The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-05-17
THE LATEST NEWS
BIZ LAST NIGHTS MAIL.

plies. He fought and whipped Stuart
cavalry, killed JEFF Stuart, took two
guns, and recaptured nearly two hun
bred of our men, including two colon
els, drove in the rebels within their in
trenchments at Richmond, and joined
Butler
On Friday night the 9th and 9Th
Corps Of Grants army made move on
our left, got in the rear Of Lee, and
drove him toward Lynchburg. An as
sault was to be made at daybreak, but
as no firing has been heard, it is infer
! red that Lee continued his retreat dur
ing the same night.
Grants army is well supplied and
heavily reinforced. Goodbye 20 a
Southern Confederacy!
Z. S. SANFORD.
WASHINGTON, May IA P. NJ
Major General Dir:
An official despatch from Gen Sheri-
dan, dated Bottom Bridge via Fortress
Monroe 18th, states that on the 9Th he
marched around the enemy's right
flank. and on the evening of that day
reached the North Ann river without
opposition. During that night he des-
troyed the enemys depot at Beaver
Dam. three large trains of 100 cars, two
fine locomotives, 100000 pounds Of ba-
con, and stores, amounting to one mil
lion and half Of rations; also the tele-
graph and railroad track for about ten
miles, embracing several cUlverts; re
captured Us Of our men; including two
Colonies, one Major, and several other
officers
On the IN orning of the 10th he re-
sumed operations, crossed the South
Ann at Grand Squirrel Ridge, and went
into camp. About daylight on the 18th
he captured Ashland Station, and de
stroyed one locomotive, train of cars,
and two or three Government buildings,
containing a large amount of stores; he
also destroyed several miles of road,
including six culverts and trestle
bridges, and the telegraph wires. About
seven O clock on the Ilth, he resumed
the march on Richmond. He found
the rebel Stuart with his cavalry con-
centrated at Yellow Tavern, and at
tackled him, and, after an obstinate con-
test, gained the possession Of the turn
pike, capturing two pieces Of artillery,
and driving his forces back toward
Ashland and across the north fork of the
Chickahominy.
At the same time a party charged
down the Brock road and captured the
first line of the enemy's works around
Richmond. During the night he
marched the whole Of his command be-
tween the first and second lines of the
enemy's works on the bluffs overlook
ing the line Of the Virginia Central
Railroad, and the MechanicsvilIe turn
pike After demonstrating around the
works, and finding them very strong,
he gave up the intention of assaulting,
and determined to recross the Chiclta-
hominy at Meadows bridge 1t had
been partially destroyed by the enemy,
but was repaired in about three hours,
under a heavy artillery fire from re-
bel battery General Merritt made a
crossing, and attacked the enemy, and
drove hins off handsomely, the pursuit
continuing as far as Gainess Mill The
enemy observing the recrossing of the
Chickahominy, came out from his see
and line of works.
A brigade of infantry, and large
number of dismounted men, attacked
the divisions of Generals Gregg and
Wilson, but, after q hard contest, were
repulsed and driven behind their works.
Gregg and Wilson's divisions, after col
lecting the wounded, recrossed the
Chickahominy. On the afternoon Ct
the 18th, the corps encamped at Wal
nut Grove. On the morning of the 18th
the march was resumed to Bottoms
landing. The command is in fine spi-
rits. The loss of horses will not exceed
100 ALI the wounded were brought off
except about 30, who were .1nortaIlv
wounded, and these were well cared for
in the farm houses Of the country.
The wounded will not exceed $50, and
the total losses not over $50
The Virginia Central railroad bridge.
over Chickahominy, of loo feet length,
and other trestle bridges, of 100 and 100
feet length, and the railroad for long
distance sonth of Chickahominy were
destroyed.
Great praise is given the division com
mands Of Generals Gregg, Wilson, and
Custer and to the brigade commands
Of Davis; Col Gregg, Dupen, Mcintosh,
and Gibbs. All the officers and men
behaved splendidly.
In a dispatch this moment from Adj
miral Lee, he reports to the Secretary
of the Navy that the Richmond papers
of Yesterday mention the death of Gen
!. L. B. Stuart, shot in battle with
Sheridan.
signed f. NJ STANTON.
O5scial-To MAJOR General Dir
An official despatch from the battle
field at Spottsylvania C. H., yesterday
morning at halfpast six o'clock, states
that during the night friday move
ment was made by the 9Th and 9th
corps to our left, and an attack was TO
have been made at daylight, but no
sound of battle had been heard from
that quarter This maneuver, it is said. /
If successful, would place our forces in (
Lees rear, and compel him TO retret F.!
toward Lynchburg
No cannon or any sound of battle /
was heard yesterday at Belle Plain or
Fredericksburg, which affords ground /
for the inference that Lee had retreated |
during Friday night, and before the /
advance of the 5th and 9th corps.
Nothing later than $50 A. n, yesterday, /
has been received from the army bv /
this department. All the wounded /
that had reched Belle Plain yesterday (
have arrived. The surgical report from (
states that the condition 4
of efgpnIies Is satisfactory and the
wounded are doing well The Mediea