New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-05-26
THE CAMPAIGN.

Putting aside some statements OF opinions,
the reader will find facts enough in the dis
patches we publish this morning to indicate the
true character Of the operations in Virginia.
Gen. Grant has made no flank movement. II
be had any such intention it was anticipated by
the retreat of Lee. When Hancock's corps
was put in motion for Bowling Green
on Friday night, Lee had already
abandoned Spottsylvania Courthouse. The
attack By Rhodes's division Of Ewel's corps on
Gen. Grants rear on Thursday was undoubtedly
to cover the retirement of the rest Of the army,
and with less resolute commander than Gen.
Grant might have availed to delay pursuit still
longer When that attack was made, the adj
vance of Lees rctreating army had crossed the
North Anna When Hancock started, he was
too late TO intercept or to oyertake even the
rear-guard Of the Rebels. The fight at Milford
Bridge was o sharp one, but was small in
numbers. With the exception Of that encoun-
ter and Of cavalry skirmishes, there was no en-
gagement north of the rivera fact which
proves conclusively that Lee had been for days
withdrawing his forces. Yet even after Han
cock was on the road Gen. Grant seems to have
force Of the enemy on his flank, and his move
ments, though made with extreme rapidly,
were cautious. He seems not TO have
been in possession of complete information.
He was in fact pursuing the army of Lee, but
was obliged to conduct his pursuit SO as to guard
against the possibility of deception; hence the
long interval between the starting Of the %
and of the other corps; hence the intrench-
ment of the I'd at Milford, waiting for the main
body to come up; hence the strong hold persist
emily kept ON the line Of the fredericksburg road
and the delay of BurnSides corps acting as a
useless rear-guard Had Gen. Grant been able
to know positively the movements of Lee, and
his position, he would have been across the
North Anna some days sooner, or would have
fought battle this side of it. Still, when his
pursuing march was once begun, it was a
marvel of decision and rapdity. Unaware
as he was of the enemy's absolute retreat, and
hampercd by the necessity of providing against
surprise, he nevertheless moved his whole army
80 miles in three days-in the circumstances,
and considering the numbers, an instance OF re-
marksble CELEBRITY.
Our dispatches come down to the afternoon
of Tuesday. Hancock marched on Friday
night, reached Bowling Green on Saturday at 2
in the afternoon, and Milford in the evening
then halted, intrenched, and waited. lie was
not then on the flank, but in rear, OF Lee
The 5th, 9th, and 9th Corps, marching in the
order in which they are mentioned, came up by
parallel and conyerging roads, west of the rail-
road, on Sunday, and on Monday advanced
to tho North Anna River, which was
crossed by the ID and 9Th Corps
at half past six in the afternoon of that day.
Warren having to dispose of considerable
Rebel force in order to establish himself on the
south bank. At one p. m. on Tuesday, Han
cock and Warren were marching for the South
Anna, and though the troops were greatly
fatigued, expected to reach it at nightfall.
From the time Hancock moved, down to the