The following despatches were sent by the Secretary of War: WASHINGTON, May 18-2:30 P. M. To Major-General John A. Dix: A despatch from Lieut.-Gen. Grant has just been 12, 6:30 P. M. It is as follows: received, dated near Spottsylvania Court House, May On Saturday the 14th, the enemy appeared to have fallen back a little, but to be still holding the Court House tenaciously. Gen. Meade's line finally stretched nearly at right angles across the Fredericksburg and Spottsylvania road, with Gen. Hancock's corps on the right, Gen. Burnside's 9th on the right centre, Gen. "The eighth day of battle closes leaving between Wright's 6th on the left centre, and Gen. War- three and four thousand prisoners in our hands for ren's 5th on the left. The position of the the day's work, including two general officers and enemy seemed to be a semicircular line of earth-stinate, and seem to have found the last ditch. We over thirty pieces of artillery. The enemy are obworks with rifle-pits here and there, well estab- have lost no organization, not even a company, while lished on commanding heights, and the whole we have destroyed and captured one division (Johnflanked right and left by dense woods. A part son's), one brigade (Dobbs'), and one regiment enof the works appeared to be sodded, showing tire of the enemy." EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. an old construction, and great activity was manifest in strengthening the position. Gen. WASHINGTON, May 18-6:30 P. M. Grant's forces soon commenced to throw up Major-General Dix: military works, and both armies were diligently reached this department. The following despatch from Mr. Dana has just at work with the spade. On the extreme left there was considerable fighting. In the afternoon Gen. Meade narrowly escaped capture or injury, being in a house near which the enemy made a sudden and unlooked-for charge. On this day Gen. Lee issued the following address to his army: General Order No. 41. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VA., May 14, 1864. 1. The General Commanding takes great pleasure in announcing to the army the series of successes that, by the favor of God, have recently been achieved by our arms. 2. A part of the enemy's force threatening the Valley of Virginia, has been routed by Gen. Imboden and driven back to the Potomac, with the loss of their train and a number of prisoners. 3. Another body of the enemy under Gen. Averill, penetrated to the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, at Dublin depot. A portion of his force has been dispersed by Gens. Morgan and W. E. Jones, who are in pursuit of the remainder. 4. The army of Gen. Banks sustained a severe defeat in Western Louisiana by the forces of Gen. Kirby Smith, and retreated to Alexandria, losing several thousand prisoners, thirty-five pieces of artillery, and a large number of wagons. Some of the most formidable gunboats that accompanied the expedition were destroyed to save them from capture. 5. The expedition of Gen. Steele into Western Arkansas has ended in a complete disaster. Northern journals of the 10th inst. announce his surrender, with an army of nine thousand men, to Gen. Price. 6. The cavalry force sent by Gen. Grant to attack Richmond has been repulsed, and retired toward the Peninsula. Every demonstration of the enemy south of James River has, up to this time, been successfully repelled. 7. The heroic valor of this army, with the blessing of Almighty God, has thus far checked the principal army of the enemy, and inflicted upon it heavy losses. The eyes and hearts of your countrymen are turned to you in confidence, and their prayers attend you in your gallant struggle. Encouraged by the success that has been vouchsafed to us, and stimulated by the great interests that depend upon the issue, let every man resolve to endure all and brave all, until, by the assistance of a just and merciful God, the enemy shall be driven back and peace secured to our country. Continue to emulate the valor of your comrades who have fallen, and remember that it depends upon you whether they shall have died in vain. It is in your power, under God, to defeat the last great effort of the enemy, establish the independence of your native land, and earn the lasting love and gratitude of your countrymen, and the admiration of mankind. R. E. LEE, General. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE, VA., May 18-8 A. M. Hon E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War: Lee abandoned his position during the night, whether to occupy a new position in the vicinity or to make a thorough retreat is not determined. One division of Wright's and another of Hancock's are engaged in settling this question, and at half-past 7 A. M. had come up on his rear guard. Though our army is greatly fatigued from the enormous efforts of yesterday, the news of Lee's departure inspires the men with fresh energy. The whole force will soon be in motion; but the heavy rains of the last thirty-six hours render the roads very difficult for wagons and artillery. The proportion of severely wounded is greater than on either of the previous days' fighting. This was owing to the great use made of artillery. WASHINGTON, May 18-6:55 P. M. Major-General Dix, New York: The Acting Surgeon General reports that of five hundred patients from the recent battle-field admitted surgical operation, and that, in his opinion, twointo the Harwood Hospital, not one will require any thirds of the whole number of wounded will be fit for service in thirty days. Reenforcements are going forward to the Army of To Major-General Dix: An official despatch from the battle field at Spottsylvania yesterday morning, at half-past 6, states that during the preceding night (Friday) a movement was made by the 5th and 6th corps to our left, and an attack was to have been made at daylight, but no sound of battle had been heard from that quarter. This manœuvre, it is said, if successful, would place our forces in Lee's rear, and compel him to retreat toward Lynchburg. No cannon nor any sound of battle was heard yesterday at Belle Plain or Fredericksburg, which affords ground for inference that Lee had retreated during Friday night, and before the advance of the 5th and 6th corps. Nothing later than half-past 6 A. M. of yesterday has been received from the army by the department. All the wounded that had reached Belle Plain yesterday evening have arrived here. The surgical report from the headquarters of the army states that the condition of the supplies is satisfactory, and the wounded are doing well. The medical director at Belle Plain reports that every thing at that point is satisfactory. The surgical arrangements have never been so complete as now. Gen. Sheridan's command had reached the left bank of Turkey Island at 3 o'clock yesterday after noon, and have formed their junction with the forces of Gen. Butler. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. On the 15th, 16th, and 17th, offensive operations were suspended. The roads had been made impassable by the rains. On the 18th, the Secretary of War telegraphed as follows: WASHINGTON, May 18-11:15 A. M. Major-General Dix: It is the design of the Government to keep up the national forces until the rebellion is overthrown; and, in order to provide against any inopportune reduction, when the services of the hundred days' men go out, a draft to fill up their place, and all other reductions, will be ordered, to take place on the 1st of July, by which time the new enrolments will be completed. No order is yet issued. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. It was at first supposed that the wounded in these terrible battles would be sent to Rappahannock Station, and thence by railroad to Washington. But the guerrillas of the enemy were so numerous in the rear of Gen. Grant's army as to prevent this arrangement. The trains were therefore withdrawn to Washington. At first hospitals were established on the field. But on Friday the 6th a number of slightly wounded men, who had been ordered to the rear, made their way to Fredericksburg under an escort of fourteen armed men. On entering the town, they were fired on by the citizens with such arms as could be obtained. They, however, succeeded in passing out and proceeded to Aquia Creek, where they were taken up by a gunboat and carried to Washington. Fredericksburg was occupied by a force of Gen. Grant, and hospitals eatablished. Surgeons and nurses were immediately sent forward from Washington, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Trenton, New York, and Albany, and other cities, to render assistance. The vessels in the employment of the Sanitary Commission were loaded with hospital supplies, and despatched with relief agents and nurses. The most severely wounded were retained at the hospitals in Fredericksburg, but others were transported to the Government hospitals in the northern cities. The Christian Commission had a large number of persons, with stores at hand to afford relief. The Government also did every thing in its power to succor the wounded. The losses by the battles of the first eight days were variously estimated. The following is a statement which does not include the 9th corps: Second corps. Total..... Killed. Wounded. Missing. Total. 1,100 7,000 1,400 10,000 On the 14th the first detachment of the hundred days' volunteers reached Washington. Many of them were sent into the army under Gen. Grant before their term of service expired. On the previous day, the 13th, the Government made a requisition on the Governor of Maryland for the immediate services of two thousand militia for one hundred days. The Governor immediately issued a call for that number to relieve the regular troops on duty in that State. At the same time the Governor of Kentucky issued the following call for troops: FRANKFORT, KY., May 18, 1864. Kentuckians! to the rescue! I want ten thousand six months' troops at once. Do not hesitate to come. I will lead you. Let us help to finish this war and save our Government. THOMAS E. BRAMLETTE, Governor of Kentucky. The number of troops in the Army of the Potomac, when it crossed the Rapidan, has been variously stated at 120,000 and 150,000. The with full ranks, would have numbered about army consisted of four corps, each of which, forty thousand men. The ranks, however, were not full. No official statement of the numbers has been made. But there were various cooperating movements in which large forces were with a force between forty and fifty thousand engaged. Gen. Butler moved up the Peninsula strong, to cut the southern communications thousand strong, moved up the Shenandoah with Richmond. Another force, about fifteen Valley, under Gen. Sigel, and from Western Virginia under other commanders, for the purpose of cutting the railroads running from the west and southwest to Richmond. It evidently must have been the opinion of Gen. Grant that ficient to cope with the forces of Gen. Lee. the army of Gen. Meade would have been sufBut, to secure ample provision for that object, the corps of Gen. Burnside was added as a reserve against all contingencies. After the first day's encounter, it was found necessary to order up this reserve in haste, and in the subsequent battles every brigade was fully employed as a part of the ordinary force. The subsequent and immense reënforcement required by Gen. Grant, after the battles at Spottsylvania Court House, served to show the unexpected great strength of the enemy in the field. Several coöperating movements were in progress during the advance thus far of Gen. Grant. On Monday the 9th of May, the cavalry force connected with Gen. Grant's army commenced an advance to cut the communications between the march began, with Gen. Merritt's 1st diGen. Lee's army and Richmond. At daylight vision in advance, Gen. Wilson's 3d division in 9,500 the centre, and Gen. Gregg's 2d division in the rear. The movement was first toward Fredericksburg. At a distance of three miles from that city the column turned to the right and passed round the right flank of the enemy to the south of Spottsylvania Court House, on the road to Childsburgh, at which place a halt was made. Moving thence on the same road south 8,900 27,700 If the losses in the 9th corps are added to the above, and supposed to be in the same proportion, the entire loss will reach thirty-five thousand men. erly and westerly, they forded the North Anna River at Anderson's bridge, two miles below Beaver Dam, about dusk. Gen. Custer's brigade took possession of the railroad station, and captured a train of cars having on board three hundred and seventy-eight Union wounded and prisoners on their way to Richmond. These prisoners had been captured by the enemy during the late operations. The trains of cars, with the depot of supplies, were quickly set on fire, and two locomotives, three long trains, and a large quantity of bacon, meal, flour, and other supplies for Gen. Lee's army, were destroyed. The ties and bridges were burned, and the rails twisted so as to become useless. Meantime the enemy came up and attacked the flank and rear of the column, and captured many prisoners of the 6th Ohio. At night the column bivouacked on both sides of the North Anna. Early on the next morning the enemy began to shell the camp, and the column moved south, the advance being annoyed by the enemy as it proceeded. The South Anna was crossed at Ground Squirrel bridge, and the bridge destroyed. The bivouac at night was near Goodall's, but the sharpshooters of the enemy caused some annoyance. Early on the next morning, the 11th, the 1st brigade of the 2d division under Gen. Davies was sent seven miles east to Ashland, on the Richmond and Fredericksburg Railroad. There the depot was burned and a considerable quantity of stores destroyed; also six miles of railroad, three culverts, two trestle bridges, several Government buildings, a locomotive, and three trains of cars. On the return the force was fired upon from the houses, and about thirty men were left in the enemy's hands. In the mean time the column had advanced and destroyed the track on the same road at Glen Allen station. The nearer it approached Richmond, the more opposition was made to its progress. At Yellow Tavern the cavalry of the enemy, concentrated under Gen. Stuart, made an attack on the advance under Gen. Devin. A sharp contest ensued, during which the brigades of Gens. Custer, and Gill, and Wilson came to his support, and the enemy were driven toward Ashland. Advancing still further toward Richmond, the picket defences were entered, and in a charge by Gen. Custer's brigade a hundred prisoners and a section of artillery were captured. In the conflict Gen. J. E. B. Stuart and Col. Pate, of the enemy, were fatally wounded. On the next morning the column turned toward Meadow Bridge, on the Chickahominy. It had been destroyed, but was rebuilt under a galling fire from the enemy, and crossed. The column next reached Mechanicsville and Coal Harbor, and encamped toward night at Gaines's Mill. On the next day the march was pursued by the way of Bottom bridge to Turkey Bend, where supplies were obtained from Gen. Butler. Two movements were made by the forces in the Shenandoah valley and Western Virginia, which were designed to act against Lynchburg. The first, in May, miscarried, and the plan was afterwards altered. It was determined to carry it into effect in June. According to the original plan, at the time when Gen. Grant crossed the Rapidan, May 4th, Gen. Sigel was in motion upon Staunton, Gen. Crook upon Dublin depot, and Gen. Averill upon Wytheville, with the design, after destroying that town and the lead mines, to unite with Gen. Crook at Dublin depot, for a march toward Lynchburg in connection with Gen. Sigel. A movement by the Big Sandy, under Gen. Burbridge, upon Abingdon, and to prevent the advance of the enemy from the southwest, was not ready. The enemy, upon the advance of Gen. Sigel, ordered Gen. Breckinridge to move in haste further east, with all the troops he could collect, to oppose him, thus leaving Gens. Jenkins and McCausland, with a scattered force of fifteen hundred men, to resist Gen. Crook. Further to the southwest, on the line of the Lynchburg and Tennessee Railroad, the enemy happened to have a larger force than anywhere else on that route. Gen. W. E. Jones, in command, at once despatched Gen. Morgan further east. By making a forced march from Saltville, he arrived at Wytheville in advance of Gen. Averill. The latter, with a cavalry force of two thousand men, left camp at Charleston, Va., on May 1st, with three days' rations and two days' forage, and moved day and night over mountain paths until the evening of the 8th, when a cavalry force of the enemy was encountered near Jeffersonville, Va. This force was repelled, and a detour made by way of Princeton. On the 9th Gen. Averill left Tazewell Court House for Wytheville, in order to cut the railroad thirty miles lower down than it was to be cut by Gen. Crook. Cove Mountain Gap, near Wytheville, was reached on the 10th, and the enemy found to be in possession of the latter place. A conflict ensued, which, it is asserted by the enemy, resulted in the defeat of Gen. Averill, with a heavy loss in killed, wounded, prisoners, and horses, and prevented his reaching Dublin station and forming a junction with Gen. Crook before the latter had retired from that place. The following is Gen. Averill's address to his command, made some days later: HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY DEpartment, General Order No. 5: The Brigadier-General commanding Cavalry Di vision, desires to express his sincere thanks to the officers and men of the division, for the uncomplaining fortitude with which they have endured the terrible vicissitudes incident to their recent march of three hundred and fifty miles, over mountains without roads, and the unwavering courage with which they attacked and held a superior force of the enemy near Wytheville, on the 10th, thereby enabling another command to accomplish its purposes without the opposition of overwhelming numbers. Your country will remember your heroism with gratitude; and the noble sacrifices and sufferings of our fallen comrades will be cherished forever in our memories. The 14th Pennsylvania and 1st Virginia cavalry first received the shock of battle, while the 2d and 3d Vir ginia cavalry and 34th Ohio infantry established a fine which the enemy had reason to respect and remember. Great credit is due to the brigade commanders, Brig.-Gen. Duffie and Col. Schoonmaker, for the energy and skill they displayed. While the conduct of all was admirable and deserving the praise of the Brigadier-General commanding, he desires, without making invidious distinction, to express his high appreciation of the steady and skilful evolutions of the 2d Virginia cavalry, under Col. Powell, upon the field of battle. It was a dress parade, which continued without disorder, under a heavy fire, during four hours. The purposes of the enemy were foiled by the engagement. The railroad was reached and destroyed, New River crossed, and the baffled columns of the enemy arrived in time to witness the destruction which all the energies of their superior force, even with artillery, failed to prevent. (Signed) W. W. AVERILL, Brigadier-General Commanding. WILL RUMSEY, A. Ă. G. Gen. Crook moved from Charleston, Va., at the same time with Gen. Averill. His object was to strike the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad at Dublin Station. His force consisted of the 23d, 34th, and 36th Ohio, forming the first brigade; the 12th, 91st Ohio, 9th and 14th Virginia, forming the second brigade; the 3d and 4th Pennsylvania Reserves, 11th and 15th Virginia, forming the 3d brigade. He proceeded without opposition nearly to Princeton, where two companies of the enemy, one of cavalry and one of infantry, were encountered and driven off. Near the southwestern base of Cloyd's Mountain, about four miles from Dublin depot, a more considerable force of the enemy was found. These were under the command of Gen. Jenkins. When he was killed, Gen. McCausland took the command. After some skirmishing and manoeuvring for a position, the enemy were attacked in front and flank and driven through Dublin to New River bridge. The Union loss was one hundred and twenty-six killed and five hundred and eighty-five wounded; and that of the enemy was severe, but unknown. On the next day an attack was made on the enemy's position near the bridge, and it was destroyed. The expedition proceeded as far as Newberne, on the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, ninetynine miles from Bristol, destroying the railroad for some distance. The resistance of the enemy, with the approach of a strong force under Gen. Morgan, caused Gen. Crook to abandon the design of the expedition against Lynchburg and withdraw to Meadow Bluff, in Greenbrier County. The force in the Shenandoah valley, numbering about fifteen thousand men, was placed under the command of Gen. Sigel. He advanced to the vicinity of New Market, about fifty miles from Winchester, on the west side of the Masanuttan range of mountains, and nearly midway between Mount Jackson and Harrisonburg. His command was designed to coöperate with Gen. Grant, as before mentioned, up the She nandoah valley, and occupy Gordonsville and Lynchburg, and thus destroy the western com munication of Gen. Lee s army, and aid to isolate Richmond. On the 13th of May Gen. Sigel's advance encountered the advance of Gen. Breckinridge. Some skirmishing ensued, which was renewed on the next day, and also on Sunday. Gen. Sigel, however, continued to advance, and brought a part of his forces into position, one division still being in the rear. About 3 P. M. the enemy moved to attack. A hot contest ensued, which resulted in the defeat of Gen. Sigel, with a loss of a thousand stand of small arms, six pieces of artillery, and seven hundred men. The loss of the enemy was also large. Gen. Sigel fell back in disorder, abandoning his hospitals, and destroying a portion of his train, and retreated to Cedar Creek, near Strasburg. The enemy failed to pursue in force. These results to Gens. Averill, Crook, and Sigel, caused a suspension of that part of the plan of Gen. Grant which consisted in destroying the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, and the occupation of Lynchburg. The next important movement in cooperation with Gen. Grant, was made on the southeast side of Richmond, from Fortress Monroe up the James River. The 18th corps, under Maj.-Gen. M. F. Smith, and the 10th corps, under Maj.-Gen. Q. A. Gilmore, composed the military force of the movement, under the command of Maj.-Gen. B. F. Butler. These forces were concentrated at Yorktown and Gloucester as if designed for a movement up the York River. At the same time a brigade under Col. S. F. Alford, 3d New York, landed at West Point, up the York River, and commenced building the wharves, &c. On the 4th of May orders to move were issued, and the troops embarked on board the transports. After dark on the 5th, the vessels began to move down the York River, and up the James River, preceded by three army gunboats under command of Brig.-Gen. Graham; by the doubleenders Eutaw, Mackinaw, and Osceola; four monitors, the Tecumseh, Canonicus, Saugus, Onondaga, and the iron-clad Atlanta, and by the smaller gunboats Commodore Morris, Hunchback, Commodore Jones, Dawn, Delaware, Putnam, and Sheshonee. At As the fleet proceeded up the James River, a regiment of negro troops, under Gen. Wild, were landed at Wilson's Wharf, on the north bank, below Charles City Court House. This was done for the purpose of preventing the interruption of water communication. Fort Powhatan Landing, a little above on the south bank of the river, two regiments of the same brigade were landed for the same object. At City Point, the division of Gen. Hinks, with some other troops, and a battery were landed. At this place the flag of truce boat was lying with four hundred and fifty prisoners brought up on the previous day for exchange. remainder of the force proceeded up the river, and landed on the south bank at Bermuda Hundred, which is three or four miles above The |