, 1865-04-01

New YoRk, March 31.-The Commercially epe-
cs1 says Gen. Grants recent predictions that Rich
Mond wou1d be rendered nntenatle is about being
verified. Much Of the news Is cont1aband, bnt 1t
docs no haIm to state that the combinations are
Of character that eeem to assure ruccess. The
31rcee1t movement will cut oil all communication
between Lee and Johnston. Gen. Thosnas Is
moving upon Richmond from the southwest with
heavy force. The enemy Will be prt.scd go as
to compel him to give instesd Of receive battle.
Reliable advices from the army represent that
Grants movement is certain to secure possession
Of the South Side Railroad, which IL the key to
Petersburg and Richmond.
New YonE, March 3t.-The New York 7fi1uae's
Washington special SAYS: An encouragement ann
had sGain Assumed the offensive, 1t Will not be in
proper to state that FnIIc the troops Of the Army
uf the sants On Monday a1u Tuesday crossed the
% ment. Gen. Grant Himself leit City Point far tue
front On Tuesday afternoon. Sheridan with hta
cavalry led the advance and by this tine has prob
us cut the outy remaining itae OF communication
With Richmond, somewhere Letwecn kurkesril;c
"1he reEls on Sunday and Monday had The
anticipation Of IN bt'ack that direction pee
parotory to m eraruation Of Richmond.
The telegraph between here and City Point
haE not been working for five or six honrt, end II
there has been any fighting 1t 1s unknown here.
Ii is believed, however: that 4 heavy battle took
p'1iS lie ' Scw io1E Htralds Washington special
"a GRIND movement Of the army under Gen.
Grant va. begun on "Wednesday morning. That
ca,ly eapisnauon Of hls army, Il regarded in miu-
tary circles as iney1table.'
9he Richmond Lpamlnfr says: "a 1eaEJ
eolnnaa Of the enemy moved down tue JeEasa!sm
Plank Road on Thc.sd8y Of LIST week. The
d shczm:n, ett'Eing Weldon 1t the same ,irne.
a1o Stony Creek
IEADQrAE1Eas AHxF or TIE PorosAc; March
99.-The route taken By portion Of this army is
heretofore, namely, the VsuGhn and Halifax roads,
running soutbWezts nctose uatchers Rnn. The
Column staFt.d at three o'clock this morning. A
| I1allfsx ROAD towards Dinwiddie Court House.
| TIE .nfsnEy column crossed Hat :let'a Run. on
sSspgna hD ri 70 ~
Doydtown plank ro,d, whtsc the cucmy's pEckets
| were found md driven hack. Grltliu's division
! wss sent up the QuHker road.
AT nhott o'clock In the afternoon, dig3sftu
OF the enemy made Its appearance En- :, moi know.
ing Tie Strength OF uur lo1rc, formed N lue md
charged; hui tue zrbcIs welc rriulscd rtth hca'y
/ hss- A ncnal,cr o. Frl.oncrs werc taken and
lroucht IN. Tucy <1id the move had been cou.-
Ilcte surprise to them, a. they expected an attsck
IN ,hr vicinity Of Fort sted1,an md thelr 1:oops
had been massed there to 1cci1r.
lit believed the rcbcls were hrrryinc .acn
o~nFd the south Side Railroad Ill the afternoon,
in tie hope Ct he!ag aatc to prevent Its dcstru:-
tl1n. brt crest confidence WAS felt that Sheridan
would he :is'c ahcat. and 'hs hy The next night
VT would have ness Of it, destruction at ooe
pospt ar Busksville. II this should ne accomp-
:lsEed it is c4imeu that the evacuation OF Pstefs-
| burg ard Richmond must follow.
(Sigucd) McGnrsoa-
| wAeu1Sc1oS, March 31.-Inforuation from Cit7
Point, d,ttd two O'Clock Thursday afternoon, e,yt
| yer, heayy cannonadne commenced at 1880 that
| morning, and continued ulItl 1:0 IN the after
! noon, IN tic direction Of the Petersburg 'front.' 4
battle was probably II progress. but particulars
wcrc known at City PUNT at the time the mstl
I bont 1cft.
| Information Eram the advance Of the army Of the
Potomac, dated 1latchc1's Run, Thur4day morn
| Ing. kbous that tho locality Of our army under
Grspt at fhat time, was parallel and cast OF the
Boydton plank rosd. ana west Of Hatcher>s Run.
These important positions have been gained with
hut Nt:lc resistance from the enemy, Tha 9TH
corps had aabarp encounter with the cncm Oh
the Quaker road, on "Wednesday last. In that af-
fair less than $40 men, drove the rebels nearly
mile, with serious Iof9 to them.
The Richmond paper. Of Wednesday report that
Sheridan passed Dinwiddie Court House On We'd
1esdas morning, and think bis destination is the
Smith &tde