New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-04-06
eolored troops march up wsshisston-st- this morning

eolored troops march up WashfBgtonst this morning
IN steady column. and witnessed tho delight which
beamed in the faces Of the native black population shen
they realized that tie links which had bound them in
Slavery were broken and had fallen at their feet and
saw also the curl OF wounded pride which told On tho
Lip Of many lopghaired patron Of the lash he too
became sensible Of the fact that his human chates
free forever propose to give somewhat IN
account Of the operations Of the Ave days campaign
which compelled these radical changes in the military
situation.
PREPARATIONS FOE TIE OPENING OF THE CAMPAIGN.
As the mariner reads in the sky evidences Of the sp
preaching storm, so may we discover In the military
horizon sure indications Of the coming Of active opera.
tIons For some time before the late campaign prepare
lions br work might be seen going forward on s aides
A week Of beautiful weather. as warm. balmy and
breezy as May days ushered in the fourth MONTH Ths
loads had become hard and 1t was evident that fhs
campaign was about TO commence. From their scous'
or from some other source the enemy had obtained Inc
form ston Of the intended movement and were growing
uneasy On Saturday night. Fort Steadman on Inc INC
of the Ninth Corps attacked by the enemy-"i"
what result 10 now well known to the public ana se''
ersl other minor demonstrations made along our me-
On Saturday the 25th of March, Turner'S Division Oh
Gbbons Corps. Army of the James was dispatched I'd
the Chickahomny for the purpose OF supporting oSe'
dan 10 his crossing in case Of an attack by the
On the same night sherdans forces quietly INC
Chickahominy at Joness Bridge. meeting WIN no rec
Instance and on Sunday crossed the james anu App
mattox at varina and Broadway Landings, oivoaaen2
short distance south Of the aforementioned stTesm
p On Sunday. the 26th, the Army OF the James "ss
honsred by visit from the President. the Lieutenant
General, Admiral Porter and several other civil and
N. <xnff ba
has always but briefly preceded activity in the srmy
He apparently desires to see the troops for himee to
examine into their discipline and general efficiency and
to Judge Of their capabilities soldiers for the per-
formance of the work before them. AT Gen. Ords
Headquarters everything unusually active and on
Monday II was known that portion OF his army AFTER
ward found TO be Turner'S and Fosters Divisions OK
the Twenty fourth and Brneys Coored Division OF no
Twenty fifth, the whole commanded by Gen. od, won1
soon oin the Army Of the Potomac south the James
On Monday the 27th in company with another knish1
of the GULL left Gen. Ords headquarters Tor the
Army of the Potomac remarkng to " Uncle W lillian,
our ancient colored cook just previous to starting
Well William take good care Of yourself and IN case
the Johnnes break through our lines as think iney
will make good your retreat across the river Inc
remark was made to ascertain bis state OF mind under
the circumstances With ascnishment depicted on hiS
countenances on discovering that believed such
thing possible he replied What break froo de coonss
No. sar dey may take all de troops away de please ID
dey or any leave line o. de cooDs (colored sedier ~
front I feels safe, yes. indeed sar. You ais may
laugh but tell you de coons will be de fust to get tn
Richmond, feels II In my bones Uncle Wiihims
prediction was nearly correct proved by subsequens
events.
On Monday. Sheridan's long column Of troopers FED
down to the vicinity Of Hancock Station, keeping ~et
to the reer Of our works shield his movements fro&
the enemy. Sherman welcomed to City Point WIFE
the thunder of cannon, where be met In coonc1 INC
President and the LieutenantGeneral and the troops
were being rationed for the campaign.
Meanwhile the air was full Of reports with reference
to the movement about to commence Somc pfetehdeu
to know that Goldsb0rough would be our oeeetns
point; some that the whole affair was to be only ralH
~ Sheridan to Burkesvile, the intersection OF thS
Southsde and Danville Railroads. some that the whole
army with the exception Of sufficient force let 70
garrison the City Point defenscs, would abspdon the
works in front Of Petersburg and swing Of to some
pon, on the railroads mentioned but no one knew tho
real intentions Of the LeuenantGeneral bus the fave
ored few justly entitled to his confidence
THE ADVANCE.
On Tuesday. the 2sth Msjor-Gep. T.. o. c. Ord with
arrived on our left and encamped behind the line Of tho
Second Corps which rested its left on Hstchers Rnn.
At night Sheridan and the Second and Fifth Corps res
ceiyed orders to march in the morning-the cavairN
and Humphrey at six, and the command Of Warren "a
three O'clock The Fifth which had been qusrtered IN
the rear of the Second ordered to move thus ea
as the position which had been assigned them IN the
new line to be formed further from the starting
point than that Of tho Second which was directed to
move across the Run and form line nearly parallel
with the Vaughn road The interval between the secS
ond and Sixth Corps caused by the left flank moyemena
The Sixth and Ninth Corps received no orders to
march, but were simply to DO in readiness to move at
moments notice.
THE BALL OPENS.
On Wednesday the forces mentioned took their lines
Of march, Gen. Meades headquarters. near the Aiki1
House at Park Station, were broken mp at o'clock.
and at eleven Gen. Grant, accompanied by 6ens Wiz
ams aud Ingalls, number Of bis staff and several ei.
villains arrived on special train at Humphrey Station,
the terminus Of the railroad within mile Of Hatchers
Run on the Vaughn road Here Grant and bis modest
cortege mounted their horses. and aef visiting the
headquarters Of Gen. Ord BY moved down to the
new line which had been formed, In compliance with
orders south of Hstchcrs Run. Gen. Meade and stan
had already preceded him by several hours and was
the formation Of the Second Corps line.
which in the afternoon was advanced over mile north-
ward.
The Rebel pckets across the Run fell back before the
advance Of the Second Corps and the new line was as
sumed without any opposition 1ntrenching tools were
brought into requisition and in short time the posi-