The New York herald., 1864-06-05
THr BATTLE ON WEDNESDAY.
HI. y. CaAWalladsR's Despatch.
vnm FARM, June Lilo r. u.

ARMIES, ke everything else In nesure have pesion u
Raostsa and rspoes For several days past comparative
quiet has reyncd along lines, and nothing apprcxi-
mating geaera engagement has occurred sntl to-day.
But while resns the army has BY no means been inaO.
tive. The hsrd marching and fighting OF No month nss
closed have merely been suspended for rssuperatseg The
men. issuing additional comnssary and ordnance sup
pes a<vanong lines TO feel the ssamys fcrco ond
putting the different corps inso positions, bcfors re-
Stunning the nnal struggle that seals the fate Of Richmond
ACTIVITY OF GENERALS GRANT AND MEAps
Absolute inaction Ii unknown TO Gen. GRAFT, and has
certainly characterized the movements II Gen.
Meade. Both gro unusually alert al present, and at
time during the campaign have military preparations
boon perfected with vgor and deteranasion than
during the few days that the main portion Of the army
seems 10 hsve been idso to superficial observers.
From the day Of leaving tho battle ground at
wilderness she army had time for recuperation s
abors have been unzemted and hercutean. It's progress
has been galued by hard fighting a. points, and by
scres or brilliant and unparalleled strategic flank move
ments at othern Gen. Leo has beon driven from or
compelled to ovacuate his vantage ground in every Ia
stance UNTIL by tne confessions OF tho rebo papers Of
Tho SIS. ult., tk, thunder Of arsry IS carrying
CONSERVATION to svery household in their capital.
WHAT WAS TO REFoaE JpR sTRUGefA
But TO insure the full fruton oc oil these glorious ic
much remained to be DONE and aot the least
the destruction OF the railroad reading from Richond
through Hanover Junction and Gordonsve to the west
ward. Another days marching to tho eastward would
have placed out OF power 10 caocuay this
great artery OF tho coufederacy For this probs
bly, more than any other tho army allowed to re-
main In position Hanovertown. while General vii.
sens division OF cavalry engaged In burning and de-
stroying the railroad from Hanover Junction Westward
TIE DESTRUCTION TBR GorDOSsvrIx RALRoAD-RRBEI
ATTEMPTS PREvElsr II.
This work has been prosecuted Cay and night until Its
demoon is complete. Aforce OF rebel cavalry rst
sent around to Wilson'S nank 10 surprise and from
his work. These handsomely checked ia the out
set and finally routed with heavy loss force Of In.
fantry finally detached for that purpose from tho
LETT flank Of Lees army; but Wrights corps had been
marched within supporting distance right, and
still tho work went on.
Finding themselves chec.me4cd 10 all these attempts,
the enemy abandoned the idea OF saving the road gain
ing any advantage in that qusscr and commenced con-
oentrang centre and isst. Last night WTght'r
corps Withdrawn from tho vicinity of tho Junction,
and moved to tho left Of warrons, the Henovertoun
and Coal Harbor road In the OF SherdaRs cavalry
which had been threatened with an infantry attack.
GRAsD LigE RATTLE.
This morning the grand limo of battle wss fully Ten
miles in length from the northwest TO the southeast.
Haucocks corps formed the Infantry right with Wilson'S
division or cavalry his fsrs. His line Just south
Of the Toopatomoy creek, the Mechansvilc roaS in
of the residence OF .he rebel Colonel Edwin sheen
and in the rife pits wresod from the enemy two days be-
FORE The defences strengthened and made mp.eg
pabie ordinary Assault Burnsides corps lay next
forming the right ceatrc the high ground the south
right bank OF tnn creek. Warren formed the
LETT CENTRE little thrown forward and protected in
front by double and trips nes Of the most forisabs
ne breas.works have yes cons.rccd in the whole
~ rn,1r hal N,
lert as before stated WITH divisions Of shsricsns
cavalry in the front and nnnk.
Tue riGHr HAnBos.
Near Coal Harbor an EFFORT was made to drive our cav
airy from the place, which 70 brisk engagement carly
in the forenoon resulting IN cavalry repulng body
or rebel infantry killing and woundlng largo nuEiber
taxing between two and three hundred prisoners
THE RrRkis REINFORCED.
The rebel line reinforced for another attach but
the timely arrival OF Wriehs corps changed the chlrac
ter Of tho contest nnd enabled hold the place and
add TO the number ofpriscoers.
WEIGHT FOLLOWING uP Ars srccEssxs.
In the afternoon Wright followed mp his of
the morning By advancing his line and driving In tho
bc skrmishers. A hard contest soon brought on,
which lasted with little atcrmssion, till hour alter
dark. At that time had carried the rebel line u rae
pits and driven them to the Cncsahominy river in
front OF Coal Harbor.
THE Essr. DEFzycEs.
The exact worth OF the deeuces carried by the gallant
Sixth corps could be accurately estimated owing
the darkusss of the night but the Sognd gained win -
Invaluable in to.morrow's battle.
TIE LossEs.
General Wright reports his losses reasonably light,
that OF tho enemy heavy, and adds that had taken
many prisoners; how many have means o. learning
at present.
7Ilr ATTACK oESrrE AND EIgHr
Finding heavy force engaged in turning his right
flank, the enemy inferred had weakened centre
and right, and late IN the evening made an mpetuous
and furious sssaul, each. warrea's corps was
peciaiy singled out for overwhelming attack. Tue
rebels formed and marched the assanlt three lines.
determined TO pierce the cenre and throw the line INTO
confusion. Ono attempt after another reported 10 hsve
been made, and the hurled 10 certain destruction
with resolute daring worthy better cause but our
troops could not be shaken and repeed the enemy
psatcdy at all POINTS, with terrible loss The battle
ragged for fully three n front OF this corps The
firing was heavy and deadly the whole time, and was
continued without inermlsson TIL darkness closed the
conflict
COMPARATIVE LossEs
Our losses at this point only be 1.-THE Of what the
enemy sustained by attempting to storm our breast.
W orks
THE ATTACK oN HANCOCK
was nearly Simultaneous with that Warren. Ho also
renuIscd the rebel line with rihng loss and pressed
them back considerable distances but in doing this he
was drawn into bad position, from which he soon
compelled bea. hasy retreat and the ground
he occupied at the onset
HAScocK's MovKMgSr A rEyr-srRArrGrc xovKmyrs
That this pursuit. OF Hancock's was mere demonstra
tcn the first flush Of success instead Of intention
10 permanently hold the ground he might thus obtain
proven by his having orders TO that entire posi-
tion during the night and his corps from the right
or tho line the extreme ef His march has already
commenced. As write the "joggling" OF bis artillery
wheels and the steady heavy tread OF his veteran troops
break stiffness OF the night Another Of those successful
flank movements is going which tho rebel papers term
retreats, and which your silly pated or malicious concm
journalists pronounce flank movements alta but
simply being outwitted by General Ice. Ignorance or
malice ooud 20 but little further than this for, at the
instant the writer peunng tho defamation, Lee was