
Another correspondent of the inquirer. says ::
This movement was contemplated on Thurs.
day night, but the attack of the rebels on our
right flank caused the programme to be laid
aside until the following night. From facts
collected to-day, along the line of march, it is
evident that the rebels were appraised of the
movement, and that to frustaate it the attack
alluded to was made by them. In confirma-
ton of this fact, quantity of stores which
were collected at the railroad depot at Milford
Station, were not removed until last evening,
thus showing that the rebels delayed taking
any action in the premises until they fully as
certained that the movement would be made
on the following day.
OUR TROOPS IGNORANT OF THEIR DESTINATION.
All along the line constant inquiry was made
among the troops as to the point of their des-
tinatiOn. The majority of them limited at the
idea that Hancock was marching to Port Royal
for the purpose of establishing base of sup.
plies at that point. Others, however, insisted
that we were marching to the assistance of
Butler, and that before two days had passed
over our heads we would be in the rear of
Richmond, and within supporting distance of
Buffers army. While discussing these subjects
the army moved on, all seeming in the best of
spirits, and as anxious to bivOuac within sound
OF the Ginning church bells of Richmond as
was their brave commander to halt them with
in half-scOre miles of the rebel capital.
SCENES ALONG THE ROUTE.
At intervals of every few miles families of
negroes were gathered along the roadside, ex-
changing words of salutatiOn to our soldiers as
they passed, and grinning all over their faces.
- Massa's gone away. gem'men," was the an-
swer in aim ost all cases where the query in
relation to his masters whereabouts was raised.
"Specs he's gwan to Richmon'. Dun know.
He went away in right smart hurry last
night; OATS all knows" A sight OF the fine,
athletic, plump appearance of some of these
negroes, Of both sexes and oil ages, would
have driven negrO-trader crazy, especially
when he became convinced of the fact that
according to the terms of President Lncoln's
proclamation, these negroes are free the mo-
ment the lines of the Yankee army closed in
upon them. 1t was q pleasing spectacle, and
comminoled with not q little pathos, to hear
the benedictions with which the aged and in
firm negroes poured ont upon our soldiers as
they marched by. ''rse been waitin' for you, I"
said an old negro, whose eyesight was almost
entirely gone, and whose head was covered
with the frost of some eighty five winters,
Ahl Use been waitin' for you gemmen some
Tune. know you was comm, kase heerd
massa and misses often talkin' about You. !"
ana then the old hero chuckled, and almost
ground his ivories out Of his head.