The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-03-04

BIZ LAST NIGHTS MAIL.

Of prisoners
A special correspondent "Reta, re
ports from Headquarters Of army Of ths
/ Potoma TO this Bureau, under date O
Msrch lst, that it would seem that Gen
S. dgwick was sent to the extreme left
Of the enemy to engage his attention
and vert his vigilance from the Rapi
dan +, eds Fitzpatrick, Selling advan
tage OF this, crossed the river and pro
ceeded TO make a rapid detour to the
soutl vest Of the enemy main position
around Orange Courthouse and Cor
don vile, while Custar swings rapidly
arc nd on the extreme right of Sedg
y K, Madison Courthouse and Stand
dsville
Cur latest information from Kilpat.
lex wa. 10 to eight o'clock Yesterday
morn ny when he was reported to be al
Spottsy ami, and on the track of Gus
ar have positive knowledge that
ais long lines of cavalry dashed rapidly
through Madison Courthouse before
daylight yesterday morning. Il is rea-
.on bly, supposed by a Tribune special
Who left the Court-hause at noon tn I
Custar b I'd an engagement with the enc
my at one clock, Tor a heavy Cannon.
=. ng was heard at that hour in the d.
ton Of Orange Courthouse, and I
ntinued up to dark
Gray sends news from Madison
Courthouse, dated Monday at noon,
that Sedgewick's corps marched at sun
rise Monday with four days rations.
They bigouacked at night seven miles
beyond Culpepper Ford, on Robinson
river, where most of the corps bivouaek-
ed, and Sedgwick established his head
quarters
Talbotts brigade pushed on to Madi-
son Courthouse. with cavalry under Capt.
ClaAin, The first division of the Third
corps came up to the support of the
Sixth on Sunday night at one o'clock
On Monday morning Custar's cavaly,
with horse artillery, marched out of the
town to the Rapidan, which was crossed
near BENEFITS Ford
The latest news from the front indi-
Gates a battle this morning atStanards-
vile, between Crustars cavalry and
the rebel infantry.
Runners persistenlly place Fitzpatrick
at about twenty-five miles from Rich
mond, give us Spotsylvania Courthouse
and Madison Courthouse, and, as a
drawback, report the waters of the
Rapidan six feet over the level of yes
terday.
WASHINGTON, March 1.-The latest in
formation received from the Army of
the Potomac is to 9 o'clock this morn
ing. Heavy musketry firing was heard
early this morning off to the extreme
right, in the direction of Standardsville,
where it was supposed that Custar's
cavalry had engaged the rebels.
Madison Court House, as well as
Spottsylvania Court House, are in our
possession.
There is an evident disposition on the
part of Lee to avoid battle by keeping
behind his intrenchments.
Fitzpatrick has been heard from The
report is favorable Lees communica-
tons no longer remain unbroken.
1t was reported to-day at Culpepper
that Hamptons legion had been badly
whipped by Fitzpatrick, with loss Of
several hundred prisoners, Hampton
himself being among the number.
WASHINGTON, March l.-Gen. Kilpat-
rick, with large force of cavalry and
mounted infantry, started three days
since for. Richmond, in hope of captur-
ing that city by coup de main, or COM
pei Lee to leave his intrenchments al
Mine Run, and march to its defense
The rapid retreat of Longstreet on
Rheims Dad is exp aimed by this move
menL /, IS rum red that hi. pa rick
VIII nave the cooperation OF lar.
force advancing up the Peninsula
HEADouARTERs ARMY OF THE PoToxAc,
March Gen. Custar started with a
force of cavalry on Sunday to make
reconnaissance towards GordonsWille,
the Sixth Corps, Under Gen Sedwick,
following in support, He passed through
Madison and Monday morning reached
Wolfton, where he encountered rebel
picket, which he captured Passing
across the Rapidan and Ravana rivers,
in the direction OF Charlottesville he
met the enemy within three miles OF
the latter place, where he charged a
body of cavalry under Stuart, driving
them a considerable distance.
Capt. Ashe, of the Fifth q. s cavalry
regiment, charged on a rebel camp, near
this place, with ninety men, drove the
enemy, burned their tents, six caisons,
and two barges, and retreated without
the loss of man.
This was one Of the boldest fights our
cavalry have made during the war
Finding his small force opposed by in
fantry, Stuarts cavalry and several bat
teries, which opened upon him, and
number of trains had just arrived with
troops to support his advance, he deter
mined to cross the Rappahannock
He burned bridges, destroyed three
Touring mills filled with grain and fell
back towards the Rapidan, but his fatty
horses giving out he had to halt for the
night On nearing the Rapidan this
he met large body of rebel
cavalry on the road to Buttons Ford
skirnished with them He found the
rebels had concentrated their forces at
this point, when he suddenly wheeled,
and taking the road to Burkes Ford
crossed without opposition. The enemy
were some distance off but failed to in
fiict any damage
General CustaP and his force returned |
to camp to-day with only four men
wounded slightly. He captured and !
brought in about fifty prisoners, large |
numbers of negroes, and some three |
hu n lred horses. He destroyed large |
quantity Of valuable stores at Standard |
vile.
A number Of rebels were wounded in |
the slzirmish near the Rapidan
WAsHNGToN, March l-Since the dis
astrous retreat Of Grierson and Smith
upon Memphis the most serious appre-
nensions-a felt in official and political /
circles.
Their retreat interrupts Shermans
sommun eaton all along the Mobile and
Ohio railroad, and deprives his army of /
an important resource of supplies, with.
out winch it is believed he can t main
tain his ground
Worse still, it deprives him of the
cavalry force upon which he relied to
pro Gu Q his operations.
Military men believe Sherman viii
now be obliged TO retrace his steps and
return TO Vicksburg.
A private letter, dated February 10th,
says Sherman had reached Meridian,
out hearing Of the cavalry retreat he
Jared not proceed
The report Of his occupation Of Selma