, 1864-05-25
From our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, MAY 81. 1864

WAsn1EGTos, May 81, 1864
TIE POTOMAC ARMT-1HE SITUATION.
There is no material, or ut least, percept-
ible change in the situation Of the tno arm
iee; except that Gen. Grant is pushing toward
Richmond, and Lee is moving Ills columns
and fortifying his position in the direction of
his own right, in order to meet our forces in
TINT quarter. On Wednesday an attack, or
rather reconnaissance In force, was made up-
on the cnemy's right aud other p&rts Of his
line. In this attack, Corcoran's old brigade
Qrisb) took part They had just arrived
from the East. They suffered severely, but
obtained lodgment within the cnemy's
outer lines. The inner line was, however,
found to be so strongly fortified, and also
protected by abattis in front, that 1t was
deemed necessary to withdraw the troops.
Yesterday, Early's corps made an stack on
Gen. Grants right, which the rebels hoped
to ind much weakened BY the withdrawal of
troops towards our left. After sharp fight,
the enemy were Iepulsed, although they had
for time obtained possession Of some ofour
baggage trains. Our loes was about GOO.
The defense was made by the artillery regi-
nents, which have heretofore been garrison
!
SO pleased with the admirable manner in
which they fought, that he issued congrat-
ulatory order, highly praising them for thelr
gallantry and soldier1y bearing In this, their
maiden action. The artillery regiments are
as fine material as there Is in the service.
Some Of them are eighteen hundred and two
tbou6and strong.
:: Lees intention by this attack was evident
1y to cut Grants communications with Fred.
ericksbu1g, which he supposed were left to
some extent uncovered By his movements to-
wards the left sec, however, that the high
Mater has enabled the Eun-boats to get up to
Fredesickeburg, and it is now in GeR. Grants
power to change his base more to the south
and east on the Rappahannock- ! learn that
tbs severely wounded will be conveyed to
Washington By transports via the Rappahan-
Itee that Gen. Grants re,pforcements M
to the present time number twenty live thou
sand men. But 1t must be remembered that
Lee Is receiving men and material also. TIE
Richmond papers notice the passage through
tsat city Of large bodies Of troops; among
them the corps of Gen. Pickett: lately ops-
rating In North Carolina, and which with its
commander We had supposed to have been
engaged II the late battles Of Chancel-
lo1srtlle- So that both armies are In ali prob
ability on par as regards relnforcemcnts, At
any rate he would not show very wise gener-
the eupposition that the enemy are not Tery
strong IN q numerical point Of view.
Some Of the papers make great deal of
fuss about stragg.ers, and men aud officers
slightly wounded and taking the opportunity
to leave the 'front.'. But this is an EVIL which
exists in all great armies. It is not more
common in ours than In any other army.
But let any one figure to himself steady
fighting and marching for ten days, almost
dsy and night, and he will be surprised, not
because there are so many strsgglers, but
bec4uee there are not u great many more.
Even the rebels freely admit that never be-
fore in the history Of the war have they seen
such stubborn bravery on the part Of the
Union troops Indeed, our officers and men
sccord the eamc merit to the rebels. 1t Is
stated that they have fought like devils. In
many Instances almost literally throwing
away their lives
BUTLER AND sIGELfs REVERSE
The news from Buffers and Sigere armies
is not encouraging. Buffers loss on Mon
day is put down 1t 5000 In ILL Taking ad-
vantage of this partial check, am sorry to
notice runors that the regular army men
are making strenuous efforts to have him
superseded by Baldy Smith or Gen. Burn
side. In The case Of Gen sigcl, the fat haa