The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-12-09

sasiy on the morning Of the lh Of Nay under The I'M
msdaie direction and orders Of Major General Meade,
e.. .so hs FS and Sixth crossing at
0ormania ford and the Second corps al United States
iord the cavalry, under Major General sneraan, mog
about 600 wagons meeting with but slight opposition
the average distance travelled by the troops hai DAY was
about twelve miles. This regarded as great success
and 1t removed from my mind the most serious appte
tensions had Of crossing the river N
manded army, and how 50 large ira was be carried
through hostile country and protected Early on We
Warren commanding) met and engaged the enemy oct
side his entertainments near Mine The battle RACED
fight as fast the corps could be rot upon the iei
which, considering the density OF the and
ness of the roads was done with conmendabe prompt
General Burnside with the Ninth corps. was al the
time the Army OF the Potomac moved left with The bulk
and Alexandria Railroad, holding the road back BpI
run, with instructions not TO move until he received
notice that crossing Of the Rapdaa secured but
move promptly soon as such notice received
This crossing he was apprissd OF on the afternoon Of
the 9TH BY six O'Clock OF the morning Of the 9th he
was leading his corps into the wildrncsss
tavern some Of his troops having marched distance
of over thirty miles crossing both the Rappahannor
and Rapdan rivers. Considering that large proper
ton, probably twothirds of his command was COIN
posed or troops, unaccustomed 20 marches and
rying the accoutrements of SOLDIER this wa remark
able march.
The battle Of the Wilderness renewed by AT hves
O'Clock the morning Of the 9th, and continued win
undated fury until darkness set IN, coch army holding
substantially the same position that they had on the
evening Of the 9th. After dark the enemy made lee
BILE attempt to turn our right flank, capturing several
hundred prisoners and creating considerable confusion.
But the promptness OF General Sedgwick, who per-
sonally present and commanded that part OF our iine
soon reformed it and ord On the norning Of
the 7th Reconnaissance showed that the enemy Lat
fallen behind his entrenchcd lines with pickets 10 the
front covering part of the battle field FROM this ia
was evident to my mind that the days lighting had
satisfied him of his inability to further maintain tie on
test in the open eld notwithstanding his adj anaso Of
behind his works. therefore determined 10
push. on and put my whole fore between nn
and Richmond, and orders were at once issued FOR
movement by his right flank On the night OF the I'm
the march commenced towards Spotsyiyan Court
House. tie Fifth corps moving on tbs most direct road
But the enemy having become appraised of our move
ment and having the shorter line was enabled TO reach
there first. On the Sth neral Warren met force u
the enemy which had been sent out TO oppose and delay
his advance TO gain time to orty the line taken up AZ
the main force within the recently constructed works.
after considerable fighting, resulting in severe loss TO
both sides On the morning OF the 9th General sheridan
started on raid against the enemy's lnesof .ommnni-
cation with Richmond The 9Th, 10th and 1lth were
spent In manoeuvr ng and fgnng without decisive re.
suits Among the killed on the 9th Was that
able and distinguished soldier, Major General john
sedgwick, commanding the sixth army corps Major
General II. G. Wright succeeded him in command Early
the morning OF the 18th general attack was mode on
encmy position The Second corps, Mao, General
Hancock commanding, carried salient OF hui line,
turing most Of JohIstons division Of Ewels corps and
twenty pieces artillery. Bat the resistance was So
obstinate that the advantage ga ned did not prove
decisive The 18Th, l4th, 18TH 10Th, 18th and 18th
consumed In manuuvring and awaiting the arrival
of re entorcements from Washington Deem ing IL i'm
practicable make any further attack upon the enemy
at Spottsyvana Court House, orders were Issued on the
18th with view to movement to the North Anna TO-
commence at twelve O'Clock ON the night Of tho 18TH
the afternoon of the 10th Ewel corps came ons
of its works on our extreme right rank but the atacs
promptly rcpulscd, With heavy loss. THIS delayed
the movement the North Anna until the night OF the
21st, when it was commenced. But the enemy again
having the shorter line, and being III possession 81
tho main roads, was enaood reach tho North Anna
In advance Of US, and took position behind ~
afternoon Of the 2sd closely followed by the sixth corps
The Second and Ninth corps got up about the same time
the Second holding the railroad eridgc ana the Ninth
lying between that and Jericho ford. General Warren
effected crossing the afternoon, and got position
without much opposition Soon after getting into posi-
ton he violently attacked but rcpuised tho enemy
with great Slaughter On tho 18th General Shcr dan e-
jAned Army OF the Potomac from the raid on which
he started from Spotsyvania having destroyed tho
depos at Beaver Dam and Ashland stations. trinsi
OF cars large supplies OF ptions and many miles Of rail-
road track recaprcd about four hundred OF men,,
on their way TO Richmond prisoners Of war; met and
defeated the enemy's cavalry at Yellow Tavern carr ca
the hrst line OF works around Richmond; but finding
the second line strong be carried by assault
crossed TO the north bank Of the Chickahomny. al
Meadows Bridge under heavy Are, and moved by a.
he commun Gated with General Butler This raid had
the effect Of drawing of the whole OF the cnemys cav
airy forc, and making 1t comparatively easy ~ guard
the trains
THE MOVEMENT RIVER.
General Butler moved his main force up the Jamcs'
river In pursuance OF instructions the 4h OF May,
General Gilmore having joined him with the Tenth
cors Al the same time he sent force OF 500 cavalry
by way Of West Point form junction with him wher
ever he might get foothold and force OF 5000 al
ry under General kautz from Suffolk 10 operate against
the roads south Of Petersburg ard Richmond On the
9Th he occupied without opposition, both Guy Point AND
BERN uda Hdndrcd, his movement being complete sur
prise. On the 9Th he was in position with his main
army and commenced enrcncbing. On the ith he made
Reconnaissance ainst the Petersburg and chmunc
Railroad destroying portion CT IL after some lighting
On the 9 h he tclegfaphcd as foliows:--
HEADQUARTERS, NEAR BERMUDA LANDING, May g. 1864.
Sr on may BE- up ". rev forced ss
Chickahoniny, have safely brought present
position These coored cavalry and are nov holding
General Kaux with three tlous md cavalry from sufolk
e sf en b %la our he bridge
below Petersburg cutting in two Beanresards force at that
We have landed here, cntrenched ourselves destroyed
supplies we can hold against whole Of Lce's army
have ordered up The supplies o,,,on a. hs o-.o WINS se
south cutting q The faso4ds BY Ksats r1s PSrson
kilng and many Gsd taking many prisoners ar
Genera. viii be troubled with any further rein
forcements 70 Lee so sfsnTsTd ies as General,
Hon. L NJ. STANTON, Secretary Of War.
On the evening Of the 18th and morning tho 4t hs
carried portion OF the cnemys first line of de cnces al
Dryry's Blu Fort Darling, with small loss The
time thus consumed from the 9th lost 10 the benefit
Of the surprise capture Of Richmond and Peersbur
enabling did Beauregard to collect his loose orces
In North and South Carolina and bring them TO the
defence Of those places On the ION the , enemy
Drurys Bluff He forced back, drew bnck, into
his rnchmcns between the forks OF the James and
Appomattox rivers, tho enemy entrenchng strongly in
his 'front.' thus covering his railroads. the city and an
that valuable to him. His army, therefore though
in position OF great security, completely shut OF
further operations directly against Richmond az
II had been In bottle strongly corked II required nnt
comparatively small force Of tho enemy 10 ho'd u
there.
KAUrx's RAID on pAEvILLE RAILROAD
On the 18th General Kautz with his cavalry was started
at Coalncld Powhatan aud Chola stations, destroying
them the railroad track two freight Trains and one loco
tive together with large quantities OF conmssay and
other stores thence crossing TO the South Side road
struck il At Wilson'S, Wellsvillc and Black and White
eatIons DESTROYING oad and station hosscs thence
he proceeded 70 City Point which he reached on tho
18th. Il
cApruRE PLYMOUTH.
On the 10Th OF April and prior to the movement Of Gen
Butler the enemy, with land force under Gcncral