The fight at Reams's station.
A correspondent of the Washington Chronicle writes a curious letter in explanation of Hancock's defeat on the Weldon railroad.
If the views of this writer may be accepted as correct, it requires but three years to annihilate an army corps, for we are told that the Second corps was composed of entirely new men, and hence the disaster.
Dating before Petersburg, August 27th, the correspondent writes:
"Every man undergoes an organic change once in seven years. So we are informed by physiologists.
The disintegration of human particles must be very gradual and imperceptible, for, after the lapse of time specified, when it is presumed the last atom of the 'old man' has departed, the individual retains his identity, his friends appear the same, his name remains unchanged.
"So is it with the Army of the Potomac.
The different corps become new commands every three years. Hancock is the leader of a corps, of which every member wears for his dist
Rivalry of Murat and Davoust.
Napoleon had just placed Davoust under the orders of Murat, who commanded the vanguard of the army, and the two generals had advanced as far as Slawkow; it was the 27th of August. On the 28th, Murat pushed the enemy beyond the Osna.
He crossed the river with his cavalry and briskly attacked the Russians, who were posted upon a height beyond the stream, and who could, in this position, easily maintain an obstinate conflict; they did so at first with considerable success, and Murat, whatever is said of him on this subject, wishing to spare his cavalry in a spot where the ground was so difficult, sent orders to a battery of Davoust to support his operations and to harass the enemy upon the height.
He waited for awhile to observe the success of this new attack — but all was silent; and the Russians, taking advantage of this singular inactivity, descended from their position, and, for the moment, repulsed the cavalry of the King of Naples to the banks
