racing for Richmond?

You can read all about Day One of the Wilderness at Civil War Daily Gazette. I was a little surprised that even on the May 7, 1864 front page of The New-York Times, with mostly May 6th datelines, the reports and rumors swirling about generally had the rebels falling back to Richmond because the Union army flanked General Lee. For example, from Washington on May 6th: “Information has been received here that our army has passed safely through the “Wilderness,” but nothing further is known this morning …Rumors prevail of fighting, but they are founded on mere conjecture, as it is known that up to 7 o’clock on Wednesday none had taken place.” However, there was a battle report from Boston. On May 5th at 3 PM the Washington correspondent of a Boston publication reported that “The great battle commenced this morning. Up to noon the result was favorable to our army.”