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lima*. J. W. WARREN, - - - Editor. TUnrsdaf Morning, May 26, 1864. Our readers will find in the extracts from our Atlanta exchanges, all the news we ha*- been able to collect from Georgia front.— It is now "®U a g«* ed that Gen * John ‘ cion will next occupy the line of the Chatta hoochee. The enemy’s flanking operations will there cease, and be must come face to face with his antagonist. Unless everybody be a liar, this necessity will be hailed with delight by Johnston’s army. Ever since the crossing of the Oostanaula, they have been challenging the enemy to battle and they long impatiently for the time when he must accept the chal lenge or retire from the field. We do not know the strength of Gen. Johnston s force, but vve should be unlike everybody who has been to Atlanta if we - did not think it suffi cient for the work before it. Os one thing we are certain, if Gen. Johnston needs more j :, l himself call upon Georgu* he | toeii, ft"ft J * can get ten thousand in ten days. Personal.— We had the pleasure of a call yesterday from Capt. Dwinell, editor and pro prietor of the Rome Courier. We regret that this sterling paper has been suspended by or 4er of Gen. Sherman ; but, for the sake of our true and gallant friend, and the public cause, we trust that the suspension will be for a short time only. Uapt. Dwinell informs us that he was able to save a considerable por tion of the material of Ui3 office. [Correspondence of the Macon Telegraph.] Beauregard’s Great Battle near Drewry’s Bluff, Va. Eight Milks from Petersburg, \ May 17th, 1864. / Mr. Clisby : Gen. Beauregard came through from Petersburg to Richmond on the 13th ult., with Gen, Colquitt’s Brigade as an escort. He came a rouud about way, and yet the enemy had a small force on road, where, after a slight skirmish, he was driven off. The march of 30 miles was made over a terrible road in a hard rain from 2* o’clock in the afternoon until 2J o’clock next morning. On the 14th Gen. Beauregard was in immediate command of the forces at Drewry’s Bluff. There was heavy shirmishing along the whole line dur ing the day and most of night. Everything was very quiet during the day on the 16th. That night everything was in a state of pre paration. Staff officers riding in every direc-* tion—troops in motion—everything indicated that the next day was to be an active one. Gen. Beauregard had planned an attack on the enemy in front of our works by which he expected to kill and capture the whole force. Major Gen. Bob. Ransom on our left was to move forward and press the enemy’s right back, get between them and James River, cut ting them off from their communication with their gunboats. Gen. Ransom was then to swing round and take the army in flank, while Maj. Gen. Hoke was to move forward and at tack the enemy in front. After this movement was well under way, Major General Whiting was to advance from Petersburg, and close in on the enemy’s rear. Maj. Gen. Whiting was to start from Peters burg early enough in the day to be on the bat tlefield by Bor 9 o’clock. The plan was well considered, how well it was executed, your readers must judge from the account of the “battle of Drewry’s Bluff.” Tlie movement was to have commenced at daylight, but ow ing to the heavy fog, it was nearly an hour later. Major General Hoke commanded our right, Major General Bob Ransom our left, and Brigadier General Colquitt, a division of re serve. Gen. Ransom moved forward on our right. The enemy’s skirmishers were easily driven in and in a few minutes the line was hotly engaged. We had expected the enemy to open on our position (the wall of works ex tending around Drewry’s Bluff,) with artillery as soou as our line advanced, but were very agreeably disappointed* The firing on our left was rapid and continuous, but an occasional yell from our men let us know that everything was progressing well. The firing got farther j and farther off, and in a short time a courier j arrived from Gen. Ransom, stating that he is ready to swing round and the enemy in flank. Gen. Hoke advances on the right to attack the enemy in front. During General Ransom’s advance our artillery on the right fired rapidly, among the batteries engaged I noticed the Macon Artillery. Gen. Hoke was soon - hotly engaged, Gen. Ransoimsends for reinforcements before mov ing down on flank Gen. Colquitt sends him the three regiments of his own brigade that were with him—Gen. Ransom coming in on the flank while Gen. lloke has engaged them in front, the enemy were completely routed. Colquitt’s brigade, under command Colonel Loiton, was in this charge and added another testimonial to its'character as a “lighting brigade.” The enemy were now 1 driven from their works (our old line) in confusion. It was desirable that (Jen. Whiting be beard from before any further movement was made. For hours we wait and no news from Whiting, j The fog was very dense until after 9 o’clock. We had clouds, sunshine and rain during the day. President Davis came on the field about 3 o’clock in the afternoon. We had a driving rain about 4 o'clock. It was about this hour that one of the enemy's batteries opened on us, the shells passed over the troops, and one of them came very near (just over the heads of) our President and Gen. Beauregard. It would have been much better lor us to have advanc ed without waiting for Gen. Whiting, About 5 o'clock as we could hear nothing from him, j Gen. Beauregard ordered an advance, but night came on before we were ready to move. You must, remember that it was very cloudy, and that it takes time to arrange for a move ment of a large body of men. So there was no move that day. We know that it would have been oetter to have made the advance immediately after the men were supplied with ammunition. After the first advance early this morning out skirmishers were thrown forward. Ttiey could find no enemy. Scouts sent out reported that as far as they had been no enemy could be found. Our army advanced to-day. Gen. \\ biting came through Peters burg with his force, lie acknowledges his i error in not coming on yesterday, and turns j over his command to Maj. Gen. D H. Hill. Os the losses, there is no means of ascertain ing. Nobody know s what the enemy’s is, and the reports have not come in from oar army. We have very few killed, but a good many wounded —most of them slightly. I heard General Beauregard’s Surgeon estimate our loss at 1200 in killed and serious;,- ■<. ouuded. I won't say that the tv.- r- larger, for I don't believe it mile 1. We have about 1,000 pA: ’ m de finitely informed of—AuiOi.g them tic a. Hick man. The result ot the fight is immense. The enemy was touted, aud in his retreat aban doned the turnpike between Richmond and Petersburg, luu*leaving us in entire posses sion of the Railroad. We captured nine pieces of artillery Parrotts ana'Napoleons.) Gen. Whiting frankly acknowledges his error in not advancing, ft certainly i vary gravy er ror, for it he had performed uts pari of programme >vt would ha vty.apiuifc<i the u rger portion o! Butler s command, f find on nn sulting off- •••. t o hig; a rank ru.it v- 1 huvv over Id*, i, , .... • . i 0 r . -.a u-.t- v estiruuUd .■ h , \y -vr V;,; ~ 300 of th<. e . k . , , . ; 1 on the tnr.apiue between Richmond and Pe tersburg. No late news from Gca. Lea. Hr Trul >> 8188 Yn><u the Richmond Dispatch of the IBtu. Account ofl the Battle el Thu* s* day near Spotsylvania €. Is. Army of Northern Virginia, ) Spotsylvania, C. H. May 18, 1864. J On yesterday was fought in* front of this modest little village—henceforth to be famous through all coming time-one of the fiercest and most obstinate battle of modern times. It oc.«*uienced at day light and roared with tremens duous fury until two o’clock in the after noon, when the enemy retired from the bloody conflict. Grant made the attack again, as he did at the Wilderness, and gained a considerable advantage by the suddenness and vigor of the assault early in the day; but with this exception, he was repulsed with a loss that will carry mourning to thousands of Northern and European hearthstones, and dismay and confusion to the tyrants and demagogues whose hosts he leads. The Confederates ; failed at one point only—partly from ac» cident, partly from mistake, and partly, I fear, from lack of spirit ; but on all other parts of the field they were victorious, and as firm and resolute as ever. The enemy was but not routed or driv en from the field. It is not my purpose to go much into the details of the battle—first, because the letter, if captured between this place and Richmond, might give the foe desir able information in regard to the strength and position of our forces; and second, because it is almost impossible to prepare any account of a battle that will give satisfaction to subordinate officers, and if one makes the attempt and fails, as he certainly will, he is almost sure to have his motives impugned and become involv ed in a controversy in the newspapers. The battle was fought on the north side of Spotsylvania Court House, on undulating ground, diversified by fields, thickets, and patches of woods. Our line is crescent shaped, or perhaps it would be more correct to say that it is nearly in the form of a horse shoe, and extends around the Court House or village on the North and Northwestern side, so as to cover all the approaches from those quar ters. Slight entrenchments had been thrown up along our entire front, extend ing from near the Shady Grove (or Ca tharpen road continued) on the West, around to and beyond the Fredericksburg road on the Northeast side of the village. At one point on the right is an eminence a few hundred yards in advance of the general direction of our line, and in order to prevent the enemy from getting pos session of it for his artillery, a sharp an gle was projected so as to include the hill within our intrenchments. The result shows that this was an unfortunate piece of engineering. Past the foot of the hill on the North side sweeps a ravine which presents a convex line to the hill, the two approaching each other like cir cles that touch but cut each other. The enemy availed himself of this ravine in his assault upon the angle, which was the weakest point in our lines, being con siderably in advance of the general line and beyond the reach of support from the forces operating on the right and left. Information was received night before last that Grant was retiring in the direc tion of Fredericksburg and Germanna Ford; a report to this effect was noised abroad through Jhe army, though subse quent events *how that it was without the least foundation. Through a mistake which I cannot trace to its but which grew out of this mischievious report the artilery which had been posted on the hill in the angle alluded to above, was withdrawn during the night. This left Major Gen. Johnson, of Ewell’s corps, whose division, heretofore considered one of the best in the army, occupied this part of the line without any artillery sup port. He communicated this fact to his corps commander at midnight, with the additional intelligence that the enemy was massing a heavy force in his immedi ate front for the purpose, as he believed of assaulting him next (yesterday) morn ing. These guns or others, were sent back, and were just moving into the an gle at 4 o’clock yesterday morning, when the force which Johnson reported to be massing in bis front, made a vigorous as sault upon his position and carried it. The assaulting force had been assem bled in the ravine at the foot of the hill was very strong, and advanced* one re port says, in column of regiments. It had rained the evening before, and con siderable fog prevailed, under cover of which the attack was made. One or two guns were got into position and fired, but the horses attched to the other pieces were shot down before they could be uolimbered aud most of the can noneers captured. Jones’ Virginia brig ade, whose commander was killed at The Wilderness while trying to rally his men, .was the first to break; the old Stonewall and other brigades belonging to the divis ion, becoming involved, soon followed its example, and the last seen of Gen. John* son, the hero of Alleghany, he was stand- , ing almost alone, with a musket in his ( hand contesting the ground single handed | with the multitudinous foe. The brig* , ades composing the division are the j Stonewall brigade, Gen. James M. j Walker, and Jones’ brigade both of this j State, Stuart’s brigade of Virginians and North Carolinians, and Stafford’s brigade of Louisianans. Jones and Stafford fell at the Wilderness, Walker was wounded yesterday; Stuart, and Johnson, the com mander of the division, were taken prison ers, and the Colonel, commanding J ones’ brigade, is reported killed, with many other officers. The guns left on the field, but which neither party has been able to move on account of the fire of the other —some eigbteeu or twenty—are said to belong to Cutshuw’s and Page’s battalions. A thousand or twelve hundred prisoners ! were lost at the same time. This occurred at a very early hour la the morning. If Jones’ brigade had not given way, it is possible, though not probable, that .Johnston would have been able to maintain his ground He is one of the best offiesrs in tho arm} ; and the sublime spectacle be presented while battling alone with the enemy, though deserted by his command, should ex cite our admiration, rather than provoke crit ivi&m. But .t should not he imagined that the enemy gained the hill without opposition, sudden aud vigorous as hia assault was. He vos received with volley - 'ter v fll. y and the around was covered wit:. Iks but he ),*•» nmasetl sitefc a lie. vy ioree upon ;» riogle exposed point, some -os•••<:>nve :>» -ndvaiivt-. of ;Le geue r.l lice. r. - ? r . .sjvjh’b iu- Istantaneousiy pup.'ori- ■” H V l "‘ fund impossible »o ri i>... ■’ >s *>n» just to edd, too, that the .cl fg a whs as spir [ iud a- it w*a successful, acd reflects no little credit upon bis troops. He was aware of the I weakness of the point from its comparative isolation, having effected a temporary lodg ement in the angle two days before, as detail ed in my letter of yesterday, end would hare been a wonder if he had not been suc cessful with the preparation he had ro»<Jc. The Confederates ***&°r ea severely as j retreat®* the intervening space to our second line, or rather to the line which sub tends the angle, and which mar be considered the base of the triangle covering the hill.— j Even this line is somewhat in advance of the direction of the generalise. But the broken not stop here; they continued their retreat far to the rear. Fortunately the gal lant Gordon, commanding Early’s division was in reserve and swept to the rescue in a manner that excited the admiration of every beholder, including Gen. Lee. The enemy swarmed over the hill and rushed against the lines to the right and left, but Rodes, and Gordon, and Wilcox, were there to meet them! The battle was soon fully joined, and for nine hours, it roared and hissed and dashed over the bloody and along the bristling en trenchments like an angry sea beating and chafing against a rock bound coast. The ar tillery fire was the most sustained and con tinuous I have every heard for so long a time, averaging thirty shot to the minute, or 1,800 to the hour, for six hours. The rattle of mus ketry was not less furious and incessant. At 10 o’clock, when the din and uproar were at the highest, an angry storm-cloud swept over the field, and thus to the thunder of battle was added “the dread artillery of the skies.” It was now manifest that Grant’s real assault, as General Lee had believed, would be launch ed against our right wing, and to that point the opposing forces gravitated from all parts of the field, just as when a cloud sircharged with electricity, forms in the heavens, all the lesser clouds and racks drift to it, are swal lowed up in the swelling, angry mass. Grant strove hard to hold us to other parts of the field, and prevent this concentration of force, and for that purpose, he engaged An derson on our left, and Early, who had been sent to the extreme right. He made three separate assaults against the former, but was repulsed each time with frightful loss by Field’s division, formerly Hood’s. Early, at the head of Hill’s corps, hurled him back, as a mad bull would an incautious mastiff caught upon bis horns, as he advanced upon him. But;it was against Ewell, who held the right of the original line, that Grant expended his greatest efforts and made his most desperate assaults. Having gained a foothold in the angle of the centre of Ewell’s position, he brought up line after and line and hurled it with tremendous violence, at one time against both. Wilcox was brought up and placed on Gordon’s left, and Wofford and Humphreys, of Kershaw’s division, and Jenkin’s brigade of Fields’, Anderson’s corps, were sent to the assistance of Rodes. Additional batteries were sent in the same direction. Heth went to the right, and all of Anderson’s old divis ion, but Wright, followed him. And thus the whirling, remorseless maelstrom drew every thing iu its angry vortex. The enemy exhib ited a courage and resolution worthj' of a bet ter cause ; Grant seemed to'have breathed in to his troops somewhat of his own spirit and indominable energy. But if the Federals fought well, the Confederates fought better. From early dawn until far in the" afternoon, witu steady hands and unblancbed cheeks, they faced the leaden hail that was rained up on them without intermission. At some points, the two armies fought on opposite sides of the entrenchments, the distance between 1 them not being more than the length of their muskets. Again and again would Grant marshal his men for the onset, and right valiantly did they respond; but as often as they returned to the assault so often were they repulsed, as if they had rushed against a wail of iron. At no point of the line, and at no time during the long and terrible and exhausting conflict, did the heroic children of the South falter or waver for one moment. Each man knew that he was fighting the battle for the possession of Richmond—the battle, indeed, for the indepen dence of the Confederate States—and the thought ol' yielding to the foe never once entered his mind. During one of the assaults Gordon inflicted very heavy loss upon the enemy by moving around and striking the assaulting column in the flank. The enemy was thrown into great confusion, and re tired rapidly to the rear, leaving many dead and wounded on the ground. The most important movouient against the ene my’s flank, however, was executed by Mahone’s aud Lane’s brigades on the extreme right, under the direction of Gen. Early. The expedition was intended to operate, not against the flank of the assaulting column, but against the flank of the Federal army, and thus afford relief to our centre and left wing, both of which wore hard pressed.— The two brigades were placed under the command of Mahone, who passed around to the Fredericks burg road, and was about to engage the enemy, when he met the latter coming out probably to take us in flauk. An engagement ensued imme diately, and resulted in tho defeat of the enemy, who retired back to the main army, where consid erable emotion was produced by the fresh danger with which it was threatened. A division opera ting against our left, supposed to belong to Burn side’s corps, was withdrawn and double quicked across the field to check Mahone. Just before it reached the scene of action, it came within full view of Pogue’s aud Pogram’s guns, and not more than twelve hundred yards distant. Twelve pieces were brought to bear upon it in less time than it requires to describe this brilliant episode in the battle. The enemy stood their ground for u mo ment, then staggered back, and finally broke in tho wildest disorder. What with Mahone’s fire in front and the artillery ploughing great gaps in their flank, their loss was terrible. A shell ex ploded just as it struck the ground right in their midst, and hurled one man into the air several feet above the heads of his flying comrades. This movement afforded instantaneous relief to our left, and from this time the assaults of the enemy grew more and more feeble, along the whole line, and finally they ceased altogether at 2 P. M. Our men were anxious to follow up the enemy when he was repulsed, but Gon. Lee’s plan was to act on the defensive, and not to strike until the right time came. The Federal army far exceeded I his in numbers, they had entrenched themselves as his had done, and common sense, as well as military science, would teach the propriety of patiently awaiting rather than rashly making the attack.— The result has shown the wisdom of the policy adopted. Grant has already well nigh exhausted himself, whilst Lee’s army remains almost intact, ready to assume the offensive or to continue to act on tho defensive, as occasion may require. Our loss in the rank and file is remarkably ! small, the men being well protected by the en- j trenchmeuts. The casualties, however, has been j unusually heavy among field officers, who were un protected, and had to move frequently from one point to another, under the terrible infantry and artillery fire of the enemy, which swept every part of the field in rear of our entrenchments. The ground is torn and ploughed up by the direct and cross fire of the Federal guus as if it had beenpre pared by the farmer for the reception of spring seed. Three assistant surgeons were killed in the discharge of their duty on the field, and Chaplain Owen, of Texas, who carried the news to Gen. Lee at Chancellorsville that Sedgwick was moving on his rear from Fredericksburg, was severely woun ded early in the morning whilst on his way to the Richmond Howitzers to hold prayers. Inclu ding the battle of The Wilderness, we have lost the following general officers : Killed: Brig. Gens. Salford ot Louisiana, Jones of Virginia, Jenkins and Perrin of South Carolina, and Daniel of North Caro lina. Wour.ded: Lieut. Gen. Longatreet of Ala bama, and Brig. Gens. Hays of Louisiana, Benning, of Ga., McGowan of S. C.. Ramseur and Johnson of N. C., and James M. Walker, (Stonewall Brigade,) H. H. Walker, and Pe gram of Va. Captured: Maj. Gen. Edward Johnson Ga., and Brig. Gen. Geo. H. Stewart of Md. Gen. Lee made more than one narrow es cape, his clothing being covered with mud thrown upon him by bursting shells. He will persist in staying near the point of greatest danger. -The whole country with one voice, should protest against such rash exposure of a life in which we are ail so deeply interested, ar.d upon the preservation of which so much depends. Col. Taylor, his Adjutant General, had his horse shot. General Ramseur’s wom.d is slight. Many valuable field officers were kßled and wounded, but their names will appear in the lists of casualties in their sev eral oommands. I omitted to mention above that Major Hamilton, Commissary of Gregg’s Texan brigade, and Cant, Barksdale, Quarter f roaster of the 18th Mississippi regiment, were | killed at the Wilderness. They believed the ; hour of supremo trial had come, and that the | final battle for our independence w-*s about to | be fought, and feeling' that every man who ! could wield » musket should be in the field, tbej procured arms, though against positive orders, went into the fight, and fell with their feet to the foe, battling manfully for the right. The two armies, led by the most renowned chieftains on the Western Continent, if not in the world, have now been wrestling with each ; other for the mastery for eight long days. Thank God ! the smaller combattant thus far has been marvellously successful, and has suf fered comparatively little loss except in offi cers ; whilst the larger, being the wrong doer, has been punished beyond all precedent in this war. His dead and many of his wounded still remain on the ground, being too near our intrenchments to be moved, and they tell their own melancholy tale. If half that prisoners report of their losses in battle, and irom de sertion, straggling, and demoralization be true, then the enemy’s casualties are indeed frightful. The loss in prisoners here has been about equal, say 1.500 on each side. This gives us the advantage by 3,000, including those taken at the battle of the Wilderness. Os the prisoners captured here, two or three hundred were taken by Mahoue, and four col ors and one t guidon, when he moved on the flank of the enemy. Last night we rectified our lines near the angle which has given so much trouble, retiring it some what and locating it where it should have been run originally. The enemy still retains posses sion of the anglo, but baa not been able to remove the guns left by Cutshaw and Page, nor have we the sharpshooters on either side preventing it. We brought away from the Wilderness, 12,000 captared rifles and muskets. Both armies have rested from the strife to-day. The dead have to be buried, the wounded have to be cared for, shattered regiments and brigades have to be reorganized, and fresh plans to be de vised. This requires time, and the men require rest. There can be no doubt that Grant's troops were well supplied with liquor before they entered the battle. Many of the prisoners including,more than one Colonel, were in a state of intoxication when taken. It rained last night and again to-day. May 14th. There has been a good deal of shelling and picket-firing to-day, and at one time a renewal of the strife seemed to be imminent. The New York Herald urges the recall of Grant and his army to the north side of the Rappahannock. Will he go ? We hear that the movement upon Richmond from City Point and the Peninsula has failed to accom plish its purpose; that being true, what can Grant hope to gain by pressing further in this direction ? It is said he started with 92,000 mus kets ; if he can muster 50,000 of these now, he is more fortunate than prisoners, both officers and men, represent him to be. It has been raining at intervals all day. Sallust. Tbe Front. [From our own Correspondent.] Atlanta, May 24. That the enemy is moving by the right flank in the direction of Dallas there is little doubt. This will necessitate a change of front on our part, so a3 to meet the enemy, whose object is doubtless to flank, thus gain ing this-side of the Etowah, after which he will, in all probability, throw his entire force against Johnston’s right wing, endeavoring to re-establish his front line on the Railroad and continue his march in this direction. Scouts from Dallas report that a reconnoi tering party of the enemy crossed the river and came within a few miles of that place, but were driven back by Col. Lee’s pickets, who are stationed near the ford at which they crossed. It is currently reported, and gener ally believed, that Forrest is moving fn the direction of Bridgeport and Chattanooga—but whether that report is true or false is yet to be decided. There is one thing certain, that important movements are contemplated, and will no ooubt be favorable to us. Polk and Hardee are moving on the Dallas road, while Hood is slowly receding on the Western and Atlantic Railroad. There is no necessity for the excitement that prevails among the citizens, whose homes are threatened by the probable retrograde of our army, even if the enemy should cross the Chattahoochee. Johnston planned the cam paign that saved Richmond, and will fight the great fight to save Atlanta. Let us all bo hopeful. PAXTON. [Atlanta Confederacy. Thh Front. —The position of affairs has somewhat changed since our edition of yes terday evening. We now understand that a large force of the enemy has crossed the river some twenty miles below Etowah, to meet which, General Johnston has himself moved at the head of a correspondingly large force. We furthermore learn that another force has crossed the river above Etowah, and are moving a3 if they designed to destroy the ex tensive cotton factories in the neighborhood of Marietta. A force of our troops have also been sent to attend to this column of the en emy. In consequence of these movements all the public stores have been removed from Mariet ta to this place, and we learn that something of a panic prevailed among the people of our sister city,] during yesterday, most of whom are leaving in haste. Let not pur citizens, however, be alarmed on account of these moves pin the military chess board. Atlanta will never be taken by our ruthless invaders if the people, and espec ially our male population, will do their whole duty in the present emergency. Let them rather obey promptly the proclamation of the mayor, enroll themselves for duty, and be ready to man the trenches at a moment’s warning. Let every man, young and old, who can load a musket or pull a trigger, prepare for action, and all will yet be well. General Johnston has assured the authorities here that Atlanta will be defended to the last extremity, and it behooves every patriot to come io his aid in his critical emergency. —Memphis Ap peal, 24. Thk Militia Officers of the State. —We are gratified, (says the Atlanta Intelligencer) in being able to state that the militia of ficers of the State, ordered by the Governor to repert at this point to GeD. Wayne, are re porting promptly in person for duty, in large numbers, and also that a number of the civil officers of the State have likewise reported.— Every train that arrives in our city brings a number of both these classes of our citizens, and ere many days shall elapse, we doubt not that we shall have in this place a most effec tive military oranization, composed of material for service, as there is in the State, in arms to defend her, acting as an auxiliary force to Gen. Johnston, under the command of that skillful and gallant officer, Gen Wayne. It is not now our purpose to estimate the num ber of this force. We shall leave the enemy to find that out, should he attempt a raid up on Atlanta - • - ijfc Economy in Gotham. —The New York corres pondent of the Philadelphia Inquirer, says: The ladies’ movement for the curtailment of for eign luxuries, in order to stop the efflux of gold, is rapidly extending itself. At a fashionable party at the mansion of one of the wealthiest merchants, in Th irty fourth street, near Lexington avenue, a neatly printed “pledge” was handed around among the ladies to sign, thus committing them against buying, for the present, any more silks, satins, vel vets, laces, or other foreign luxuries. Os course everybody signed it, and wheu the assemblage was dispersing, the hostess announced that at her next entertainment her guests would all be expected to come, the ladies m calico, and tho gentlemeain satinet and oorduroy. And Still they Come. —About eight hundred more Federal prisoners arrived in Macon yesterdaj-—nine-hun dred will acme today, and the conductors report about fifteen thousand more on the road between Richmond and Augus ta.—Mctcon Telegraph, 24th. JE SL2&RAPHIO. Reports of the Press Association. Entered according to act of Congress in the year 1863. by J. 8, Thrasher, in the Clerk s office cf the District Court of the Confederate States for the Northern District of Georgia. From Northern Virginia* Everything Quiet at Last Accounts* Richmond, May 25.—The following was re ceived .this morning from Taylorsville, May 24th, 9.30 p. m. : To the Secretary of War: —The enemy has been making feeble attacks on our lines to-day; probably with the view of ascertaining our posi tion. They were easily repulsed. General Mahone drove three regiments across the river.capturing a stand of colors,and some pris oners—amoDg them one Aide to Gen. Laidiey. (Signed) P- E? LEE. Taylorsville, May 25.—N0 engagement to day, and very little skirmishing. Grant has strong fortifications on our front, and is supposed to be moving his main force around still more to our right. There have been heavy fires to-day, extending back several miles on their main line. [Taylorsville is at Hanover Junction, and the river alluded to in the above dispatch Is probably the North Anna. —Ed.] Bishop Elliott’s Sermon. —Board* man, advertises the groat sermon of Bishs op Elliot, lately delivered in Macon, for sale in quantity. Bishop Elliot is not merely a learned and eloquent divine — he is a statesman. His broad, compre hensive mind grasps the present struggle in all its grand political aspects and han dles it with wonderful clearness, brevity and force. In no paper of equal length upon the war, have we seen so many weighty considerations presented with such overwhelming force. It ought to be circulated among the people, to rouse them up to a correct appreciation of the stupendous responsibilities devolved upon this generation, and the importance of acting well our part —of meeting every emergency with the calm earnestness, dauntless resolution and vigorous action of men who see that the fate of the Ameri can continent—of civil liberty itself and the future of generations unborn hang upon their connsels and their conduct— Macon Telegraph , 24 th. From Petersburg- Heavy living—A Gallant Charge—The Enemy Driven from hie Breastworks—Capture of Small Arms and Cannon—Butler again Discomfited. Heavy cannonading and infantry firing were heard at intervals through all the night of Thurs day. About eleven o'clock Thursday night, the Infantry firing was very rapid, and continued for an hour or more. We learned yesterday, that it was brought about by an effort of the Confede rates to throw up au advance line of fortifications, which the Yankees regarded as coming too close for comfort. Yesterday morning early slight firing com menced, and continued with increasing severity, until ten o'clock, when a charge was made by our forces upon the enemy’s breastworks, and the en gagement became general along the line. Martin's and Clingtnan’s North Carolina, and Wise’s Va. Brigades participated, and although subjected to a galling fire, succeeded in driving the enemy from his breastworks, and taking possession. We lost heavily. It could not have been otherwise, as the enemy's works were of the mo3t formidable kind, and our men charged across an open field of some thirteen hundred yards in extent. The ene my were well posted, and besides occupying an advantageous position behind their breastworks, had one or more regiments posted in a thicket of pines, which poured a very severe enfilading fire into our charging column. The charge was highly successful, despite the advantages of the enemy, and again illustrated the valor of the Confederate arms. OUR COLUMN. Our column was under the immediate command of Gen. D. H. Hill, but General Beauregard was on the field, and his superior military abilities, of course, contributed largely towards the success of the movements, while his presence inspired an en thusiasm which rendeied our men irresistible.— The scene ofthe fighting was about 1 miles from Petersburg, between Port Walthall Junction and Chester, in the county of Chesterfield, and some two miles east of the railroad. At the breastworks, the fighting is said to have been furious, our men bayonneting and beating such of the enemy as had the temerity to remain, with the butts of their muskets. An attempt was made to rally the flee ing foe after we had driven him out, which was successful. The enemy massed all his forces and made two desperate efforts to re-take the works, but were each time most bloodily repulsed, and sent iff howling to their next lino of entrench ments. We captured many small arms, and se cured three pieces of cannon. We now have the invaders under the load of Butler, in a very contracted neck of land, not more than five or six miles either way, and are gradually and surely closing on him. It is esti mated that we drove him two miles yesterday, and we may have the pleasure of announcing from our bulletin board at an early hour this morning that we drove him some mile or moro last night. Gen. Beauregard, we hear, has said, that the con tracted space between the Appomattox and James, and east ofthe Railroad, is entirely too small for two armies, and that one or tho other must va cate. The movements of the two armies during the post five days indicot© too c’early the vacating ! party, for us to be more explicit here. The Yan- ! kees are boui and to move, and the sooner the better i for them. Our casualties yesterday are estimated at be- I tween five and six hundred, of which number, ! probably one hundred were killed. Many severe- j ly, but the greater portion are slightly wounded, ; and chiefly in the hand.— Petersburg Express, list. Tlie Situation. ARMY OF TENNESSEE. The movements of this army are so carefully • covered by the masterly management of those in whose charge it is placed, that it is impossible to do more than conjecture what manoeuvres are in tended. But we are satisfied that our General is doing all that military skill can do to oonsumatc victory or security, and that the day is very near when the great master, and his not less brave and j valiant officers and men, will prove their invinci- I ble intrepity, their unconquerable bravery, and j the splendid achievements which will secure us ! success. A large amount of territory has been exposed, j not, however, altogether left defenceless, as the i enemy will dicover when they attempt their march on Marietta and the Chattahoochie defences. But there is no cause for alarm in the fact that Ma rietta and the lovely valleys around it have been j abandoned. This is one of the stern nesessities of war; and tho«gli it entails suffering and neces sitates unhappy separations and all the horrors of the presence of a heartless enemy, yet the necossi- 1 ties of war demand it, and we must patiently bear the infliction. Our General, in whom we have the most implicit confidence, assures us that Atlanta is safe, and we have every evidence, from the movements now pro gressing, to be satisfied that it is perfectly safe, and will remain so. The enemy may thunder at our doors, but we feel that there are many stout hearts here, who at the last extremity will battle as brave ly for their homes as they have against the storms of life, to gain their full money bags and parchment titles to property. Is there a craven-hearied wretch '■ among us who would fail when the necessity comes? j We think not—we hope not. We doubt, not. hit * such an one, if he appeared, would fall a viotimj between the upper and nether mill stones. It is in no presumptive spirit of prescience or pre tentious wisdom, but with a cheerful feeling of cer- ’ tainty ; we assert that the battle will be won by our brave legions, and the enemy will be broken, rout- ! ed. ar.d driven back to bis bloody lair. Who does not pray with us that it may be so for ever, and that the pride of the insolent foe may be i humbled and his prestige of power and success may > be destroyed forever?—A dan ta Ini., 2b. ♦ ♦ » Lies for Suroi-k.—The New York Herald, of j the 9th inst,. unblushingly proclaims that it3 “odi- i lion for Europe’’ will contain . “The details ofthe Advance Army of the Poto mac, and of the groat Battle of tho Wilderness, re sulting it a Victory for the Union Forces; Par ticulars of the Capture of City Point and Peters- ] burg by the Forces of General Butler : Important Movements in the S ithwest; Interesting from North Carolina; The Li.est fro-a th# Rwl Rivvr Expedition.” .CITY MATT KM. T. J. JACKSON, LOCAL KDITQIt. To Resident Minister# or 111 111 foil*. The resident Ministers of this city, mac respecr fully invited to extend, when agreeable to them, their time and labors among the sick and wounded of our Hospitals. They will be assigned, if desira ble, to individual positions. _ Contributions for the purchare of, or donations of Books, Periodials and Papers, respectfully solicited, and may be loft at the Office of the Commandant,* GEO. W. STICK NEY. Chaplain of the Post, and Enquirer please notice once. More Sick Soldiers. —About 100 more eick and woundod Boldiers arrived from the Georgi* front yesterday, and were quartered at the seve ral hospitals in this city. About 200 more arrived last evening. Muscogee at the Front. —Adjt. J. N. CobJ> informs us that Muscogee county has sent to At lanta under the Governor’s late proclamation about 60 men, including the civil and militia offi cers. This will make a pretty good company,-men all of them ihat will not bo easily stumbled over by the Yankees. If other counties do as well, Geor gia will give Gen. Jolmston a reserve that will and» effective service, end may, perchance, turn tho tide in our l’aror—if it is not already running iu that direction. ■• ♦ ♦ W. C.:Gray wishes to hire five negro men to cut wood on the Mobile <fc Girard Railroad. See ad vertisement. Run Off. —The freight tender ran off the track at the switch on the Muscogee Railroad near th* depot yesterday evening. ’ No damage, save slight ly tearing up the sleepers and cross-ties. Consignees Per M & G R R., May 26.—Uaptatk Cothran, T C Johnson, Eagle Factory, J J Robert T & Cos., Gammell, Weldon, J M Watt. Recent Federal Losses. —Tho New York Daily News, of the 13th, Fas the following statement of Federal losses: Banks. 10,000 out of 60,000. Sherman’s 20,000. In North Carolina, 5,000. The News forbears to give the Federal losses, in the recent battles between Grant and Gen. Lee, a|> the terrific slaughter, at last accounts, had reached' 50,000. What they are After. —The following from th# New York Tribune, betrays the whole Yankee an* imus: The slaveholders gone, the South remains, with all its vast productive capacity. Heretofore it wm only the individual Yankee that came in contaot with the cotton process. Hereafter they will swan* on every plantation. Who can doubt the result ? Stragglers and skulkers.— The Washington telegram, in the New York Times of the 13th, s&yai Fully two-thirds of those brought to the hospital# here as wounded, by careful estimate, art mer* skulkers, with only a slight bruise, or in most in stances without a scratch. They have availed them* selves of the confusion of the battle and tho char acter of the Wilderness to get out of line and make their way here among the really disabled. Government has instituted thorough overhauling of hospitals, and all these skedaddlors will ba promptly sent back to the army. The presence of officers among this crowd adds much to the disgrace of such conduct. Over one thousand, officers and men have already been arrested by the provost guard and placed in the Old Capitol. The officers will bg returned to General Grant in irons. Southern Mechanics’ Union. The Southern Mechanics Union will meet at th# om of the Vice President, J. A. Colvin, in the Ma sonic Building, this, Thursday evening, at eight o’clock. By order of the President. ISAA<’ G. DENSON, may 26 —It Sec'y WANTED! T?IVE NEGRO FELLOWS, to chop wood on th# X Mobile & Girard Road, for which liberal hire will be paid by the month or day. Apply to W. C, GRAY, my 26 2w at Greenwood & Gray’s. Notice j YfTHILE absent from the city, no person is author n ized to transact any business for our firm, or for us individually. WARNOCK & CO. my 26 4t Hoticc. OFFICE CHIEF Q. M. > Columbus, Ga., May 24, v>4. > I ani instructed by the Quartermaster Gonoral t« assist in the purchase of Grain, and other supplies, for the armies of Virginia and Tennessee. Both armies are beseiged by the enemy and must be sus tained. The Planters of the country, who have been unmolested by the ravages of the enemy, coo easily feed our armies, and I call on them, in th» name of all that is sacred, to sell to my co-worker*- and agents their produce without delay. I also beseech manufacturers, mechanics, mer chants, and all to sell what supplies may bo needed for Government use. I have no money to pay for the articles needed, for the reason that all the officers, clerks and em ployees of the different Bureaus, at Richmond, ar« in the army assisting in driving tho foe from oar soil. I telegraphed for money and received the fol* lowing patriotic dispatch from the Quartermaster General: “We have had no mail from tho South for tiff* weeks. Officers and Employees of the Department nearly all in the field, and it is therefore impossible to send money at present. No loyal citizen can re fuse to sell you supplies for the soldiers at a moment like this. Give certificate of indebtedness.” F. W. DILLARD. Major k Q. if. 4J®“Sun and Enquirer copy one week. my‘2s Notice, OFFICE CHIEF Q. M. 1 Coluiflbu3, Ga,, May 24, ’64. / Major John E. Davis is relieved from the dutiq* of the Post, and will be assigned to the Pay De partment. Major Dillard will act as Post Q. M., till further notice. F. W. DILLARD. Major & Q. M, -6#~Sun and Enquirer copy one week. my2s HILE STOLEN. ! LROM the subscriber’s lot, on the sth inst., on« -C large Bay Horse MULE, about teu years old. — ; No marks recollected. Any information concerning; • him will be liberally rewarded. Address the sub | scriber at LaGrange, Ga. W. J. DIX. ■ my2i> lw To the Planters ! The demand on this Section from the Army foe Corn Is pressing and heavy. Our stock on hand if nearly exhausted. I earnestly beg every planter to deliver at hi* nearest depot, on Rail Road or River, fifty to fir* hundred bushels of Shelled Corn, to be consigned ta me within the next ton days; of which notify m#. Sacks will be forwarded or delivered as ordered. I know the great press upon Planters at thissea s n in cultivating crops, but the urgent necessity ol our army, at this time, makes the above request necessary. I u-st every planter will respond promptly, to bis utmost ability. A. M. ALLEN. Maj. and C. B. May 24, 1464. lOt Office Mobil® Girabd R. R. I Cblumbus, Ga., May sth, ’64. / The Annual Meeting of tho Stockholders of th* C ompany, will be held at the Office. Girard.. Ala., on Wednesday, 6th day of July next, at 11 o clook, when the election for President and Directors wUf take place. „ , By order J- F-.vAZ.ali. Soo y. suy24 td Races Postponed *. The Raoes, adver'iaod to come off on the 24 th - over the Chattahoochee Course, near Columbu-.. - , are postponed until furtbernotioc. m y2S ts C. S. PKYirii