The Portland daily press., 1864-10-31
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bnaa HEADQUARTERS ARMY PoroMAo,
I'D 80 a aaa october 2Tth, 9 P. m.
The long looked Tor advance OF the armies
operating against Richmond has taken place.
Yesterday final preparations were completed
4 py tne WIIhdra@al OF the greater part OF the
Army OF the Potomac from the trenches, and
massing 1t in Ihesrear ready tor-the move
The LIST division of the % corps held the en-
tire line from the Appomattox on the right to
some three miles west OF the Weldon Railroad
on, the left z.AIl the baggage wagons, &c,
were sent to City Point. a.sa Ssais sea'"
AT 2 o'clock this morning Gen. Hancock,
with the second and Sd divisions of his corps
moved along the Vaughn road running south
west, and after crossing Thatcher's Run found
the rebels entrenched in their new made
works. Gen. Hancock at once engaged them
on the flank and drove them out, capturing
twenty prisoners, mostly cavalry, among whom
was Major Venable, an acting adiutant, but
ON What generals staff he would not tell:y
The 9th corps took the Squirrel Level road,
and found the rebels posted atits junction
with the Duncan road, which runs north from
the Vaughn road to the Bytown road. From
q this the rebels were driven by our skirmishers
with some loss, the 1st division having about
forty wounded in this affair." sf al asa3s 40
The Sd division of this corps took the adj
vance, and crossing Thatchers Run connected
cock advanced along by road, driving, the
rebels before him until he reached the Bytown
plank road. The column then halted and
! formed in line Of battle on the farm Of Mrs
Bolter, the lett reaching some distance west Of
the road, and the right extending to the tbick
woods on the right. The 9Th corps had also
formed and advanced through the woods two
miles, but the left of the line failed to connect
with the right of the I'd corps, The, rebels
fall aI,aok sxua ad uos,0od until AZ
ed Thatcher's Run again, where the reheIs
were found behind strong entertainments. and
brisk firing ensued, but without much loss on
either side. q baHol oJ gaE
About P. NJ. the rebels, taking ADVANTAGE
Of the break ia the line between the I'd and
9Th corps, massed Anderson's division of Hills~
corps, and charged the right wing Of the ID
corps, which fell back short distance. but he
ing reinforced, charged and checked fhe reh-
els, capturing a number of prisoners. ON,
loss IN the affair is not known A few min.
utes after theVrebel cavalry, which had bean
cut off on the Boynton road, made an attacL
on Greggs division, and for a time onita y
sharp skirmish was kept up. Gen. Gregg dis
mounted some of his men and drove them ,ns
lnthe charge on the Cd corps two guns were
captured, but were subsequently, retakenon
Fighting continued on this part Of the line I'M.
til after dark, when heavy rain storm 80 ~ ~
putting a stop to the fighting for the 10 SGT IN
The 9Th corps occupied the right of The oa.
vance, but did not.gain much ground the a az
ject being to allow the left TO get fairly "a
on the Boynton road before the RIGHT adnaan
ed. The colored division of the OH corns d nv
skirmlshing With the rebels Thew lost 3 E fasu
wounded. 1o iol vol be 81 - 4 t 'o9s 2 leW
Gen. Greggs cavalry when the 'rehe,o c5arai
~ STACKED him, charged and drove the rah.,1s
back, capturing number of prisoners So oya5
eight or ten wagon loads of supplies. toset anr
with some horses, mules, &C. soeo'Ae'
The troops who occupied the conntrv o,.,.
which we passed were Voteler's and Yorna,s
division OF South Carolina and Georoia troos,s
with part of Wiicox's brigade. Our left u,;pn,
gained fifteen miles of country TO-DAY and are
ncEin q position TO attack the rebel works or on
the flank.
i, Gen. Warren Lad q narrow escape wbile
riding along the line to-day. A bali crazrd
his cheek, making slight wound.
rra-rtas LATER.fEf of.i VI ST.. ..,a
October 18Th, 7.30 a. M-The number of
prisoners taken yesterday was about 300.
Late last evening some rebel cavalry cap
tured three or four ambulances of the 9Th
corps, which got on the wrong road.
adoption of the gec Maryland Consultation.
s88iaM BALTIMORE. Oct! 30
Gov. Bradford has proclaimed the new Free
State Constitution OF Maryland. The friends
of the measure are making display Of bunt-