New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-12-06
tween the loyal States and the armies operating against


them.
very considerable force under command of Major
General Sgol held for the protection OF Wes'
Virginia and the front of Maryland and Pensyiva
MIA While these troops could no, be wthdrn"h W u'o
ant fields without opposing the north to invasion " com
p3rat vely small bodies OF the enemy they couiu aCt
rccty to their front and give better protec'lh tha
lying idle in garrison. BY such movement they "ouu
either compel the enemy to detsch largely Tor me pro
lection Of his supplies and lines Of coninuncauoh vi
he would lose hem , III
General syel was therefore directed 20 organize all
his available force into two expeditions 10 move iV
Beverly and Charleston under command OF Generas OIu
and Crook against the East Tennessee and virginia
railroad. Subsequently, General Ord having been re
eNcd OF his request General Sagcl WAS
hia suggestion TO give up the EXPEDITION py peN
c,ly and fon two columns one under General SIook
the kanawha, numbering about ten tho1sand men,
aud one on the Shenandoah, numbering aoou' seven
thousand The one on the Shenandoah 10 assenpie
tetwcca Cumberland and the Shenandoah ana the III
fantry and artillery advanced To Cedar creek Win such
cavalry ~ could be made available 1t the moinent, 10
threaten the enclay in the Shenandoah valley, and ad
vance rs far as possible while General Crook would
take possession of Lcwisburg with par OF his force and
move down the Tennessee railroad dcns as much dam
aye he could destroying the Newrver bridge and the
| salt wOrkr az Satville, Va. 49, -
ting 10 the weather and bad condition Of the roads,
operations were delayed until the LIT OF May when,
every h!ng being in readiness and the roads favorable,
orders were given for general movement OF all the ar
mics lot later than the ALL OF May
At, drs object heing to break the military power OF
Tho rebellion and capture the cncmys important strong
holds made mo DESTROYS that General Butler should sue
cec In HE movement against Richmond, as that would
of Leo army TO accomplish this desired result in the
! cast II he failed, 1t was my determination, by hard
him tina, he could not dcach barge force to go north
and st retain enough for the defence of Richmond IL
was wen understood, by both Generals Butler ana
Meade before starting the campaign, that was my
Intention 10 put both their CRIMES south OF the James
| river in case offailure To destroy Lee withoutit
Before giving General Butler his instructions, visited
him Fort Monroe and in conversation pointed out Tie
apparent importance of gtt possession OF Petersburg
and destroying railroad communication AS lar sou' o. pos
s!bc Believing however, ~ the practicabiy OF oaptur-
inr Richmond unlc-.i re-cnforced made that the
o. ectye point OF his Oporat Ons. As the army oil the
Potomac was 10 move simultaneously VAN muil Lee
could not detach nom his army with safely, ana ,ne
enemy did no, have troops elsewhere TO bring 70 the ue
fence oi the oiIy in time 10 meet rap'd mo'eme"
from the north OF James river
lmay here state that, commanding all the armies "a
did, tried, far a. possible to leave General Meade IN
Independent command Of the nrmy OF the Potomac
Ny instructions for That army were al through nm ana
were general in their nature, leaving all the details ana
the execution TO him. The campaigns mat iohoyeu
proved him to be the right man In the right place HS
commanding always IN the presence of al officer supe
rior 10 him In rank has drawn from him much OF that
public attention that his zeal and ability euttie him to-
and which he would otherwise have received
The movement Of the army OF the Potomac com
menced carly on the morning Of the 4h OF May under
under the immediate direction aud orders of Major Gen
era Meade pursuant TO instructions Before night the
whole army was the Rap dan Che 9th and 9th
corps crossing at Germsna ford, and the "a corps at
United States ford, the cavalry. under Major General
Sheridan, moving IN adyance) with the greater part OF
it, trains number ng about 1900 wagons meeting win
but slight opposition The average distance travelled
by the troops tina, day about twelve miles This
regarded as great success and it removed from my
mind the most serious oppreheusOns had entertained
that Of crossing the river in the face OF an active large
wollappoinie1 aud ablycommanded army, and how So
larcc train wss be carried through hostile country
and protected. Early The 9TH, the advance corps One
: 5th Major General q. X. Warren comfnaDdnn) met
and engaged enemy outside his intrenchmenis near
, Mine Run The battle ragged furiousy all day, the
whole army beng brought into The nshl as sl q. se
the density of the forest and narrowness Of the roads
was done with con.mendabie promp'ness
General Burnside, with the 9th corps was at the time
the army of the Potomac moved left with the bulk OF
his corps the crossing of the Rappahannock river and
Alexandria railroad, holding the road back TO Bull Run,
with instructions OF to move un'ii he received notice
that crossing Of The Rapdan was secured but TO move
! promptly rs such notice was received THIS
crossing he apprsed OF on The afternoon 81 he an
By six o'clock OF tho morning OF TIE oh he was eadhg
his corps into action the Wilderness tavern some
his troops having marched distance OF over thirty
ines, crossing both the RAJ pshannock and Rapidnn
rivers Considering that large proportion probably
two thirds OF his command was composed or new
troop@ unaccustomed - marches and carrying tho
coniremenis OF a soldier, this remarkable march
The battle Of the Wilderness was renewed BY ne nj I'VE
O'Clock the morning Of the 9th, AID continued with
unabslcd fury until darkness set IN, each army hoding
substantially the petition that they had on The
evening OF The 9TH. Ater dark the enemy made feeble
attempt turn right flank, capturing several hun
died prisoners ana creating eons'uei.oc voutpu '
the prOmptne-s OF General scdgwck who was peieon-
ally rese. a mat par he 81 , our me- 81 e
7th recOnuoissances shOHed that the enemy had aei
lftrfucned
covering part OF The iatlehed. FROM VIZ ~ vas
evident to my mind that the two days fighting hai Eats
lied him 81 HE inability 10 further MAINTAIN me contest
Ia The open field notwithstanding his advantage OF 20
ston, and that he would wait an attack behnd
his works. | therefore determined 10 push on
and put nv whole force between him AMI
lHiehrpond ana orders were at once issued Tor a
movement by his right flank. On the nigit OF the hh
The march wa, commenced towards Spo'tsylSania Court
House the jh CORPS moving the most direct road
Bu; the enemy having become apprised OF oar move
cnt and having The shorter line was enabled to reach
there rst the sh General Warren met force oil
the enemy which had been sent out TO oppose fhd Geay
bis advance 10 gaia time fortify the line taken up At
Spoi-yyun This force was steadily driven oack on
the main force within the recently CONSTRUCTED WORKS,
after considerable fighting, resulting In severe oss 70
both sides. On the morning Of the oh General Sherldhi
sared ON n raid .an-i the cnemys mes OF oommuni-
eaton with Eichii0nd. The Th. lOh ana lIth We're
spent in lyrng and fighting, without decisive re-
suits Among the killed on the 9h was that eDe ana
dl,tIngli-hcd soldier Major General John SedtMick,
command NJ the OH army corps MAJOR deheIHI H. VI
Wr ,ht succeeded hu IN command Early on the morn
ing II the 18Th general attack was made on the enemy
In POSITION The "a corps Major General Hancock com.
naadng carr ID salient Of Lis line capturing most OF
fohustOns division OF Eweis corps aud twenty pieces oi
artillery But the resistance obstinate that me
advantage gained did not prove decisive The l5th iih
10TH 10th, l7h and 18Th were consumed IN vancouver
Ing and awaiting Inc arrival Of ro.eniGr"emeht, io
Washington. Dcemlng n lnprIclcaOe 10 maze hhs
further attack upon the enemy at Spott.yiHnla Court
House ordors were issued the 18th with view 10 a
movement to the North Anna Of II o'clock
on The nZht Of the 18Th Late IN the afternoon Of the
10th Ewcs corps ont Of Is works on our exTone
right flank but the attack promptly repulsed with
hoavy los. rhis delayed tho movement 10 the North
Anna until the night OF the 2st, when II was COM
Tncnced But the enemy again having The shorter
HE, and being In Possession OF the main roads, was
enabled 10 reach The North Anna IN advance OF Us,
and ook position behind II. The 5h corps reached
tho North Anna the afternoon of the I'D, closely
followed by the 6.h corps. The "a and 9th corps
cot IN about the De the "a holding the railroad
bridge and the 9Th lying between that and Jericho ford
General Warren effected crossing the Same afternoon