The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-04 00:00:00

Beauregard's attack upon Butler,

The IVeu► York Herald's correspondent gives a
detailed account of Beauregard's attack upon the
Federal forces at Palmer's Creek on the 16th :

The entire length of the rebel lines opened with artillery,
and the shells were poured in upon our position in showers.
A dense fog enveloped the country at the time, and both
forces were wrapped in a misty veil. This was the condi-
tion of offairs when the rebels, massing their troops, took
out right under General Hickman, enveloped its flank and
took it in reverse. The first blow was dealt with terrific
force. Gen. Hickman's brigade of the 18th corps holding
the right was doubled up and forced back on the next bri-
gade, which was also thrown into some confusion. Our
men did not observe the rebels until they had succeeded in
passing a column between Hickman's right and the river,
and then, taking him in front and rear, crushed him be-
tween the columns, and for a time created some confusion.
Gen. Hickman made a gallant fight as long as he could, but
the enemy came upon him so suddenly and with such over-
whelming numbers that successful resistance was quiteim-
possible in the' darkness and confusion. Some of the bri-
gade were captured. After this operation, having forced back
the right, a heavy attack was made on the entire line of the
18th corps, with feints along the 10th corps line, and the
entire right was forced back some distance, after several
hours of most severe and sanguinary struggle, The battle
raged with unexampled fury until nearly 12 o'clock, the
rebels throwing heavy masses upon our lines, and finally
forced it back nearly a quarter of a mile, Our men fought
stubbornly, with few exceptions, and resisted every step,
and repeatedly checked the rebel advance with terrible
slaughter, but not without some loss on our side. The
enemy numbered not less than 15,000, and pushed into the
murderous fire with a recklessness and steadiness that are
rarely seen. In the attack on our right we lost a gun or two
and it is said some light pieces; bat how many it is difficult
to ascertain ; probably 4 will cover the loss in light pieces.
Finally, after forcing the 19th corps back from its position,
and regaining a portion of their first line of intrenchments,
they massed their forces on the 10th corps to drive it back.
They first hurled their column upon Turner's division,
which held the right of the corps line, joining the 18th
corps. They formed in a beautiful manner, and moved
steadily on Barton's brigade on the right of Turner's divi-
sion, advancing as if on parade and not firing a single shot;
waiting till they had reached a good distance for effective
range. The brigade poured into their lines such a terrible
fire that the line melted away, and the thinned and broken
line, atter vainly endeavouring to advance in the storm of
bullets, fled with terrible loss to the woods in their rear.
The volleys were as continuous and heavy as the musketry
of a brigade could be, and such as nothing living could stand
against. The rebels were driven like chaff, and broke for
the woods in a disorganised mass under their friendly cover.
After great exertion the line of attack was again formed,
and again a brigade advanced in splendid style against
our lines. Again did they receive the terrible fire ; and
pushed steadily on, until a fourth of them lay killed or
wounded on the field, when they broke and rushed quickly
to the cover of the woods ; our boys gave three hearty
cheers and sert a volley after them, which told on them.
After being twice bloodily repulsed at this point, they moved
further to our left, and hurled a column upon Col. Howley's
brigade, of Gen. Terry's division. They came up in the
same steady and confident manner, but were met by a more
rapid and equally deadly fire as they were treated to by
Turner. They broke and ran for the woods, accelerated in
their flight by the music of the spencer bullets about them,
They were determined, however, to break our line and force
it from its position, cost what it would. We again formed
line and were strengthened by reinforcements. They
charged again, and, after ten minutes' hot work, they
were disastrously repulsed and driven back at all points.
That ended any serious effort on their part to force our
position, and, leaving their killed and wounded to the num.
Ler of 1,000 on the field before our line, they again massed
upon General Smith's front, and attacked his left. General
Gilmore immediately ordered General Turner to attack the
enemy on their flank, and ordered General Terry to sup-
port him. Turner's attack was hardly commenced before
General Gilmore was ordered by General Butler to retire
and strengthen General Smith's corps by forming in his
rear. Our troops fell back slowly and in order, repulsing
every effort of the rebels to quicken their movements, and
making a stand at every favourable position, until the
enemy ceased to follow and fell back to their first line of
entrenchments. General Gilmore then drew off his corps
and formed to support General Smith. The fighting,
which had been going on with more or less violence along

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the entire line, now ceased at half past ten, and prepartt-
tions were made to draw off our forces from the field and
return to our intrenchments. The artillery was sent to the
rear except a section to cover the rear guard. The ambu-
lances with the wounded and the supply trains were de-
spatched to the rear, and finally the entire army fell back,
the enemy hot pursuing. Thus ended this rebel attack
on our lines. The same correspondent says of Katz' raid
on the Richmond and Danville road, that he tore up seve-
ral miles of track, destroyed the rails and ties, and has
blown up the iron bridge over the Appomattox river at
Mattox Station. General Sheridan's forces again started
on a raid round Richmond yesterday, the 15th. The cavalry
will keep the railroad connection to Richmond out for a
while. Another Herald correspondent says Butler's forces
are safely in their intrenchments, and able to withstand an
attack from all the forces the rebels can bring against them.
The object of Butler in making his advance from City Point
to Bermuda Hundred was to create a diversion in favour of
Grant, and he was eminently successful.