, 1864-02-09
Especial Dispatch 10 the Chicago Tdbune.l

WAsu1SGroN, Feb. E, 1871
As telcgraphed .ast night, the movement6f
part Of the army Of the Potomac across the
Eapidan, on Saturday, was not u bond J1l'c nd
yance, but merely demonstration, tho real
Significance Of which will soon be disclosed
to the public
Tic following arc additional particulars Of
tic courGe and results Of the movement:
Early on Saturda i morning, the third corps
was put In motion for the purpose Of crossing
the SECOND corps was held IN readiness to
follow. The crossing OF. the river
WAS opposed bI the pickcts Of the
enemy, who wdre driven AWAY by our
artillery. 4 pont6on bridge was then laid
and the corps effected a passage and moved
from the South bs nix In the direction Of Or
apge Court House,
About p: H., the advance, consisting ofthe
Sd Division. Gens Hayes, came up with
large force Of fhs@ncmy iu strong position
A gallant attack was Immediately made by
our troops, and fighting continued until utter
dark, when our troops, in accordance with
orders, fell back to the north side Of the
river.
The I'd Corps also crossed the Rapidan,
but did not become engaged before our forces
were ordered to return. The I'd brigade
OF the Sd Division bore the brunt Of the
fight. Our entire loss will not exceed 175
killed wounded and missing. Of the regi-
ments engaged the 1lth Connecticut suffered
most seriously, lis wounded being about $50
pll brought in and cared for in field hospi-
tails.
We captured quite number Of prisoners,
1c0 we're taken and brought in in onelot.
Our cavalry under Gen1s. Fitzpatrick and Mer-
ritt did good service and rode nearly to Fred-
ericksburg, capturing few cavalry men but
discovering no considerable force.
Merritt had skirmish with Stuart near
Robertson's River, and drove them back upon
our infantry and they drove the whole force
into Madison Court House.
Especial Dispatch to the Chicago Trlbune.l
WASHINGTON, Feb..s.
Buffers expedition left Williamsburg on
Saturday, and arrived, at Bottoms Bridge,
twelve miles from Richmond, at halfrast 2
o'clock on Sunday, but found the enemy
posted there in strong force, and continually
receiving accessions from Richmond By rail-
road.
Our forces waited till daylight and then
found that the enemy had three regiments Of
infantry, one regiment Of cavalry and four
batteries Of artillery.
The bridge was taken up md the fords OBJ
structed. 4 gallant attack was made by q
charge on the ford by the LIST New York
mounted rifles, under Major Whcelan with
loss of nine killed and wounded.
At noon our infantry supports arrived, but
the unexpected preparations Of the enc
my rendered 1t useless to attempt to-proceed
to Richmond.
Our force then returned to New Kent, and
we're followed by the enemy, who made sey-
eral attacks, but were handsomely repulscd,
with loes on their side Of 300by the New
York cavalry, under Col. Lewis, assisted By
one piece Of Bclder's battery.
Our forces returned Mt their leisure unmo
lested. The cavalry arrived at Williamsburg
| yesterday about 8 P. H., having marched in
| less than flfty hours more than three hundred
| miles,
/ The Richmond Examiner tolls how the
| rebels learned the secret Of the expedition IN
| scason to frustrate it:
| "Some days since report was obtained by the
authorities here from Yankee dcsertcr, that the
eaeuay was contemplating raid In considerable
| force IN Richmond. The report obtained con-
siste1.cy tsom number Of circumstances. and In
| pressed the authorities to such degree TINT
disposition Of forces WAS made to anticipate the
proposed designs Of the enemy"
NEW YoRK, Feb. 3-Washington specials
say that on Saturday the Sd Army Corps
marched to the Rapidan and laid their pom
Of desperate resistance, crossed, taking
| many prisoners.
At4P. A. the Cd Corps crossed md Joined
the Sd. Tie advance vas highly satisfactory.
Important movements may be looked for.
An officer who left Mitchell's Station this
morning says that at about dusk last night.
the rebels threw q large force Of Infantry and
artillery down towards Raecoon Ford, open
ing fire with artillery upon our troops stu
TONED there.
WASHINGTON, Feb. s.-Thc Star Of this
evening has the following:
Parties from the front represent that We
experienced considerable loss on the return
: Of our troops from the late demonstration.
| It is stated that some Of our ,pontoons WeFe
lost at the Rapidan, whereby the enemy were
enabled to pick up some Of our men who had
not recrossed.
It is also stated that = rebel cavalry force
crossing above Norton's Ford, intercepted {
couple Of our regiments, who were forced te
cut their way through, with some loss.
These reports, 1t should be added, are moi
at all definite, and have not, up to noon to
day, been confirmed BY anything received a
the War Department.
LA1Kn.-Parties arriving from the .fron
this morning, state that when our troops
pushed across at Germania Ford, they fount
The rebel rile-pits in that immediate riclnit,
occupied by but twenty-five pickets, VIII.
threw down their arms and surrendered
stating that there vas no rebel fcEce within
ten miles.
Immediately thereafter our forces pushe,
ahead in the direction Of Orange Court Houst
but had hardly passed two miles when the
were fired on from twelve guns. Attaekin
. the rebel force working and supporting thcs
l | guns, ne drove them tom their positio
. with considerable loss In killed and wounde
: and prisoners, our loss in the affair being 8
The mass OF our infantry then re-crossed th
: Rapidan, leaving q force to hold tho 1iae-pIt
: first taken until The operations Of our caya
I n that had moyed by a different route ha
8 terminated. Heavy firing ls said to have bee
heard yesterday, and it was believed abot
8 Culpepper that our cavalry was then engage
i | with the enemy 1t had been seeking,
II Capnopading wes kept up until late in Il