Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-10-31
The Forward MOvement-TIle En-.
emy StubbOrn-Heavy SkIrmisIl-
ing-Fifteen Miles Gains d by our
FOrces-3OO Prisoners Taken.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE PoToMAC,l
| In THE FIELD, Oct. 27, 8 p. VI.
The long looked for advance of the
armies operating against Richmond has Al
last taken place. Yesterday the final prep.
arations were completed by the withdraw
nj of the greater part of the Army of the
| Potomac from the trenches and massing in
the rear, ready for tire move. The 1st di-
vision of the I'd corps, with part of the 5tl
and 9th corps, held the entire line from the
AppOttomax on the right, to some three
miles west of the Weldon railroad on the
left. All baggage wagons, &C., were sent to
the rear at City Point.
At two o'clock this morning General
Hancock, with the I'd and 81 divisions OF
his corps, moved along the Vaughn road
running southwest, and after crossing
Thatcher's Run, found the rebels intrench-
ed in newly made works. Gen. Hancock
at once charged them on the flank and
drove them out and took some prisoners,
mostly cavalry. The Fifth corps took the
Squirrel level road, and found the rebels
posted at its junction with the Duncan
road, which runs north from the Vaughn
road to the Boynton road. From this they
were driven by our skirmishers, with some
loss to us, the First division having about
forty wounded. The Third division of this
corps took the advance, and crossing
Thatcher's Run, connected with the Second
corps.
In the meantime Hancock advanced
along Ably road, driving the rebels before
him, till he reacded Boynton's plank road,
where the column halted and formed in line
of battle, the left reaching some distance
west of the road, and the right extending
to thick woods on the right. The 9Th
oornc hoI ol form ad n oad th rn n, ,erb
the woods two miles, but the left of the line
failed to connect with the right of the Sec
ond corps. The rebels fell back as we ad-
vanced, until the line reached Thatcher's
Run again, when they were found behind
strong entrenchments, and a brisk firing
ensued, but without much loss on either
side.
At about o'clock p. M. the rebels, taking
advantage of the break in the line between
the I'd and 9Th corps, massed Gen. Ander-
sons division of Halls corps, and charged
the right wing of the I'd corps, which gave
way and fell back short distance; but be-
ing reinforced, charged and checked the
advance of the rebels and captured a num-
Der of prisoners. Our loss in the affair is
not known, but is not believed to be heavy.
A few minutes after the rebel cavalry,
which had been cut off on the Boynton
road made an attack on Gregg's division,
directly in the rear OF the I'd corps, and for
time quite sharp skirmish was kept up.
Gregg finally drove them off.
In the charge made on the I'd corps two
guns were said to have been taken by the
rebels, but it is stated they were subse-
quently recaptured.
Fighting continued on this part of the
line until after dark, when heavy rain
ended the fighting for the day.
The 9th corps occupied the right of the
advance, but did not gain much ground.
The object was to allow the left to get fair
ly around on the Boynton plank road be-
fore the right advanced.
The colored division of the 9th corps had
some skirmishing with the rebels, but moth
ing approaching fight. They lost few
wounded.
Gregg's cavalry had a sharp fight with
the rebels in the forenoon, when they at
and drove them back, capturing number
of prisoners and eight or ten wagons loaded
with supplies, also some horses, mules, &c.
The troops which occupied the country
over which we passed to-day are Buffers
and Youngs South Carolina and Georgia
troops, with part of Wilcox's brigade.
Our left wing gained about fifteen miles
of country to-day, and is now in position
to attack the enemy's works on the flank.
General Warren had narrow escape while
riding along the lines to-day; ball graz
ing his cheek and making slight wound.
LATER.
In THE FIELD. Oct. %, 7:30-The number
of prisoners taken yesterday is about three
hundred.