The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-06-03
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
Detail, of the Latest Flank Movement,
Core pondence Of thc New York Times.
NEAR THE PANUNKY RIVER,
Eridau MaN % N

Correspondence Of thc New York Times.
NEAR THE PANUSKY RIVER,
Friday, May 27-73
Last night the Army of the Potomac
recrossed the North Anna and began
another thanking movement, now in
! progress. and destined to GUST the rebels
] from another stronghold. After affect
ing the passage Of the river on Monday
and Friday, OF which we gave you the
| full details in my letter Of Wednesday
the army was pushed forward across the
| Virginia Central Railroad for the pur-
pose Of feeling the position and strength
of the enemy The reconnaissance OF
/ Wednesday, continued yesterday, de-
/ termined that Lee was in full force and
holding a powerful position in our inn
mediate front, somewhat in advance of
Little river 1t happened, too, that not
only was the nature Of the ground very
| favorable TO him, but he had gained a
position tactically of the greatest adj
vantage. As you already know, the
| point at which crossed the river at the
railroad bridge, is separated by an in
terVal of about four miles from the
point at which the corps of Warren and
Wright made the passage at Jericho
Ford The enemy had thrown his cen.
ter forward so as to form line of bat
tie in the shape of the letter V, the
apex abutting on the river. Minor re-
| connoissances developed that the right
flank of Lees army rested on a swamp,
its left on Little river, which covered a
good portion of his line This position
the rebels have passed every hour since
! they arrived here in fortifying, and if
they are driven from this they had the
deliberately prepared line of the South
Anna to fall back upon.
In this state of facts the commanding
General determined on a repetition Of
the same strategy by which he had
forced Lee from the lines Of Spottsyl-
vania
General Grant has ''as little idea as
you can imagine, of butting his head
against prepared works, consequently
he resolved to repass the North Anna,
swing round to the left over the Pa
munky and leave Lee to enjoy all the
benefit of his prepared line, in which
he would be glad to have him stay as
long a. possible. Accordingly, yester-
day afternoon, preparations were made
to carry this design into execution.
To call off the attention of the enc
my, a demonstration was made on our
extreme right The cavalry corps
having returned from its great raid.
Wilson's division was sent up on the
enemy's left, while Wilcox, with coburn
mortars, opened from the north bank
and at dark the withdrawal of this
army was begun-the 9th corps leading
followed by the other corps--a strong
sl1irmish line meanwhile being left.
Hancock who had the advance in the
forward movement, now brings up the
rear. 1t was designed to make the
withdrawal secret, and it seems to have
been q success, as not even a picket
shot was fred during the night and
nothing met the ear in the midnight
air save the low rumble of the wagons
across the bridges and the muffied
tread of moving columns
The onward march continues at this
hour, and the head of the column will
probably soon reach the Pamunky,
crossing the river at HanovertOwn, not
the Courthouse you will observe To-
day work viii, it is hoped, plant this
army on the direct road TO Richmond,
and fifteen miles from the long desired
spot But what the military develop
ments Of the day may be, and how
they will affect the immediate and ul-
innate upshot ofthings, it is impossible,
and would be vain Tor me to attempt to
20 anticipate