New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-06-03

Anna, our "base" has been most enectualy changeu
and advanced. While seeming to menace Lees forti-
fed position on the North Anna and doubt inspiring
him with the hope that going to give him all
the advantages of his almost mpregnabe works on the
South Anna our cavalry was pushed around by the iei
flank to old Hanoyertown. securing the Hanover
Ferry Crossing. the Pamunkey, where a pontoon
was laid, and over which the LIST Division of the 9th
Corps Immediately crossed followed by the 9Th and
9th in order while the cd pushed across some three
miles higher up at Nelson's Ferry. Our troops made
this twenty three miles march rapidly that our posi-
ton reached and occupied not only without import
ant opposition but Lee completely befooled that
up to Saturday D. m he was known to be still awaiting
our attack above. at Ashland
Our position was taken upon high ridge Of wooded
and open fields some five miles west Of the crossings
after spirited fight between our own and the Rebel
cavalry on Saturday, in which We lost some 60 killed
and 200 wounded but drove the enemy with great loss
he leaving his dead and all his severely wounded in our
hands Ia full report Of which we forwarded you yeser
day). Our position is one Of great natural strength,
which has been duly improved by engineering skill and
our line of battle, which was formed Friday night,
was pushed out in the following order The 9th Corps
on the extreme right swinging around in sort OF OK
tended curve from the bank OF the Pamunkeyi the I'd
on rlglt center, tIe ON CthtNI
extreme. Here We awaited Lees pleasure, while our
supplies should come up and our hard marched troops
enjoy the rest Of quiet Sabbath Our battle line as
now formed is but ten miles from Richmond. crossing
the Meadow Bridge Mcchanicsuille, and New Bridge
Pixies hut whether the great and inevitable struggle is
to ranspire here or not will in my humble judgment
depend entirely upon the yolition OF Lee. While not
officially advised have little doubt that Grant though
ia botti bo &c NJ all fiuQc
thelcss will not open it himself If Unattached il after
still further and important developments Of h' ans
Our camps were regaled yesterday with the LAT hmond
papers Of Saturday in which they betray unusual trep
dation but threaten vaantly as ever They report
our general position but for wonder are uncertain as
TO our intentions citizen asserts that impressment
gangs swept the country for all boys from "A and men
up to 50 years and all the grain and meat and sent
them of TO Richmond.
Negroes, who lcit Richmond Friday noon, are also
about camp and hundreds Of con,rabands Of all sexes
ages and conditions flock into liDes like crows and
beg protection.
A very touching incident occurred while headquar
ters were halted on the Newton farm Friday afternoon
connected with these unfortunate beings At the time
McCellan's army occupied the Peninsula father and
two sons belonging to Capt. Newton ran away and
Joined our army The father and eldest boy on reach
ing Washington remained there, the younger remain
ing with the army as q servant az headquarters This
boy following on in rear Of staff officers, &c, suddenly
found himself on the plantation Of his birh,he resi-
dence Of his old grandmother and mother and nnn
merablc mufifnde Of brothers sisters auntk, unclcs
and cousns These focked around the poor boy weep
ing and caressng him until be was nearly sufocated,
and glad to extricaie himself from their oppressive
eDdearments. Last night met John" escorting
at least three contrabands, including samy and
mother from the Rebel Capt Newtons farm toward
our headquarters 1t is evident that the widows heirs
Of Capt N (who was killed in battle at Elys Ford last
FaD refuse 70 be oomored this glorious Monday morn
ing because their slaves are not.
| In another case Yesterday morning a mother Of
middle age whose husband had already gone and sew
eral OF whose older children had managed TO attach
themselves to army came in although In frantic
grief oyerher youngest child, whom she said Missus
had shut up for fear the mother would leave She wept
and prayed all day. and just before dusk in one Of
our scouts and tripping by his side came this little girl
The poor mothers JOY was beyond expression. Who
shah say that the heroic suffering and faithful prayer Of
this poor slave woman was thus dgnaly blessed by
Gods special providence Certain j am. none more
fcryent assembled from the ctcusoned pews OF our
fashionable churches yesterday than were audiby ut
tered by scores Of these ignorant, suffering Aopesi
creatures In answer TO the question " hat do you
expect will become Of you and all your children you
get North :" a mulatto mother replied we've al
prayed these three years for to come and now Hes
heard u.s. We know God will take care OF u.s." AL
We eanting hypocrifes who dwell under the shadow OF
Northern colleges and churches look ye upon the
sublime faith Of these poor and despsed of Gods
children. hhiA'
sLirmishing and Picket Piring-veiCes
from Richmond-GreatC Crops OF Corn.