The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1864-05-11
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0A1NASaElIW
WASHINGTON. May 5. 1864.

suppression OF intelligence upon the part OF the
Administration, that it is extremely difficult
to learn anything of what is going OF in the
| Army of the Potomac. What the public does
learn is through private sources, and is nct al
ways as reliable as could be wished, but in tie
absence OF official information it is eagerly re-
ceiyed and devoured by the pGbiic with avid
ty.
Ali feel that the crisis of the war is at hand,
as i the Federal Government is not immedi-
ately and entirely successful, the war will have
to be abandoned.
On the Sd inst, I saw a gentleman from
the army, who informed me that on Saturday
last a severe skirmish took place below Ma
uassas, in which two Or three thousand men
were killed and wounded, and that cur army
was 1orsted in it. Ever since Friday week
the public will be surprised to learn that So
we're skirmishing has been going on all along
the line.
1t is thought not impossible that Lee may
fall back to within the lines aronnd Richmond
before the great battle occurs. Should he do
so, Grant would have to distribute 20 900 men
on the way to keep open his communications,
while Lees army would be increased by the
abandonment of his posts and the calling in
of his reserve. The latter. therefore, by this
move would gain a great advantage.
General Gilmore from Charleston, With the
Federal forces lately employed in Carolina
and Florida, is on the Peninsula. To meet
them, General. B~eauregard has brought up
the Confederate army from Charleston, and is
now in Richmond with it. Bis design is to
to observe the movements of Generals Smith
and Butler on the Peninsula while Lee con-
fronts Grant.
Longstreet, from East Tennessee, is on the
left of Lees army with his corps, and is threat
ening the federal communication with Wash
ington. Generals Sigel and Couch with 25,-
600 men are moving up the Shenandoah val
ley.
On Tuesday night Gen. Sigel made a very
remarkable speech in Martinsbursh, Va. He
said "the war had gone on three years. and
that 1t was a great disgrace to the North
That with all its superiority in men and mon
ey, yet the rebels had not been conquered. I
am now here where I was two years ago. Only
think-nf it. We march to -moIrow to fight
the greatest General of the age, the rebel
Robert Lee At this remark the General was
greeted with Kisses from some intensely loyal
lists. He replied "Yon may hiss, but he is a
great General although a rebel"
In the Plymouth affair, in North Carolina,
the federal loss was about 1000 men. The
confederates hold the whole of Albemarle
Sound by means of their celebrated rams.
They have, it is said, two more rams on one
of the rivers that empty into the Sound
They draw eight feet water, and are 160 feet
long, and carry one large gun. All the
Charleston Iron-elads are in James river pre-
pairing to attack Fort Darling, and go to
Richmond by that way.
1t is reported that the army in Richmond
under Beauregard amount to $4,000 men,
while Lee has 100000 Oh the Rapidan and
RAP pahannock.
Chase has had a Big quarrel in the Cabinet
with Lincoln, who sustained Blair in his awful
attack upon him, and makes him a Major
General. It will not be surprising if Mr..
Chase resigns. He is very indignant at the
Administration.
Since writing the above tie fighting has
commenced in earnest. Burnside, it is re-
ported, has been beaten by Longstreet, and
has lost several thousand men. The negroes
under Burnside behaved very badly. ALI kinds
of rumors arc in circulation. Voorhees, last
speech in Congress is a most powerful effort.
He literally annihilated Garfield of Ohio.
The Rapidan was crossed by the Potomac
army as early as Saturday noon.
The excitement in Washington is tremen-
dous, greater than it has been at any time du-
ring the war.
There is bad news from Europe, where the
recognition of the Confederacy is strongly
talked of. The foreign diplomats here arc
all sick of the war, and are for ending it by re-
cognition.
A leading officer in the Treasury Depart
ment who conversed yesterday with a friend
of mine said, if Grant is defeated, God help
u.s. but he has TIC, 000 men in front, and they
will fight like devils, if they don't We are gene
up and no mistake. The President is nearly
crazy with excitement and hardly takes any
repese. His friends are afraid that his physi-
cal system will be Frustrated under the pres
sure. Moseby is lowering near Washington,
and is almost daily doing damage, by the de-
struction of government stores or property.
He has taken a great many prisoners.
Private advices from Louisiana, state that
the loss of General Banks in the disastrous
campaign in Louisiana in the second battle
with the Confederates, amounts to Ia, 1000
men. Nearly all his baggage and material
has been sacrificed. The defeat has been a
terrible ono. All letters agree that the rout
was equal to that of Bull Run.
Grant is a~rresting a great many citizens and
sending them to the Old Capitol prison. Gen.
Butler has compelled the administration to
knock under and is still lord of the Peninsula.
The two Union members of Congress, Segor
and Chandler, from Eastern Virginia de-
nounce Butler as a villain and scoundrel. The
proposal to tax whiskey Oh hand viii, probably
be rejected again by the Senate Committee
OBSERVER.
The following has just been ri ceiYed by
Telegraph at The A. g. Ct. W. Railway office.
Grants army within 10 miles of Richmond.
Engagement Of Friday. Lee defeated with
terrible slaughter. a Washington Republi-
can extra says, Grant led his army upon the
enemy on Friday. Lee was driven 5 miles,
leaving 5000 killed and 10 loco wounded in
our hands. Grant is master of the field
Lee is in full retreat and Grant in hot pur-
suit. 1t is reported that Grant is threatening
Richmond. Lees army is between two fires,
and should our cavalry succeed in cutting his