Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-06-03
THE ADVANCE ON RICHMOND.
The Position on Tuesday-A Fight on the
Old church Road-Our Forces victeri-
ous-BeaureSard and Breckinridge with

Correspondence Philadelphia Inquirer
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE PoroMAc,
NRAR SALEM CHURCH, OK a. m, May 3l.-L
sent an incomplete dispatch yesterday, in
which endeav ored TO give the readers of the
Inquirer some general idea of the peculiar for
nation Of our. line of battle. The line is, how
ever changed this morning to the extent OF
Warren having moved down about a mile in
the direction of Mechanics vile, and Burnside
coming in TO fill the gap between him and Han
cock 1t must be borne in mind that Rich nond
is on our left, and the Rebel right flank, and
il will be seen why this movement OF War
rem excited considerable apprehension in the
Rebel Councils, which manifested itself in
very heavy skirmshing yesterday afternoon
and late into the evening along Warren's front
with lighter demonstrations on our centre. IL
did not, however interfere in the least with
the movement OF Warren.
The position OF Sheridan, with two divisions
OF cavalry, Greggs and Torberts, to the left OF
and little in advance of WarreR. by which
he threatened to enter Richmond before them
in case OF battle and reverse on their present
line, was also source Of much uneasiness 10
the rebels, and yesterday afternoon they en-
deayored 10 rectify it. A brigade OF Ewells
infantry, aided by all their available cavalry
and two batteries, made q vigorous attack on
Sheridans line about three o'clock, but our
gallant cavalry met them hravely, and by dark
Sheridan had not only repulsed them, but had
driven them full two miles beyond the Old
Church rood. Our loss in this affair was not
over sixty or seventy, while the rebels lost over
one hundred killed and wounded and three
hundred taken prisoners.
This morning the skirmishing is aboutas yes
terday; If any different it is more general along
ascertain cur exact position warren's meve-
ment, begun yesterday, has been accomplished,
and Burnsideis in position between him and
Hancock, the Sixth Corps, General Wright,
having the right OF our lines.
Prisoners persistin asserting that Lee is sick,
in Richmond, and that Ewell is in command OF
the Rebel army. What truth there may be in
this is hard TO say. There is no doubt, howe yer,
that the Rebel authorities mean desperate
defense of Richmond. Our movement on the
James has loosened Beauregard, and his force
is on our front as we'll as the Division of Breck-
inridge. In addition to this, every man in Ricn-
mond capable of carrying amusket has been
put into the ranks and crowded into the lines
before us. With all their reiniorcements IT is
probable that the Rebel army here has an ac-
tual fighting strength OF one hundred thousand
men.
General Smith at White House.
WHITE HOUSE, VA, noon, May 31.-This
landing was safely secured late in the after
noon of yesterday, as base Of supply for the
Army Of the Potomac, by the landing OF a por-
ton of Badly Smiths command, all Of which
has been withdrawn from Bermuda Hundred,
and is now in process OF arrival and disem-
barkation here, from whence il proceeds 10 loin
Grant eighteen miles distant, by excellent
roads.
tain Pitkin, the Depot Quartermaster, has al
ready arrived here and set to work with his
accustomed energy. There is now here or in
transit up the York River, to arrive before day
light tomorrow, full ten days rationS and
forage for the armies operating on this line.
Thet have yet to be built, so that landing
stores and troops are exceedingly tedious, but
this will be remedied by Tomorrow. Brga-
dier General Abercrombie is in command of
III is post, but up to this hour has not arrived
from Port Royal.
The one hundred day men will garrison this
vicinity. one regiment, the One-hundred and
thirty. second Ohio, having just arrived on the
steamer John Brooks.
A portion of Gregg's division of cavalry is
this morning being posted to cover the roads
from here to the front, and by night communi-
cation will be fully established
The Battle of Monday Evening-Hancock
Drives the Enemy from their Rifle. pits
The Rebels Attempt to Surprise Him at
Night and meet with a Bloody Repuise-
r day Mornins-Rebel Admission of De-
feat. .-
Especial Dispatch to New York Times.l
GRN'L GRANTS HEADQUARTERS, Monday
Night, May 30, $50 p. m.-Onr lines have adj
vaneed and moved to-day. The enemy resist
ed the movement but feebly till about three
hours ago, when he suddenly threw a strong
force along and on both sides Of the MechaD-
icsville' road upon Crawford's division OF
Warren's corps and forced it back slightly.
Rebel prisoners give information that the force
was reconnaissance made by Rhodes's divis-
ion of Ewell's corps, with two brigades OF cav
airy, sent out to feel our position. AS soon as
Warren was apprised of this movement of the
enemy, he sent reintorcementS TO thai par. OF
his line, whose timely arrival prevented the
enemy from turning his flank. The engage.
ment Yves severe and lasted nearly an hour,
Re sultng in the discontinue OF the rehels, who
we're driven back in disorder, and left most OF
their dead and wounded and a number OF pris-
oners in our hands. Warren's line remains
where it was at noon. The enemy's cavalry
force engaged in this reconnaissance advanced
tIcm Mecbanicsville by road nearly parallel
with that taken by their infantry, and one and
3 bali miles to the east
Old Church Tavern cross roads was held by
Torbett's division of our cavalry. 1t was about
two miles from the Pamunkey. The rebels
drove in our pickets at this point. and pressed
up TO the nam line The first charge by Tor
belts men routed them, and they retired in
confusion, leaving abouta hundred killed and
wounded on the field. They We're pursued
about two miles, TO the vicinity of Gold Har-
bor. Our loss was two officers and five men
killed, an d three officers and even men wound.
ed As soon as word was brought 10 Gen.
Meade of the enemys attack on Warren's left,
he ordered an advance of the whole line 10 re-
lieve him. Gen. Hancock alone received the
order before dark, and he drove the enemy
from their first line of rifie.pits, which he still
holds. Our loss was small We captured
about one hundred prisoners
TUESDAY, May 81, 10 A. M.-The rebel papers
of yesterday clam that Fitzhugh Lee and
Ha ampton met the whole OF our cavalry CORPS
in Saturday evenings fight. In fact we had
only Gregg's divlson and one of Torbett's brig
AIDES engaged. They admita defeat and q loss
OF one thousand, and that they were obliged 10
leave their dead and wounded in our hands.
They own to a loss of one hundred and sixty
four in the Sixth South Carolina alone
At midnight last night the enemy atsemp.ei
TO surprise Hancock, and threw a heavy
force npon him. They Were repplsed after a
sharp fight, and left four or five hundred pris-
oners in our hands. 1t will be remembered he
was occupying their ritie-pits, from which he
drove them just at dark last evening. During
the night 1t was determined to advance the
whole line as far as Hancock's front, and the
movement began soon after daylight It is still
going on. There is considerable firing OF mus
kerry and artillery, and the enemy is evidently
making some resistance. As yet there are no
indications of a general engagement.
Lees army holds naturally strong position
which he has strengthened by steady work
during the last few days, on the north bank of
the Chiekahominy. We are threatening his
right, but he does not show any signs of Civ