Delaware State journal and statesman., 1864-05-10

an assault Oh the enemy's works.
| report entitled to belief states that on Thurs
day General Lee, of the rebel army, made a tre-
mendous and violent attack to pierce our centre,
hoping to secure victory but General Han
cocks corps promptly came to the relief, and,
amid murderous FIRE, formed in liue of battle
and thwarted the rebel designs. The losa was
heavy on both sides.
deneral Sheridan was probably engaged in
another part of the field and sent to the chief in
command a message that he had routed Stuart's
cavalry. The attack of Lee was on our advance
ing columns, and he doubtless anticipated a
victory by his onslaught before the main body
could advance to the field of battle.
The appearances on Thursday were that the
hostilties would be renewed on Friday.
| NEW YORK; May 8.-The 7FibuHe'S letter from
the army, dated Thursday night, says:
Early this morning the march was resumed in
the direction Of Todd's tavern, which point was
reached before noon, and the troops placed in
line OF battle at noon. Gen. Wilson, command
ing Gen. Kilpatrick's former cavalry DIVISION
made his whereabouts known by brisk can
nonading several miles southwest of the tavern
| aud in the vicinity Of Shady Grove Church.
where for three-quarters of an hour he was
sharply engaged with large body of rebel ca.
valry aud considerable force of infantry, by
| whom he was gradually forced back upon the I'd
| Corps. Had not the maneuvres of the enemy
prevented, night would have found Gen. Han
cocks command at Shady Grove Church, con.
Meeting with Gen. Warren on his right. BY this
man@uvre we would have occupied the pike
running in northwestern direction from Ger
mania Ford on the Rapidan The movements Of
| Lee soon revealed his real 4 srn
| Gen. Warren was directed - attn q nan 10.
| once, which he did about IL A. NJ, and de-
termined musketry fight OF an hour aud half
| ensued, in which Warren handsomely drove him
from his position with the inHiction Of great loss.
Gen. Grifin's division, of the 5lh Corps, led
/ the attack, and suffered severely, nearly 1000
being killed, wounded and missing. Finding
his effort to break our centre futile, the enemy
| next attempted 10 interpose an overwhelming
force between Warren and Hancock, the latter
Of whom, in accordance with orders, was march
ing his corps rapidly to form junction with the
| former. Fortunately his advance, consisting OF
| Gen. Birney's division, came up just in time to
circumvent the rebel general, who at q Z. NJ,
commenced a terrific onslaught on the divisions
of Gems. Birney, Gibbons, and Getty, the latter
Of whom had been temporarily detached to form
the extreme right of Haucocks command. The
| fight ragged hotly until come time after dark, and
resulted in the complete repslse Of the enemy at
all points. Our loss in this engagement does not
probably exceed 1000 men. Scarcely any ar
tllery was brought into requisitOn, the charac-
ter of the ground rendering it useless The
battle field is covered with thick growth Of
uuderbrush and medium-sized oak trees, and il
is owing 10 that fact that our losses are com
parsiiyely light Our captures in prisoners are
about 500
When Gen Hancocks corps retired towards
Parkers store, 300 of the 18th Pennsylvania
Cavalry, under Major Brinton, sent to relieve
the pickeis, several miles below, on the Spottsyl-
vania road were attacked by large body oil
rebel troops, and driven back to Todd's tavern,
in confusion, and quite large number were
| taken prisoners by the rebels.
A great and perhaps decisive battle will be
fought to morrow friday. All are enthusiastic
Of the movement.
THE BATTLE OF FRIDAY.
WASHINGTON, May s.-The Republicans ex.rs
says Gen Grant hurled his entire army agains
the rebels on Friday. Lee was driven thre
miles, leaving 1900 killed and 10000 wounded
in our hands. Gen Grant is master Of the field
Lee is 10 full retreat General Grant is in hol
pursuit.
Everything is being done for the wounded tha
lies in the power of our surgeons and Ambulance
Corps.
SUCCESS OF GEN. SMITHS MOVEMENT
PETERSBURG ABANDONED BY THE RE-
Bells.
NEW YORK, May s.-The steamer Western
Metropolis, from Fortress Monroe on the 9Th
reports that on the 9th inst, the lst and q
Regiments of colored cavalry, under Col West
made dash across the Chickahominy river, and
two companies, dismounted charged into the
camp of the 46th Virginia Cavalry, killing thirtj
men, aud capturing as many horses. The horsei
were Immediately mounted by our troops, wh'
pursued the rebels to within ten miles Of Rich
mOnd.
On the 9Th instant, our forces who had lande,
at City Point moved on Petersburg, when thu
enemy Immediately set FIRE to the city aud aban
doned It..
on the morning of the same date, the Unitet
States gunboat Commodore Jones, while oil
picket duty on the James river, near Turkey
Bend, was blown up by a torpedo, one Of tn,
cigar shaped infernals, and several of her Off
GERS aud men killed and some forty wounded.
The rebel who had charge Of the torpedo wal
shot, and two Of his companions made prisoners
THE PENINSULAR EXPEDITION.
FoRTREss MoNRoE, May o. Having obtained
permission from Capt. Peifer, aid-de-camp Il
Gen Butler, to publish anything that has trans
pired here in regard to the highly impOrtan
movements in this direction, transmit the fol
J lowing particulars:
On Tuesday night, the Sd inst, about one-hal
of the large feet of transports that have beer
lying in the roads for some time, were ordered Il
On Wednesday the rest of the fleet went ul
and took the remainder of the troops on board
/ and came back here. The whole feet then pro
] ceeded up James river, passing here last night.
I The movements were conducted with tn
greatest secrecy and with all possible quietness
. The feet advanced up the James river, preeede
( by the army gunboats, under command of Gen
Graham.
During the day and last night very success
, full landing had been effected, and no resistanc
/ had been met with up to O'Clock this morning
at which time the steamer Thomas Powell lef
( with dispatches, in charge of Captain Peifer.
q No casualty had occurred beyond the KILN
y of colored soldier and the injury of two Other
. by being caught between two boats.
=. Our movement was evidently complete SUI
a cess.
d At the last adviees our forces were beIn
l.. rapidly landed and pushed forward.
}, We have landed at Wilson'S wharf, Fort Pow
= hatan landing, Bermuda Hundred, above the Al
o pomatox, aud other places.
It Our monitors and eunboats are all over Il
bar at Harrison's landing, and above City Poin
o The operations of the feet have been chara
terized by great energy aud success.
,, Nav YoRK, May THE Hsrald's YOrktow
d letter of the 9TH states that Colonel ondeIdon
k with detachment of the 1st New York MOunit
d Rifles, left Williamsburg yesterday mornin
! moving along the old Richmond stage road, al
d meeting with no obstruction until he pass
Is Barboursville.
The rebel outposts were one after another Fl
le down and captured, and the moment after Il
g appearance of our advance at New Kent Cou
ID House the rebel force stationed there fed Th'
6. were pursued some dislrnce, when our force r
Is turned.
= The appearance of the force created the grea
1T est excitement among the few natives sui r
Id naming on the debatable ground between Il
ir Chickahomina aud Williamsburg They we
be satisfied that the Rreat advance had commences