The New York herald., 1864-05-26

neither can be gathered anything definite w reliable ss
10 the strength and intentions Of the enemy.
They confess having been taken entirely BY surprise at
the sudden Withdrawal Of army from about spottsyl
vsnia Court House.
The morning d exceedingly CLOSE and suliry, and
promises 70 be Of the hottest days Of the season. and
shis ID Sunday morning. but Sunday clothes
and white shirts and patent leather shoes and kids for
sabbath church BELLS and Of cheerful brevy,
and rusting silks and feminine ansnone Of the substan-
a Sunday dinners and desserts and Iced cobbers putting
70 shame army oommissarles. No Central Parks and
carriage drives, and Jones' Woods and lager and music
We Of The great most ashed-cased
In high top boots and thick garments Our programme
circng chain Of alternating marches, storm, mud.
torrd sunshine, DUST fighting, hard tack and nights
sleep, forty wnks moro less the ground Excuse
this moraizng; have nothing else TO write. When the
melancholy Jacques had nothing else TO do he morazed
and SO do !. But We all hope there 10 belter time
coming.
As close this despatch Burnside's troops are coming
up tho road and orders being issued for our corps 70
move
Mr.. James c. Titxpatrick's Dispatches.
NINTH ARMY CoRps. xEAR3
BOWLING GREEN, Va, May 22-Evening. !
The crisis Of the campaign is evidently ap-
armies Of Lee the one side, and Meade
In The other have resulted in grand for Richmond
That race Is Just In progress with forces pos
session Of the inside track, TO continue the illustration
from the terms Of the turf bnsdes the advantage Of
twenty four hours start
The race was TO have commenced side on Tues
day last and HaRcocks corps getting ready strike
tents just at this moment, however, Ewcll made his
furious charge upon the right, and delayed the
movement. commenced on Friday evening, how
ever, and before daylight the whole corps en-
route for Richmond, marching TO the southeast,
and past the right flank Of Lee. The Second
corps is in the advance, followed by the Firth.
Our corps the left or the Fifth The Sixth left camp
to-day abandoning the works the Sposylvania
Court House, and is bringing up the OF the
column.
Our line Of advance from this point is q due
south course to Richmond, giving the side
OF right anged triangle, which has the
distance between Spottsyvania and Richmond
for hypothenuso. Over this longer side Lec's army
will have to march in order to intercept progress
and tho probabilities arc that shall reach
the goal first. Lee however. may, by forced marches
arrive at the timc but his army will be go tho
roughly exhausted leave doubt the result
Of an engagement when the hostile armies join battle
The present movement Of General Grant wholly
unexpected; at least SO the citizens the line cf
march report They say that the rebels had expsca
tion whatever Of our intention 10 advance Richmond
by this route.
OPERATIONS
Yesterday afternoon orders were received to leave
line or works which had been thrown up on front
during the two days we had held the position,
and march tor this point. The movement was
covered by sortie Of Ledlies Brigade Of Crttendens
DIVISION who depoysd along the front In skirmsh line.
Two regiments held In while the rest advapc
Cd rebels were driven from their rifle pits pursued
about mile towards Spottsylvania Court House. The
whole movement was executed In q most dashing man.
ner, and with very slight oss The rest Of the corps
moved out Of the works. and by nghta we're far on the
road.
REBEL ATTACK.
She sortie OF Ledes brigade was the occasion OF q
subsequent attack by tho rebels, who rallied their
main line and advanced In considerable force Reaching
the vicinity Of rife pits, they charged across tho
open space and carried the position originally occupied
by skirmishers' line In the meantime, the Sixth
corps had flied into the nrenchments Just vacated by our
troops The whole line, in addition bristng with ar
tery To this position the rebels advanced the
double quick, with forocious yel Our boys reserved
their nre allowed them within good range,
when they suddenly sprung up and poured In terrific
volley. The artillery at the same time opened along
the whole line, much TO the surprise Of
the rebels, who undoubtedly supposed II gone
and that the infantry force had been left in the nrench
msnts 70 cover its withdrawal front and Are Of
canister and echrapnel through their ranks causing
great slaughter The defiant yell suddenly ceased and
the broken column retrosted to the woods once more.
Two subsequent charges as galIantly repulsed,
nighall the rebels finally gave up the attack.
Their loss estimated little less than 1--WE hundred
Our loss very trling 10 comparison.
A NIGHT MARCH.
To return TO the Ninth corps, which left upon the
road. The march was kept up steadily until eleven
o'clock, when short halt was ordered. Pckets wero
thrown out upon flank to prevent surprise while
the men rested Orders given at the same time to
conceal fires much possible, as some went TO cook
ing coffee.
General Potter. in the meantime, reconnoitered road
which would have boon short cut TO present position
oud have used IT, He found the enemy In force how
ever and the abandoned The column proceed
ed once more retrograded, few miles the Richmond
and fredericksburg Telegraph road, and thence struck
OF 10 the southeast AZ nine O'Clock this morning We
halted. cooked breakfast rested hour, and then re-
sumed the march, crossing the railroad near Guiney's
station, and arriving here about four p. M.
or the severity OF the march You Judge when IN.
form you that troops In the iarsnchments all
day yesterday and marched al night all this forenoon
and part OF the afternoon. They have been without
sleep for the past thirtysix hours during twenty Of
which they have been on the march.
mE WOUNDED.
In the series Of engagements and skrmishes
constantly 10 progress, the number Of wounded
has been necessarily very great, and reflects She
highest credit upon the efficiency Of the local de-
partment OF the army that they have been promptly
relieved and sent TO Northern hospitals Their tenn
porary transportation until this has been &C.
compened only At the sacrince Of immense
labor by tho surgeons. The sick and wounded
have been brought along with AZ, and ~ I write
the surgeons nrs In sight dressing wounds in the
open and by the sh. u lanterns The wounded win
however, bs sent, before, TO Washington Ths agents
Of the Sanitary and Christian Commissions have accom-
panied us throughout, and their assistance has been
valuable connection with the aoors Of the surgeons
pKsEnKRs.
desertcr from . Georgia regiment surrendered yes
s~r,.v "a Co,onei Robnsona pcketa Ee ran oul from