The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-07-07
THE EIGHTEENTH CORPS.
mr.. John A. Braoy's Dispatches.
HEADQUARTERS, EIcHrrEyrH Army CoRps
In THE FIELp, July 2, 1864.

Mr. John A. Braay's Dispatches.
HEADouARrxss EIGHTEENTH ARMY CoRps
In rHs FiKIp, July 2, 1854. J
ARrLtxRY RATTLE
To-day witnessed one or the most exciting artillery
battles Of the war The artillery attached to the corps
under the direction Of Colonel Burton, Of tue Fifth arsI
lery spcndidly posted and admirably maneuvred,
cceded, after two hours cannonading, In completely
sencing the rebo batteries and driving the gunnsrs
from their pieces
THE RxMus OPEN FIRE
Al three P. NJ, In the most unexpected manner, the
rebels commenced furousy Smelling our first and second
lines with two whworths and four ten FOUNDERS from
tho heights tho north bank Of tho Appomattox.
Howell whose guns mad been almost TO the waters
edge, Immediately replied with salvos from his ten.
Founders, and almost instantly joined by Lees
terry which dropped its shells with splendid accuracy.
This seemed be moment waited by the rebels,
and every gun from Petersburg 70 Fort Chiffon Vas In.
staoty opened upon ,heee two batteries.
rHE HEAVY PIECES KxaAoKp
Burtsu and How came the with their twenty
and thirty FOUNDERS and almost simultaneously the eight
inch mortars opened upon the enemy. In half hour
the encmys ue OF works were one continuous cloud OF
DUST raised by the nnumerable explosions Of our shells
Tho reoel sunners could running from their pieces
70 seek places O, safety further 70 the rear. rebel
ca,ssop opposite 10 Howes battery blown up during
the nghi aud caused considerable confession among tho
enemy During the contnuance OF the acton The Cohorn
mortars werc busy engaged steing the city, assed
bv the thirty FOUNDER Psro TO which has been assigned
the duty OF dropping shell IN the streets every fifteen
minutes
IN. pEpI1s siIEScrp.
After hours OF fighting every retel battery that
was near enough reach lines was silenced IN
many places their works badly damaged ard every
whee they found IL impossible 10 make stand AGAINST
the terrible are could easily concentrate at any
| point OF their line.
| OUR POSITION
Tho batteries have been placed IN positions selected
with great caro- In order the greatest possible mum
Der guns may be concentrated on any rolu while AZ
time every advantage taken OF the formation
OF the render the rebel fire harmless Science has
been called the sstance OF nature and our batteries
arc mvulnerable. Were 10 noS for the sharpshooters
thore would be but ,te danger Of wounds or death 20
the working the guns. Yesterday privates she'll
man, jonathan Hanford and Jno r. Austin, or Howel's
battery we're all wounded by sharpshoo,ers firing
| through the embrssures Of the battery.
| Tsx sTaff.
There ia permanent staff as yet with the.hcadquar
| ters OF this corps. General Butler, having orly
| nally been In immediate command OF the corns,
has retained all she chiefs OF departments as stat
1 officers for the Department Of Virginia and North
Carolina Lieutsnsnt Colonel Nicholas Bowen, acting
a. chief OF rtan tor General Smith, ie about Honf
North sick The Colonel has been In bad health