WAR DEPARTMENT,
May 9, 1864—3.20 p.m.
Major-General BUTLER:
A bearer of dispatches from General Meade has just reached
here by way of Fredericksburg; states that on Friday night Lee's army fell
back, and yesterday were in full retreat for Richmond, Grant pursuing with his
army. Hancock passed Spotsylvania Court-House before daylight yesterday
morning. Meade's headquarters were yesterday at Todd's Tavern. We occupy Fredericksburg.
The Twenty-second New York [Cavalry] occupied it about 8 o'clock last night.
EDWIN M. STANTON,
Secretary of War.
SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official
Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 36, Part 2
(Serial No. 68), p. 587
