The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-05-20
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
Important Omcial Dispatches ne
treat of Gen. Lee..COndition Oh inc
wounded, &c, &c.
WASHINGTON, May 10, 6;3O p. M.

WASHINGTON, May 10, 6;30 p. M.
To Major General Dr. Neao YORK:
The following dispatch from Mr.. Dana has
lust been received at the War Department.
SporsYLvANIA, May 1873 A. NJ
Lee abandoned his position during the night,
whether to occupy new one in the vicinity or
make a thorough retreat is not known.
One division of Wright's and one of Han
cocks are engaged in settling this question, and
ala. M. had come up with his rearguard.
Though our army is greatly fatigued from
the enormous efforts of yesterday, the news of
Lees departure inspirits them with fresh ener.
gy. The whole force will soon be in motion,
but the heavy rain of the last sc hours renders
the roads very difficult for wagons and artil-
lery.
The proportion of severely wounded is great
er than. either the previous days fighting.
This was owing to the great use made of
artillery.
(SigneD E. NJ. STANTON,
Secretary of War.
WASHINGTON May 13-6:55 p. NJ.
To General Dir:
The Acting Surgeon General reports that of
500 patients from the recent battlefield, ad
mltted into the hospital, not me of them will
require any surgical operation, and in his opin-
ion two-thirds of the whole number wounded
will be fit for service in 80 days.
Reintorcements are going forward to the ar
my of the Potomac.
E. N, STANTON.
New YORK, May 13.-The Post has letter
from Capt. Philip Schuyler OF zen. Patrlcks
staff received here this afternoon. The letter
says the headquarters of the Army of the POto-
mac were six miles north of SpOtsylvania Court
House. at II NJ. May 10th.
We have news this morning from General
Wadsworth. A prisoner states that he saw
him on Sunday morning or Saturday night, ly-
ing on couch in hospital tent, with one of
our officers attending him. He was shot in
the head. The bullet entered near the nose
The General was breathing with some diff
Guilty and playing with the buttons of his coat.
The last statement in this letter shows that
he Gen. Wadsworth) was so severely injured
that his mind wandered. The General Patrick
named in Captain Schuyler's letter is Provost
Marshal of Grants army.
WASHINGTON, May 13.-The Star extra says
an officer who arrived here today, reports that
at 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon a dispatch was
received at the front from Sigel's command,
dated at Buffers Mountain, between Char
lOttesville and Lynchburg, at 10 A. NJ, an
nouncing that our cavalry had torn up the rail-
road between Charlottesville and Lynchburg,
twenty-siX miles below the former place, and
also that the track of the GOrdonsville road.
between Charlottesville and Keesewick, had
been destroyed. All the bridges between the
above points on both roads has been destroyed.
When returning our forces met body of rebel
cavalry, who came from the direction of Cart
er's Mountain, and skirmish ensued ending
in the repulse of the rebels, who fled in the d.
rection they had come. This was the only
rebel force met with during the raid.
WASHINGTON, May lathe boat which left
Belle Paine on the 10th, just in this morning,
brings intelligence of the result of Yesterday S
battle. 1t lasted all day.
Lee was finally driven ont of his iptrpnch H..
ments to Pc river. miles.
I During last night the greater part of his army
lcrossed that stream.
The glorious victory of the morning was thus
rendered decisive and brilliant by the result at
evening. Advices from Gen. Sheridan show
that he has had great success, both the Fred
ericksburg & Richmond and Virginia Central
Road have been destroyed for miles. Sigel's
cavalry is moving down the valley of Virginia.
and have tapped the Virginia Central Railroad
near Charlottesville.
The Secretary of War in his dispatch of yes
terday stated the Government was sparing no
pains to support the energy displayed by Grant
since the battle Of the Wilderness and more
particularly since the army had been engaged
in the vicinity of Spottsylvania. Reinforce.
ments have been rapidly sent forward. Twelve
thousand men left this city Tuesday and stated
that Sigel had reinforced the Army of the Po-
tomac with Is 600 men.
There is every probability that the losses OF
the army in the late battles. has been greatly
exaggerated, and that the reinforcements Of
10000 or more men above referred to very
nearly makes up the actual losses, SO that
Meade's army is quite as strong numerically as
it was when it set out upon the campaign.
Times Special -WAsH1NaToN, May Ia, 10 p.
M.-Dispatches received from one of your cor
respondents at the front dated Headquarters
o'clock last night. The rebels are in full re-
treat to the North Anna river, with fresh men
in hot pursuit.
Lees retreat is becoming rout. Thousands
of prisoners are being captured.
The streams in his rear are very much swol-
len by recent rains. Supplies are reaching the
army rapidly. Our wounded are coming in
very fast and being sent to Washington. many
of them without stopping at Fredericksburg.
The rebel cavalry drove in two companies
York cavalry and the Sd New Jersey.
They made no attack on Fredericksburg.
They are evidently after our trains; their
movements seem for that object. We have as
yet lost nothing in the way of wagons, except
four ambulances captured on the field.
are estimated at 45, 900, many of whom are alb
sent without sufficient reason, and cannot be
counted among losses.
Grant will push Lee before him to Richmond, if
ne has to use his teamsters to do 1T We captured
six thousand prisoners yesterday and near 40 guns
New YORK, May 1.-THE Worlds special
from the field the 18th, A. NJ, gives further
details of Thursdays great battle the opening
of which was complete surprise upon the en-
envy.
Hancock moved at half past seven A. NJ, and
gained at once the OutermOst rifle pits OF the rebels
They then pushed on the rebels with fixed bayonets
and captured about 5000 prisoners.
Mi. Gen. johnson and Stewart taken at breakfast
As guns also taken and brought Off besides is in
number left just beyond our ekirmish lire and
fought for by both sides several times
The rebels also attempted to retake the rifle
pits, but were repulsed with great slaughter.
The 9th corps under Warren charged repeat-
eddy against the enemy's works, but were un-
able to take them.
An enfilading fire swept down their ranks
dreadfully. In some portions of the field our
troops gained and held three lines OF rifle pits
in addition to those captured on the left.
The Worlds Washington special Of the 18th
says that near dark our center, for the first
time, occupied Spotsylvania village.
This morning our pickets sent word that Lee
had fallen back on roads running straight to
the Pc river, and Penny, at o'clock said War
rem had commenced pursuit In time to capture
one OF Lees pontoon trains.
The rebels however were on the south side
of the river.
rnsoners state positively that Lees army is
entirely worn out and fearfnlly reduced by ire
mendous losses.
To MAJ. Gen. Die