The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-05-16

The erea& battle Of Tharsday, reported In
to-dayt paper, between the armies Of Lee
and Grant, In Spotsylvanla, appears to have
bsss .pns Of the most sanguinary and holly
cont0kted Of the war. The cautious and re-
liable reporter for the press states that
Grants ioss was about 10000 men In this
terrible tight A portion Of our line was
broken; but the next best thing to holding
position against the enemy's assault 10 the
recovery OF Il after IL has been lost Inie
our veterans did most calamity. Hut we
regret to see that the enemy succecded III
carrying Oh sixteen cannon and some TWO
thousand Of our men a. prisoners before
they were themselves shaken OF aud hurled
back to their own lines. On the other hand,
We took | 500 prisoners, and must lave in'
aicted immense slaughter upon him rom
our brcastworks Grants loss during the,
campairr of eight days is estimated by the
correspondent at SO, 900 men, which We think
reasonable; while our own is stated, with
like probability. At $1,000, since in nearly
every battle the enemy was the assailant,
and ws fought in fortified positions.
Gen. Lee holds the position he took up
when marching by the right flank Of the
enemy, who had abandoned his entrench-
msnts on the GermAnna road; he forced him
to Incline towards Fredericksburg, and has
kept him 1t bay for week, inf1lcting upon
him heavy losses every time he has sought
to turn his flank. Gen. Lees commnnica-
tons represent the glorious Army Of North
ern Virginia to be In the very best Spirits
Persons from the afmy-ofacsrs aud 9th.
srs-spsak Of the condition Of the troops a.
the very best, and the prospect most encour.
aging. Our men are cheered BY the signal
advantages they have achieved In every col.
nsion; and those Of the enemy are repre-
scented, no doubt truly, as depressed in
spirits by the heavy and disastrous conflicts
With the Confederates Into which Grant has
With such impetuosity forced them. He lie
said to have received reinforcements. II
that be true, 1t argues that he Was not SO
strong Is 1t was supposed. He cannot, how
ever, reinforce to any great extent without
relieving Southern troops, who may be also
used for concentration.
The situation on the RaPpahannoek is en-
couraging. When Grant proclaims- that he
viii not recross the river as long as he has
man, he employs the language ola braggart.
which rather shows the madness of desperA-
ton than brave determination. He has
proved, however, that he will fight, If not
wisely. certainly earnestly. This IL we'll,
and Affords us better chance than the eau.
tious strategy Of Mcclellan which preferred
the saving Of half an army to losing q whole
. one.
About Richmond the enemy 10 still prob
ing and feeling like email with hls projecting
horns, occasionally receiving q sharp blow
when pressing his rec onnoissances too far;
whereupon he draws In his horns like the
email Aforesaid. There has been little else
for several days than diminishing, with
small loss, We suppose. on either side. But
the enemy il not advanced 10 his-objects,
and Richmond stands still the object Of his
hate, relying confidently in the strength aud
valor Of her defenders.