The New York herald., 1864-08-22
REBEL ACCOUNTS.
The Fight Before Rtchm ond -Occ n pa
ttOn OF the Weldon KatlrOad-Vhat
the Rebels have Recenriy Lost, &c.
[From the Richmond Examiner. August l9.

The Fight Before Rtch ond -Occu pa,
.ion OF the Weldon kailroad-Whas
the Rebels have Recentiy Lost, SC.
From the Richmond Examiner, August le.l
THE WAR NEWS.
There was yesterday general impression in the
munity that we were on the eve OF stirring events ha
great battle was imminent all along the line, Pe
tersburg on the south White Oak swamp the north
AS the day advanced this opinion some what con
hrmed by fthe telegraph from Petersburg announcne
that az two O'Clock yesterday morning a the artillery
on our lines south Of heAppomaox bred upon the enemy
were demonstrating towards the Weldon Road our
extreme right number rumors were n circulation
to the effect that we medilated q general at.
tack upon the enemy's lines Under these cir
ocos Seavv ,oyno1 M %
direction east by south OF the city, apparently in
with the battle ned OF Monday and Tuesday. Up the
time OF this writing the firing Is unexplained. From
sound OF the guns should think distsnt about
ten miles rom the city, and pretty certainly somewhere
between the Charles City road and Deep Bottom.
Persons VINO came over by rail from Petersburg last
evening reported that the enemy had shced the town
ten thousand Yankee cavalry had taken OF the
Weldon road whatever they may have accomplished, ,
We think there were hardly 90 many cavalry.
THE LATEST.
The telegraph informs that an infantry and cavalry
force OF the enemy yesterday morning broke through
long lines extreme right south OF Petersburg and
reached Weldon Railroad where after they had torn
some track they were attacked by infantry, and
report said beaten and forced 10 retreat
OUR RAMS DO SOMETHING.
Before the last ad OF Grant upon north
the James our lines included Signal Hill, an important
point on the north bank two miles and half east OF and
below Chaiins Blun. During the movements and fights
of Monday and Tuesday We lost this position. and the
enemy occupied IN force, and planted and
BY our successes Of Tuesday evening we reestabished
eur whole line with the exception OF this point and, 1t
being desired TO reake this Wednesday evening our
IRON cads then lying at yard Bend were ordered
TO drop down and shell the position. They performed
the required service most eiectually Their firing
besutuevery shell exploded just at the right place.
The enemy replied with heavy guns-some Of Them beng
tUo Aundled and eightvpound.rs But accurate and
rapid re upon the hill that the enemy found IL
necessary 20 evacuate It, When at daylight yesterday
morning, infantry advanced upon the position, they
date vicinity state that the enemys loss during the
engagement was twenty one killed and large number
,nsm being ssrucs The enemy yed from distance Of
Thousand eight hundred yards We from thousand
two hundred to two thousand three hundred yards.
The celebrated McAvoy fuse Was used by and TO t
N a great II D due that enabled 10 OK.
pIode sbcll just whore We desired. II is 10 be
regretted that this fuse Is not In general use In our
armies instead OF the most unreliable percussion fuse.
THE BATTLES or MONDAY AND TUESDAY.
We have authentic Information that in the series Of
during Monday and Tuesday and eliminating In the battle
below Whites Tavern on Tuesday evening. entire
loss In killed wounded aud missing did not exceed
thousand. II is believed that our killed will scarcely
number one hundred. The enemys killed alone will
coed our losses from all causes. In killed wounded and
prisoners Grants loss is not less than eight
thousand.
THE yuNsaAL OF BRrGADrKR GENERAL oHERARprx,
late Augusta GeorRis, killed In the hgnt below
Richmond did not take place yesterday, consequence
OF q despatch having been received from brother Of
the deceased In Georgia, which stated would be
In the city the next day 10 bring the body TO Georgia
Previous reception Of this despatch prepare.
tou had made Tor fitting military escort and the
state Guard, with music, was drawn up In front OF ST.
Charles Hospital. Tho body, which Was placed in pos
session OF undertaken and confined In air tight
coffin, viii be taken South in day two. HIS fatal
wound through the forehead, and his death
santaneous. No soldier has died noby and truly
than tho late General Gherardie
MORO SOLDIERS TO NJ TREATED AS PRISONERS OF
Negro soldiers outside OF the copfederacy employed to
who the usurped Washington are hence.
forth not TO be considered ht subjects for bullet
bayonet and knife after surrender but TO be treated
prisoners OF war Yesterday order from the Pro-
vost MarsbaPs Office sanctioned by the Secretary OF
War, received at Castle Thunder. The purpot was
whether free bond, II they hailed from Maryland OF
delaware we're not 70 DO claimed as property in
they slaves but they be negroes
usually 10 they declared their freedom cs
zen OF Maryland or Delaware cannot claim mis-
stolen or mpressed property-stoleu or i'm
pressed by "ibe, tho emperor" from the fast
that Maryland and Delaware are within the
limits Of the kingdom of the ape" and not within the
limits OF ,hc Confederate States This decision s taken
ifrevccabc, and as II emanates from the Provost Mar.
shais Office, with the sanction Of tho War Department,
We take II as hnal. Every negro who comos here n
prisoner OF proclaims himself q free man. Con.
seauetly order alluded Win save great deal OF
Maryland ana Delaware the army Of Graut are freed
men. That's enough 10 make them freedmen forever
PKrsRsnuRc, August ls, 1864
About two o'clock this morning batteries all along
the whole liae front OF this place opened IRE upon the
enemy who responded feeby. The bring was kent up