The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-05-19

HEADQARTERs ARMY OF THE PoToMAc,
(No date )-Y yesterday the Sd Division
of the 9th Corps, commanded by Gen.
Birney, was ordered to fall back from
It's position on the right flank. Our line
had scarcely left its position when the
enemy took advantage of the occur
renee and moved apparently with the
intention of occupying the position our
men had vacated Gen Birney was
ordered back to his former position,
which was retained after short en-
counter, with loss of l45 men killed
and wounded ABOUT three clock to-
day the batteries on our right threw
few shells into the woods in front of
them, and a sharp skirmish took place
between the pickets, which soon sub
sided. Since then an almost unbroken
silence has Teigned in the army.
Lee has taken advantage of the short
respite given him to entrench himself
still more strongly in an already strong
position
An order was read to the troops, sta
ting that reinforcements had reached
US
Our baggage and supply trains, which
have been lying on the plank road
near Charlottesville for several days,
have been sent to Fredericksburg.
WAR DEPARTMENT, WAsHIEGTON, May
| II, P. M.-To Maior-General Dix: Dis
patches from Gen. Butler, just received,
report the success of his expedition
under Gen. Kautz, to cut the Danville
Railroad, and destroy the iron Bridge
across the Appomatomax.
On Monday morning the enemy in
force, under cover of thick fog, made
an attack upon General Smiths line
and gradually forced it back in some
disorder with considerable loss, but as
soon as the fog lifted, Smith re-estab-
lished his lines, and the enemy were
driven back to his original lines, at the
same time the enemy made an attack
from Petersburg on the force guarding
the rear, but were handsomely repuls-
ed. The troops having been on inces-
SAINT duty for five days three of which
were in a rain storm Gen Butler re-
| tired leisurely within his own lines.
| We hold the Railroad between Peters
burg and Richmond. Prisoners state
that Bragg and Davis were present on
the field
Dispatches from Sigel received this
evening" report that on Sunday, he
fought the forces of Echols and limbo
den under Breckenridge at New Mar
! ket, that their forces were superior in
number and that he gradually with
drew from the field and recrOssed the |
| Shenandoah, having lost pieces of Ar |
/ Enn I-sIIoI l.
and fifty prisoners, but bringing all his
trains and all the wounded that could !
| be transported from the battlefield. He
states that in consequence of the |
/ long line of trains he had to guard he |
could not bring more than Reg's into |
the fight, besides artillery and cavalry !
/ and that the enemy had about !, 600 in
| fantrv, besides other arms: that his !
retrogade movement to Strasburg was
effected in perfect order, and without |
any loss of material or men
No report of any other action of the
army Of the Potomac has been received !
Dispatches from Sherman report his |
advance upon Johnston progressing to !
his satisfaction His supplies are abund- |
ant Our animals are improving on |
the grass and grain fields, which now
afford good pasture
TSignedl f. NJ. STANTON.
NEw YORK, May l8-The World is
the only paper which has the following: |
EXECUTIVE MANSION, } i
May Il, 1864 ! |
Fellow-Citizens, of the United States: |
In all the seasons of exigencies, it
becomes nation to carefully scrutinize |
its line of conduct, and humbly APP
proach the throne of grace and meekly
implore forgiveness, wisdom and guild |
ance for reasons, known only to Him.
1t has been directed that this country |
should be the scene of unparalleled |
outrage, and this nation a monumental |
sufferer of the nineteenth century |
with a heavy heart but undiminished |
confidence in our cause, Iapproach the
performance of duty rendered inn
peritive by my sence of weakness be-
fore the Almighty and of Justice to
the people 1t is not necessary that |
should tell you that the first Virginia
campaign under Lieut.. Gen. Grant in
whom | have every confidence, and
whose courage and fidelity to the peO-
pie we do well to honor, is virtually
closed. He has conducted his great
enterprise with discreet ability He
has inflicted great loss upon the enemy.
He has crippled their strength and
defeated their plans.
In view, however, of the situation
in Virginia the disaster at Red River,
the delay at Charleston, and the gener-
al state of the country / Abraham
Lincoln, do hereby recommend that
Thursday the Goth day of May 1864, be
solomenly set apart throughout the
United States as a day of fasting, hui
initiation and prayer Deeming furth-
ermore that the present condition of
public affairs presents an extraordinary
occasion, and in view ofthe Power vest
ed in me by the constitution and laws
| have thought fit to call forth and here
by do call forth citizens of the United
States, between the ages of Is and As,
to the aggregate number of 100000
in order to suppress the existing rebel
lion, combinations and cause q due ex-
eeution of the laws, and furthermore, in
case any State or number of States shall
fail to furnish them by the 18th of June
next, their assigned quotas, il is hereby
ordered that the same be raised by i'm
mediate and peremptory draft. Details
for this object will be communicated
to the State authorities through the
War Department appeal to all the
loyal citizens to favor facilitate and aid
this effort to maintain the honor and
integrity and existence of the national
Union and the perpetuity of the Gov
eminent In witness whereof, ! have
hereunto set my hand and caused the
seal of the United States to be fixed.
Done at Washington, this 18th day of
May, in the year Of our Lord, 1864, and
of the Independence Of the United
States the SSth
Signed ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
By the President,
w II. SEWARD, Sec of State
CINCNClNYATI, May lSf-A special to
the Commercial, dated Gauley Bridge,
May 18th, sag that a courier arrived
this forenoon from General Crook.
He had fought three battles near
Newbern, with the forces under
Generals Morgan, Sam Jones, and A.
G. Jenkins gaining a complete victory
over the enemy. The enemy lost
6000 men killed and wounded and SEQ