Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-05-19


army being assigned positions preparatory to another
forward movement.
POSITION ON SATURDAY. r "a
correspondent of the New York World, who left the
front Saturday. sends despatch from Fredericksburg
bearing Sundays date, in which he says:
Seen. Lees entire force fell back on Friday morning
distance but whether to take up position to
make general retreat not ascerained up to late
hour in the afternoon of that day. Our army was all south
of SpOttsyvania.
No battle was fought during Friday aud there was but
slight diminishing, which continued during the entire day
and through considerable portion of the night.
"Ihe enemy has again gradually drawn away portion
of his left position his base of supplies but
pressing him closely that If he to weaken his
front materially it would be at great risk
"a reconstruction of our line determined upon on
Friday night and before daylight Yesterday morning our
troops commenced advance The rain fell in torrents,
and mud the roads literally knee deep Notwlth
standing all obstacles and the trying WORK Of the past eight
days our accomplished their advance with cheerful
alacrty and resolution that entities them to the highest
praise As it would not be prudent to state with precision
the line adopted it be sufficient TO say that the
more near to the left"
despatch from the correspondent of the New York
Tunes speaks follows Of the position of affairs Sa
turday night;
"On Saturday night Lees forces were believed to be
line OF battle about three miles beyond Spottsyvania
Court House, in south westerly direction His sharp
shooters within half mile south of town. which
neutral ground
"Several important changes have been made in the po
st Of several corps Itwoud be improper to state
what they Suffice it to say that Gen. Grant will bring
to bear in the next attack the rebel position superior
forces all sides Fresh troops arriving.
"a general assault to have been made the
my's right wing Saturday morning, but owing to the
wreched condition OF the roads which had been rendered
almost impossible by the storm portion of our army
failed to get position in tme and the attack had to be
abandoned in consequence b .#
"Lee has his forces massed and will give battle again
|
OF prisoners captured yesterday Is ON quarter
tons and without hope of receiving any from Richmond
Lynchburg."
Another despatch dated in the field near spottsyvania
Court House, at xix o'clock Saturday evening" says;
The glorious news of the 18th instant
though slowly driven from position to another with
great slaughter but continues 10 fall back lines Of
defences capable of Offering resistance His present
the right bank of the river in front of spottsyvsnis
Courthouse instead OF its stated in dispatches
| TO other papers.
Friday was necessarily rainy and all movements were
delayed or wholly prevented The mud very deep, and
the roads and mry The expected attack by at
daylight this Saturday morning unsvodaby delayed
owing the imposbty OF getting up artillery trains &c
To-day Lee has been busy entrenchog and his position
may be turned instead of attacked Rain has been
| falling at intervals all day No fighting Of moment.
| The enemy made dash Wright's Sixth Corps, and
gained momentary advantage at four but we're GAL
lanty repused 10 few minutes with considerable loss
battery planted to annoy CENTRE and column is
marching TO capture drive it away No general
gsgement probable to-day.
Ia later despatch from the correspondent dated
two miles north Of sposy Court House al ten o'clock
in the morning Of Sunday, he saysi
At The date Of my last despatch column in
tion led by Gen. Ayres's brigade recap,ure strong
position front of left centre, from which had
been driven by sudden dash yesterday afternoon. The
affair brilliant and successful The rebels driven
out precptately; large force put position art
lery with infantry supports planted TO command it, and
night closed with another decided advantage to
Our loss was light Gen Ayres's orderly and sergeant
commanding company oil the Second United States inan
| tire among the killed.
The N.Y. Po and TIA rivers form the Matapony, eight
ten miles southeast Of this Lee considered the inter
mediate country susceptible of defence and erected sub
stania earbworks last year immediately front of
present position. They sodded, and to mount
heavy Our troops between the Ny and Pc rger
| from to two miles north of Spottsylgsnia.
The Second Corps has lost eleven hundred killed.
seven thousand wounded fourteen hundred missing The
Fifth Corps has lost twelve hundred killed, seven thou
sand FIVE hundred wounded and thirteen hundred missing
The Sixth Corps has lost thousand killed. six thousand
wounded, and twelve hundred missing The total losses
OF these three corps amount TO wentyseven thousand
seven hundred Burnsides losses nearly in the
proportion aud swell the total to about thirty five thou
sand The proportion Of slightly wounded is eKraordna
ry large
The wounded being sent to Washington by way Of
Fredericksburg and Belle Plain. Supplies aud reinforce
ments are going forward by the same route.
Plain commenced to-day At present despatch boats
from Washington to the telegraph station twenty miles
below every four hours None but Government dispatches
allowed to pass the wires Appearances indicate
the making Of Belle Plain permanent base.
Among the latest unofficial information from this army
is despatch from Mr. SwiNToN, an intelligent and
candid correspondent Of the New York Times, coming
down to one o'clock in the afternoon OF Sunday. He
writes from the general headquarters and says that Sab
bath stiffness had prevailed during the day up to that
hour On Saturday afternoon the rebels suddenly de-
yeloped line of battle left, coming through the
woods and gobblng up several Of pckets and driving
| back the Gems. Meade and Wright, with the
Staff were out beyond front at the time aud had
very narrow escape from capture Immediately aterward
Gen. Wright threw for ward force under Of art
ery re and retook the position which was an important
one Mr. SwrNToN also writes follows
ALTHOUGH announcements In the Northern papers
Of the rebel army having been driven beyond Spotsy
Court house, there truth in them whatever,
dispatches from day to day will have informed you On
the contrary the enemy continue to strengthen his works