100 



ARMY OPERATIONS. 



vance on their (Gen. Grant's) part has been re- 

 pulsed. He states that our forces attacked them and 

 caused some confusion. Gen. Wadsworth's body 

 fell into their hands ; but our reports this morn- 

 ing state that it is now in our possession, under 

 charge of Col. Sharpe, as stated in my first despatch 

 this morning. 



The belief here is that Lieut.-Gen. Grant is achiev- 

 ing a complete victory. 



EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. 

 WASHINGTON, May 9 i r. M. 

 Maj.-Gen. John A. Dix : 



Despatches have just reached here direct from 

 Gen. Grant. They are not fully deciphered yet, but 

 he is " on to Richmond." We have taken two thou- 

 sand prisoners. 



EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. 



The last official despatch. 



WASHINGTON, May 9 4, r. M. 



A bearer of despatches from Gen. Meade's head- 

 quarters has just reached here. He states that Lee's 

 army commenced falling back on the night of Friday. 

 Our army commenced the pursuit on Saturday. 



The rebels were in full retreat for Richmond by 

 the direct road. 



Hancock passed through Sp'ottsylvania Court 

 House at daylight yesterday. 



Our headquarters at noon yesterday were twenty 

 miles south of the battle field. 



We occupy Fredericksburg. The 22d New York 

 cavalry occupied that place at eight o'clock last 

 night. 



The depot for our wounded is established at Fred- 

 ericksburg. 



EDWIN M. ST ANTON, Secretary of War. 



The President, on the 9th, also issued the 

 following proclamation : 



EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, May 9, 1S64. 

 To tJte Friends of Union and Liberty : 



Enough is known of the army operations within 

 the last five days to claim our especial gratitude to 

 God. While what remains undone demands our 

 most sincere prayers to and reliance upon Him 

 (without whom all human effort is vain), I recom- 

 mend that all patriots, at their homes, in their places 

 of public worship, and wherever they may be, unite 

 in common thanksgiving and prayer to Almighty 

 God. ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 



The excitement produced throughout the 

 North by these despatches was very great. 

 Washington also was almost wild with enthu- 

 siasm over what was regarded as a great vic- 

 tory achieved by the Army of the Potomac over 

 the army under Gen. Lee. In the evening the 

 feelings of the people found vent in a congratu- 

 latory visit to the President, which is thus re- 

 ported : 



"A procession was formed in front of Wil- 

 lard's Hotel about half-past eight this even- 

 ing, headed by the band of the 27th Michigan 

 regiment, and proceeded to the White House. 

 After several patriotic airs had been performed 

 by the band, in response to the cheers and 

 calls of the multitude assembled, the President 

 came forward, and was introduced to the peo- 

 ple by Senator Foster, of Connecticut. 



" He returned his thanks for the compliment 

 paid him, and said that we had won a great 

 victory, for which we should return thanks to 

 the Almighty, who had smiled upon and blessed 

 our efforts, and also to Gen. Grant and his 

 brave officers and soldiers, to whose heroism 

 and sacrifices we were indebted, under Provi- 



dence, for this triumph. We had won a great 

 victory, but we must not be prematurely san- 

 guine, for although much had been done, there 

 was a great deal of work yet to do before the 

 rebellion could be suppressed and the Union 

 restored. There was one thing which lie de- 

 sired to say to them, and that was, that while 

 Gen. Grant had met with stubborn resistance, 

 he had not been forced back in the slightest 

 degree from the line upon which he had 

 started, and was now moving forward upon 

 the line which he had marked out before tho 

 movement commenced. He had every confi- 

 dence in Gen. Grant, and believed that he 

 would accomplish the great work which ho 

 had yet to do. 



"Enthusiastic cheers were given for the 

 President, Gen. Grant, Gen. Meade, and our 

 brave armies, after which the crowd retired in 

 a quiet and orderly manner." 



The thanksgiving recommended by the Pres- 

 ident was very generally observed by the 

 churches on the following Sunday. As an in- 

 stance, the rector of Trinity Church, New 

 York, issued the following: 



TRINITY RECTORY, May 13, 1SG4. 



The reverend the clergy of this parish are re- 

 quested, on the approaching feast of Whitsunday, 

 to offer solemn thanksgivings to Almighty God for 

 the answer to the prayers of his peoplft, and for the 

 great mercies extended to this nation by His Divine 

 Providence during the past week. The form of 

 thanksgiving set forth and authorized by the Bishop 

 of this diocese will be used immediately after the 

 general thanksgiving, at each service during the day. 

 MORGAN DIX, Rector of Trinity Church. 



The following is a report of the manner of 

 observance : 



After the usual initial exercises had been gone 

 through, the prayer for victories, to be found in the 

 prayers at sea in the Episcopal book of common 

 prayer, was read. 



Dr. Vinton then ascended the pulpit and preached 

 the sermon, taking his text from St. John, seventh 

 chapter and thirty-ninth verse : "The Holy Ghost 

 is not yet." The preacher only briefly alluded to 

 our victories in the course of his discourse. He said 

 that the day of Pentecost had again dawned on the 

 world ; but the anniversary of the Christian year 

 came that day, not ushered in like the fast days of 

 the world formerly, but with the booming of cannon 

 and hurrahs echoing in the air, and the rejoicing 

 which all the people of this land were now express- 

 ing for their victories. 



The rest of the preacher's discourse was strictly 

 confined to remarks on the coming of the Holy Ghost, 

 and in conclusion he said we should now especially 

 give God thanks for all the favors we have received 

 at His hands. 



The despatches of the Secretary were con- 

 tinued as follows : 



WASHINGTON, May 10, 18&4. 

 To Major- Gen. Dix: 



Despatches have been received this evening from 

 Maj.-Gen. Grant, dated at one o'clock yesterday. 



The enemy have made a stand at Spottsylvania 

 Court House. There had been some hard fighting , 

 but no general battle had taken place there. 



I deeply regret to announce that Maj.-Gen. Sedr- 

 wick was killed in yesterday's engagement at Spott- 

 sylvania, being struck by a ball from a sharpshooter. 

 His remains are at Fredericksburg, aiid are expected 



