The New York herald., 1864-05-24
MAJOR GENERAL BUrIEI's HEApouARrERs, I
In THE FIELD. May %, 1854

IN 'ih rihip, may Zz, 1904 J
MIDNIGHT ASSAULT
Shortly before midnight after nearly every one worn
sus with the fatues Of hard days work had gone to
rest, volley OF musketry, resembling the distant
runbng Of an earthquake, startled all hands and be-
fore the echo died away the heavy booming Of cannon
took !. place. and continued for fully thirty minutes
Some time before ten O'Clock General Butler received
message from the front that the enemy massing
our centre, and he in his cool manner re-
Piled LET them mass, but guard against surprise
This message somewhat prepared rs for what was to
come and also kept our valiant troops thus on
the alert Sure enough as expected from the
enemy he did his forces for grand assault to
pierce our llnes and had discovered his inten
sion the attempt would probably have succeeded As i,
vas IL resulted in most disastrous defeat TO the foe
Our pckets In front Of General Ames line received the
rebel IRE with great steadiness, and never inched
rhey returned volley for voey and gradually retired
sa the reserve
TUE ARTILLERY OPEN
When the rebel column approached il was received
With most withsrng nre aud dropped to allow
she artillery 70 play the enemy The siege guns and
hight batteries commenced their work them The advance
G the rebels moved down like grass bus as usual
sbey TO the breach like veterans, filling up the
gaps the fell Another another murdsrous fire
from batteries at last halted them and the confident
soe al last halted in his mad career.
KXPLopKD
Capt LAngcys battery, the First United states arii-
sry, played ihs rebel force great effect About
s~enty minutes after the fight had commenced twenty
scattering death and destruction all around At this sight
the most deaenng cheers went from lines TO the
great discontinue Of the rebels
The gunboats the James and Appomattox rivers also
opened taer batteries and sheled the woods aronnd,
making decidedly uncomfortable for the rebel reserves
Az last, when the enemy found that We were well pre-
pared for his advance and having already lost very
heavily he thought IL best 70 withdraw, which be did
after giving our metal fair and impartial test.
UssEs.
The light lasted about thrty-hve minutes, and
proceeded 10 bury the rebel killed
left the field from good authority that two
hundred and sixty three were inferred by our forces
our loss vii DO, he mora than about ten killed and
about ay wounded, 81 we had al the advantage on our
sde-ocnstany on the defensive and the enemy march
BOG boldly up 70 our ntrenchnents
ouR prsRscB
are almost mpregnabe Constructed By such able en-.
Godfrey Weizei and Captain I " Farauhsr, United
Army they cannot be otherwise Should ee's
tre rebel horde pounce upon General Butler the latter
vHs rIGKr
In the James and Appomsiox rivers is great auxiliary
" army.
Between the respective chief commanders-Naor Cen.
era Butler and Acting Rear Admiral 5 p Ies--,he yer,
best understanding exists. and the latter at al times
heartily seconds every ws OF the Commanding General
The sortie Of the enemy on our lines ias ght is by
rebel General Bcauregsrd II his style OF doing bus
but IL has never ye; succeeded Thus FAR eve
ry engagement be has fought with troops he has
been worssed, and will be again
BuIIgR
General Butler, although rhemed With great
10 conducting the operations the south SIDE which he
superintends IN person looks remarkably well Day and
neht be " al work giving directions. and how he ma
nsges 10 Obtain rest puzzle 10 every body Yet abr
agrees with him, without n his active brain would be
more OF torment " aim and become rcstive dl
Every morn ng surrounded by his able s,aa be rides 70
the 'front.', and remains until dark, and ( there the
slightest show OF battle he leaves the field until
Nso over.
During the sortc u last right mentioned above the
horses of the General Al ssddei he ouly
awaited 10 hear from the 'front.' 20 what extent the attack
irbt approach, and general engagement resulted
tberefrom he would ~ once avumo command How
ever the punishment inflicted by General Ames
the enemy and his subsequent retirement made General
Butere presence s the Of unnecessary
be retired did s' the sts and or the first tme
. week The night passed away y comparative quiet
rn vK.1HEk
The pleasant weather o four or FIVE days has worked
wonders on the state O. the roads a few more days
without rain wiz dry up the MUD completely The troope
the best ofspirls and fu of confidence
nander-ip Chief Whenever General Butler rides along
abe lines be greeted With the most voc ferrous cheers BY
tse soldiers Generals smith weitze Brooks and others
are also very popular and hghy honofed by those under
atrR,L wrras INVADED Hors
brgader General isaac wstar, commanding the
second brigade Of the second division, eighteenth army
oflr pas al ss succ1mbed - the esrf1 rsvages made
On bis health and by wounds received and
.ons .Ay 90 me pesilent Peninsula For long time
ne iousht ms sicknesf ont Wednesday last he was
cent home sok cave al the urpent reapest OF ths
surgeons, Dut With his protesi General wtstar ia TOO
valuable sn ocer 70 tte q, mis- time and bis departure
10 much regretted the captur, os the bysve sna
dashng General Hickman We oil hope thSt both these
valiant ohcere VIII soon be restored 70 our command
rowHsiAs ayYaR
Yesterday morning the rebels made noyement an
Fort POwbatan 10 attack and capture toss HE sons
oolored troops stationed there for iu d.tcuse ,nd
also 70 keep enemy from obstructins ouy
navigation W the James Colonel bar,a,
IN command, notified rigsder General HICKS al
che rebel approach and asked for renforcsmsnts
ocoerh II commanding the division of coored
troope, 81 once despatched tro regm The relief Of
yert Povhatan who arrived there 10 due sms 70 par.
scipste the engagement which snsued Al half past
eleven eciock as night General Bincks elegrsphed 10
General Butler that the rebels badly repused al
Bort Powhaian. but stated no particulars
rHE GKxx1i wuLtn wsf6FR,
wbcee capture ~ our osp 90 the 18Th instant has been