New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-06-18

seeks every country crossroad every farm byroad and
uses it, no matter how crcuitous the road matter
what direction ii pursues, 20 that it intersects some
road that does make toward the right point 1t must be
used Troops often march ten fifteen miles, and the
point reached shall not be five from that Of starting
The army, moving down the Chickahominy in this
order Wilson's cavalry IN the advance followed by the
5th Army Corps then the I'd Corps next to the river
the 9th Corps parallel and to the left Of the 3D. and the
9th on the extreme left each of the last three taking
care of its own rear second line perhaps mile In
rear Of that fought on had been thrown up at Cold Har
Dor The reserve divisions marched out In the after
noon Those holding the works, soon as 1t was July
dark. brt not picket fell back until o'clock in the
morning. The new line was held by strong picket
until daylight.
The Withdrawal seems to have been undiscovered.
Only at one point had the enemys administers appeared
when the last line was relinquished In the scores O.
times we have left the presence Of the enemy during the
ar do not recall another instance where this device
~ second line far in the used In this case
IL proyed to be unnecessary but 1t was wise precau'
ton TINT would have been Of vast service had our pur'
nose been OWNED and the enemy followed too eagerly
To, miles down the stream from Cold Harbor ia the
remains of the Long Bridge that figures In the nara
tives OF the Peninsula campaign The causeways lead
ING to it on either side there STILL and in good cond
ton. The bridge proper had disappeared. few pom
toons now fill the breach. The cavalry crossed unmo
lested save by the vddettes Of North Carolina reg
ment on the evening Of the 18th Tho 5th Corps fol-
lowed early the succeeding morning. and marched two
or three miles directly toward Richmond, and formed
line of battle nearly up TO Whte.0ak Swamp.
II it were the purpose Of the enemy TO attack, be
must come from that quarter. The I'd Corps marched
TO the bridge in the hours between midni and day
light and there halted four hours for coffee snatch
of Sleep Then marching at o'clock. 1t hacd only on
arriving here; faced up the roads leading toward
Richmond, and finally lay down to rest In admirable
works Of its own construction At dark the 9Th Corps
left its position looking toward WhiteOak Swamp and
falling in after the 3D. reached here during the night
and early yesterday morning.
Meanwhile the 9th and 9th Army Corps, moving fur
ther down the Chickahomny. crossed on pontcons
at Jones Bridge. The former struck the james three
miles below here at yesterday the rear coming up
BY night This corps marched thirty miles in as many
consecutive hours The 9th In at the heels OF the
9th, getting comfortably into camp last evening.
The weather yesterday and the day before was Pc
cuary favorable for rapid marching, being exceptions.
ally cool and cloudy and this side Of the. Chicka
hominy the trains moved different roads from the
troops so that the dust did not trouble US.
The march 10 the James River. then. has been sue
cessfuly, rapidly and smoothly accomplished. can
not help contrasting 1t with that other time when the
Army Of the Potomac marched from the Chiclahominy
TO the James / need not elaborate the CONTRAST the
bare suggestion Is enough TO point all the difference
between an advance aud retreat an undisturbed
march and badgered but stubborn figat-stubborn
because Sumner and Sedguick Of the rearguard.
But that 1862 and this is 1884, and the two years
have not been without their lessons Of which has
discovered for us a man.
The 18th Corps Badly Smith, have stated before,
marched TO White House 10 take transports for Bcr-
muda Hundred Last night II passed up the river, and
by this time has dsembaked at its destination II had
been away from there but fortnght had been to the
other side OF Richmond by journey OF go miles via
james River, Fortress Monroe York River, White
House, and march Of 20 miles, and now back again
over the route had been In two battles at Cold
Harbor and severe diminishing during full week had
lost g. coo men killed and wounded. good fortnights
work. and an instance Of consummate generalship.
Speaking Of Generalship II is worth noting that the
Richmond papers denounce that which called Breckin'
ridge from the valley and enabled Hunter 20 rout their
remaining forces in that quarter.
On the principle which led the Roman Armies 20 In
trench every night in the regulation manner OF the
tine even when marching through their own provinces
,he army on reaching here faced about toward Rich
mond the presumed direction Of the enemy the right
became the left and all could have gone into battle with
10 minutes notice.
Three weeks ago the Engineer Brigade at Washing
ngtou under Gen. Benham was ordered to be ready 10
take ship prepared with ITS pontoon train to lay
bridge across the James In the exact funess OF time
i reached here yesterday noon and had completed a
bridge at dark.
The bridge consists OF over one hundred pontoOns.
about the same number that the mouth of the
Chickahorniny McClellans retreat down the PENN
sua two years ago. said 10 have been the longest float
ing bridge ever laid That placed by the Goth New
York Engineers this by the 18th New-York Engineers.
The locality is White Oaks Point half q mile below
Windmill Point and some six miles below Harrison's
Landing.
Meanwhile Gibbons division Of the I'd Corps had
crossed by steamboat ferry The remainder Of the
corps crossed during the night partly by ferry and
partly by bridge. Theorder that the 9th corps
should follow that TO be succeeded by the 9th. while
The 9Th should remain in position and finally last
To morrow morning. win everything on the other
sidc. And once on the other side your imagination lie
rs good as mine.
Grants Last Grand Movement-Crossing
the River James-Intercsting Details Of
our Movements and those or the Enemy.
Special Dispatch TO The N. Y. Tribune
HEADQUARTERS Army OF THE PorohAc,