Evening star., 1864-05-07
Army of the Potomac.

Army of the Potomac.
General Advance Of Our Fsrces Mo-
mentous Msvsmenss-The Latest from
the, Front-Supposed Position of Our
Army-The Rebel Army Flank ked-No
General Engagement Yet. -.s
4a From the Baltimore American, May7I
The latest intelligence received at Washing.
ton last evening from the Army OF the Potomac
was that General Grant had crossed the Rap.
loan with the entire army, and had abandoned
railroad to Alexandria was entirely aban.
doned. and he had destroyed the telegraph,
pushing on after the rerreating rebel army, and
had just arrived reported that he had left Cul
peper Court House on Thursday and found it
entlreiy ahsndoned. and for fifteen miles this
side he did not encounter single soldier, until
beyond Bull Run, when hs met the force of
General Burnside, which forms the rear guard,
advancing. 1t is therefore evident that we
must look for our first Intelligence from the
The story put forth yesterday by tho New
York World, Of a disaster to Gen. Burnside,
proved, like most Of the statements Of that
paper, to be entirely fabulous. On the contra
ry, q portion OF his cavalry on Thursday
passed through Thoroughfare Gap, and en-.
countered the rear Of Imbodens cavalry,
which was moving towards Richmond from
Western Virginia. The skirmish resulted in
killing several Of the enemy, one Of whom was
oficer Of Imboden's staff, whose bodv fell
into the possession Of our cavalry. On his
General Lee ordering ImDoden 70 oin nim
south Of the Rapidan as speedily as possible.6 F.
There was no boat arrived yesterday from
Old Point, and consequently none went down
last evening. Whether the boats have been
taken for military purposes or to stop all COM
municatien with the seat of war we have not
been able to learn. We learn from Washing.
ton, however, that it was the intention Of Gen.
Grant to stop all Communication except such
as he may send by the military telegraph via
Fortress Monroe, from Yorktown and Will
hamsburg, until some decisive result was OBJ.
tanned.
The report received via New York OF move.
ment OF Gen. Baldy Smith towards Petersburg,
ening that place as well as Fort Darling, is not
credited in Washington. On the contrary, he
is believed to have crossed the Pamunkey,
making his base Of supplies at West Point
There is, however, no doubt of. the fact that
we may look at any moment for some impor.
tant IL not decisive intelligence. Gen. Lee is
reported at Washington to be retreating to-
the Chickahominy. Whether he will give
battle there, or fall back within the defences OF
Richmond and stand siege, a few days will
develop.
NEWSPAPER RUMORS AND DETAILS.
We copy the following from the New York
papers Of yesterday:
Especial Dispatch to New York Times.l
WAsHIHeToN, May 5-The Army of the Po-
tomac began its forward march on Monday.
The crossing of the Rapidan was effected with
out opposition on Tuesday and Wednesday at
Culpeper, Jacobss, Germania and Ely's Fords.
retired as we advanced. If Lee intends to
make a stand this side of Richmond, it is pos
sible he may be met near the old battle ground
OF Chanssi,orsyiiie Is but butt it Is the general i'm
sition on the Rapidan to Richmond, in order to
protect that city from the formidable force now
marching upon It from the rear, and W hich is as
likely to strike on one side Of the James river
as the other. t.. ..... ....a
Culpeper is being strongly fortified, and will
be used as depot for stores. ..'.....,. .
Of troops under Generals Couch and Sigel are
marching from Winchester up the Shenandoah
Valley as q cooperating column, destined
eventually to cut the Virginia and Tennessee
Railroad, while Buffers force, or q part of it,
strikes the other railroad at or near Petersburg,
thus severing all railroad communications be.
tween Richmond and the South.
General Butler took the field in person at the
head of the army on the Peninsula yesterday,
". F. smith, Gfiihasslllsd Gfifiihasllsd Sy such leaders as
Weitzel. -""'re'
This movement assumes an expeditionary
character. An immense fleet Of transports aud
strong squadron OF monitors and gunboats
will convoy it up one Of those broad rivers to
the gates or to the back door OF Richmond, and
strength of the rebel batteries that line the
James, the Pamunky and the Rappahannock
The feeling prevails that there is desperate
work before this army. But there is nerve and
strength for 1t. The iron-clads lie In the still
waters of Newport News, and the fleet of gun.
boats are in communi. alton with them.
Detaits Of the Crossing.
Especial Despatch to the N. Y. World,l
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
May 4, E a. m.-The grand campaign is inau.
eurated at last The Army Of the Potomac Is
on the march!
Inasmuch as the present movement will be
known-and perhaps felt-by the entire rebel
army in our front before the close of the day,
there can be no harm in making it public at
once.
The order to march was issued from Genl
Meade's headquarters yesterday morning. and
was disseminated through the army by D. m
Gen'l Gregg's cavalry divisions accompanied
by portion OF the canvas pontoon train, moved
yesterday afternoon toward Richardsvi.le, and
were engaged nntil late at night repairing the
division moved to the ford named, to establish
crossing About midnight the 3d Cavalry
Division, with another portion Of the canvas
miles above, there to establish another crossing.
tits reported at this hour that both efforts were
successful. g.. r.t .t
The advance Of the Second Corps, Major
GenI Hancock commanding, broke camp at
midnight, and moved down the Stevensburg
and Richardsvil)e road toward Ely's Ford.
O'Clock this morning in the same direction, ant
We're expected to effect crossing soon after
daylight. c
The Fifth Corps, under Major Gen. Warren,
commenced moving atmidnight. The advance,
consisting Of two divisions Of infantry and q
portion Of the artillery, passed through Ste.
vensburg at midnight, closely followed by the
Germania Ford. ,....s : - l..,i : : :
The 5th corps was closely succeeded by the
9Th, under Gen. Sedgwick, which Quilted its
camp at "a. M. Both the 5th and 9Th corps are
understood to be crossing the Rapidan at Ger
mania Ford 1T gi-s-1. .t-s -s.--4-
The entire movement Of the army resolves
itself into the crossing Of the Rapadan river at
two fords. toward the right flank Of the enemy,
placing itself crossing, on . line nearly par.
allel with the river, between Orange Court.
House and Chancellorsville.i At the present
hour the movement IL under way, aud there 10
probability that 1t will be successfully ac-
complished without severe opposition by Lee,
Of q surprise. 1t 10 not probsble that any se.
rious Engagement will be fought to-day. Cav.
Airy diminishing and artillery dReling7 are
rl~-.S a