The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-05 00:00:00

"'l'he brilliant flank movement made by the sth
Corpi yesterday Incrning was a complete success
The e nemy's forces had been nearly all withdrawn
from this direction to eend across the James to meet
the attack of the 2d and 10th Corps, and only a
strong picket was found guarding the road. These
retreated so rapidly that our men thought they
would meet with no opposition, and they went to
work very deliberately to destroy the track and
render it useless. But when they had got about a
mile torn up, and before they could set fire to the
trees, a heavy force advanced in line of battle up
the railroad with supporting columns on either side.
They charged gallantly, evidently believing they
were strong enough to overwhelm anything we had
there. But they met with the veterans of the 2d
Division, under Gen. Ayres, and after an engage.
1 vent of half an hour fell back in confusion. After a
Bo
ort time they formed in line and made another
at,'empt to reach and drive back the division, but
wol-e repulsed a second time with severe loss. This
endedthe charges for the afternoon, and from that
time till near dark nothing but skirmishing took
place.. Just before dark they made another effort
to break through oar line, and this time they re.
ceived even worse punishment than before, as
they were driven back nearly half a mile, leaving
their dead and wounded in our hands. Their loss
must have been very severe, and is estimated at
1,000. The number of killed and wounded on our
side will be about 400, principally in the 2d Divi-
ion. No fighting of consequence has taken place
to -day. The enemy, about three o'clock this after.
Dpt made an effort to break through our lines near
the Jerusalem plank-road, on the left of our former
posit ion, bat the move was discovered in time to
check it ere it could be carried out. As soon as
they .t, eind our men were prepared for them they
fell back to their own lines. The sth Corps still
occupy .their position on their railroad, and are
busy effe,3tually destroying it. To-night, as well
as all the afternoon, has been very quiet, not a soli-
tary gun being heard on any part of the front.
This seems the more strange as on some parts of
the line firing has seldom ceased for an hour since
we have been here. But the late changes have
brought the coloured troops into a position some•
what removed from the enemy's picket line, and this
clay account in some measure for the quiet that
pz evails. We have had very heavy rains the past
two or three days, to-day being the severest of all.
The roads are in bad condition in some places, but
a day or two of warm sunshine will make them.all
right again.
Under date of the 21st the same corrrespondent
writes:—

" Our losses at the fight at the Weldon Railroad
on Fridsy were greater than heretofore reported.
The number of prisoners taken by the rebels is now
put down at 1,500. It seems that our troops were
surprised, many of them being in their shelter tents
a.t the time, trying to escape the heavy rain that
had been falling for several hours previously. The
rebels first appeared about noon on the right
of the road, in front of the 3d Division of the
sth Corps ; but this was evidently a feint, or
for the purpose of feeling our lines. About
three o'clock in the afternoon they charged in
h eavy force between the sth and 6th Corps, and
ac cceeded in turning the flank of the former, caps
tut ing a large number of prisoners. This part of
our line was forced backed some distance, when the
9th Corps, which had been relieved the night pre-
vious by a part of the 2d Corps, came on the field
and opened a fire, checking the advance of the
rebels and taking a few prisoners. A heavy column
of the rebels at the same time charged on the left
of our line west of the railroad held by the 2d
Division, Gen. Ayres, which they broke, and here
they also took 500 or 600 prisoners of the regular
brigade. This brigade is commanded by Colonel or
General Hays, who is believed to be a prisoner, as
he cannot be found. Our whole line was thus forced
back with heavy loss in killed and wounded. The
enemy, however, suffered worse than we did in this
,articular, his men lying thick all over the field.
efore dark our men were reformed, and, being re-
in forced, a desperate charge was made to recover
our lost ground, which was successfally accom-
plished, so that we held at night the line which
had been taken from us in the afternoon. Col. Earle
is reported a prisoner, as is also Col. Hartshorne.
Gen. Crawford was shot through the vest and shirt,
and narrowly escaped capture. Lieut. Clark, of his
staff, was shot in the arm. Lieuts. Meade and
Merrifield, and Capt. Smith, also of Crawford's staff,
had their horses shot while carrying orders and
rallying the men of the various commands. The last
named was a prisoner for awhile, hut seeing a
favourable chance, made his escape. Capt. Doolittle,
of Col. Wheelock's staff, was ordered to surrender,
when he, getting furious at an epithet applied to
him, seized a musket and bayoneted the rebel
against a tree. Col. Wheelock'a brigade of the 3d
Division was flanked, when they faced to the rear,
charged, drove the rebels, and took a number of
prisoners. The entire number of prisoners cap-
tured by us is about 230 men, with some
stands of colours. Our loss is estimated at
3,000. Nothing but skirmishing took place along
the line to-day, both parties being busy intrenching
themselves. A battle is looked for any moment, as
the enemy seem determined to retain possession of
the road, while our forces are as determined to hold
it. The prisoners we took belong principally to
Beanregard's and Hill's corps, and are healthy,
though clad as usual.

" August 21, 6 a.m.
" Considerable artillery firing has been going on
on our left since 4 o'clock, and is at times quite
brisk. No musketry can be heard, the distance
from head• quarters being too great."

The operations of the sth Corps are thus de-
scribed :

" The ;engagement between the sth Corps and
the enemy yesterday for the possession of the Wel-
don Railroad was more serious than at first re-
ported. The point of the road where our troops
hold possession is known as the Yellow-house
(there being a large house there of yellow colour),
three or four miles this side of Reams station, and
about six miles from Petersburg. After the short
fight of Thursday afternoon, when the enemy were
repulsed, little attention was paid to their move-
ments, and it was not believed they were in a con-
dition to make another attack, and the principal
work done was on railroad, with the building of
alight breastworks. In the morning Wilcox's
division of the 9th Corps came up and took posi-
tion on the right of the sth,in a piece of thick
woods. A slight attack was made on the centre of
the line about noon, but without important result.
About 4 p.m. another and more determined one was
made on the right and left centre, which finally
extended along the whole line, the enemy charging
in heavy force on both flanks, which they suc-
ceeded in turning. At this critical juncture the
other two divisions of the 9th Corps came up and
the enemy were driven back, although not until
they had taken a large number of prisoners. The
third brigade of the third division, sth corps, were
in the skirmish line and wer 3 all captured, with Co-
lonels Earle and Hartshorne. Colonel Wheelock,
commanding a brigade in the third division, crossed
his men on the other side of his breastwork and
opened fire on the enemy, who had flanked him,
causing him to fall back. General Crawford had a
narrow eecape from capture as well es from being
killed. He was ordered to surrender, but refused,
and was rescued by some of his own men. A ball
passed through his clothing, razing the skin. During
the fight Lieut. Clark, of his stuff, was wounded,
and Captain Monteith, Lieutenants Meade and
Merrifield, had horses shot under them. Captain
Smith was captured, but succeeded in making his
escape, wit the le9s of his horse. All these officers
belonged to General Crawford'a staff, and these facts