The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-05-17

The operations Of General Grants army yesterday
confined TO reforming Of the lines and an OCCASIONAL
demonstration the part Of tbs artillery There was
the usual random firing Of musketry along the entire
lines Of the two armies, but nothing Of Importance
Lees army still occupies strong position. great
portion OF which Is exposed TO view.
Preparations were being made during tho day for
renewal OF the engagement which, contrary 70 expeca
ton, did not take place.
Evsrythipg was In readiness night early as
saut to-day and there no doubt that another
fight will occur, the details OF which will probably
not reach us before Wednesday.
Lee has been massing his troops his right, and the
engagement when take place east OF Spott
sylvania Court House.
From cauurod officers is learned that Lee narrowly
escaped capture by Hancock Friday. Lee was con-
sutng with Ewel and johnson, when our troops ad-
vanced but warned OF their approach by tho cheer
ing OF men they dashed the enemy's works
He escaped but few moments previous the arrival
our forces the spot where the conference held
Renforcemeuts have gained Grants army.
The rain has rendered tho roads quite heavy impeding
very much the transportation Of wounded from
Supplies in abundance being forwarded and every
thing connected with the army continues In the finest
condition
Statement or q Unaon Paroled Surgeon.
wAsHNaroS, May 10, 1854.
The surgeon OF the Sixty New York regiment who
was captured with six hundred Others tho third days
fight, and was subsequently paroed into lines
on Saturday with the ody of General wadswor tn which
had been inferred, by the order Of General Lee neat
coffin.
He also General Longstrset 10 his tent He was
wounded in the collar bons The wound not mortal,
but would lacitate him for active duty for some
time.
Of their giving up yet.
The rebel lines well supported by lines OF interior
works, and more are being constructed
General Lee has not been wounded, the surgeon
and talked with him on Friday, when he gave him per-
mission to take up the body OF General wadsworth.
He is Of opinion that the rebels will yet mako
desperate resistance He says their prvaons only seem
to exaperate them and that they kept up by the
hope aud idea or exhausting US and compelling us to
abandon the contest.
General Crawford, who cut or from his command
OF Pennsylvania last week. and supposed to be
prisoner, is reported to have reoiued the reserves
The Rebels Endeavoring to Place Tor
pedocs in she KappahannOck and
Plank atank Rfvers-Ton OF Them
Found.
WASHINGTON, May 10, 1864
On the afternoon OF the 18th inst Commander Parker
o. rebels engaged in placing torpedoes in the Rap
pahannock and Piapkatak blow IN gunboats
He Immediately ordered up expedition to thwart
their purposes.
COL Draper, OF the camp at Point Lookout, asked
to operate, and immediately consented to 60 himself,
and took with him about three hundred colorcd troops
from the camp, who embarked on the same night
The troops landed, with thirty six scamen under
the command OF Captain Sheet with boat howtzers and
graphing hooks, and secured the Rsppahannock and
Pankatank rivers and Moback Bay pretty thoroughly.
The boats explored the Rappahannock as high up as
Urbana, and the whole length OF the Piankatauk and
succeeded in finding four. which exploded, sending
the up huge jets The six others got out
Of the river unframed.
The torpcdocs made OF tin cases filed with pow.
der and were to have been exploded by percussion
cap tarrcd string leading to the SHIRE being arranged
the cap or The amount Of powder in them varied
from thirty to sixty pounds.
Some Of those who engaged in fixing the infer
nal machines from the shore, and troops
pursued them distance, encouutering 200 rebe
troops there watch the party fixing the
pedoes, when little skrmshng onsued. resulting In the
killing OF rebels, the woundng OF number Of others
aud the capture OF twenty prisoners.
The troops said to have behaved with great
gailantry.
The leader OF the torpedo party, Acting Master Max
well, OF the rebel navy, a notorious raider, who has
hitherto Civ en- much trouble killed while attempting
to escape by swimming the creek.