The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-10-07
Train of Nineteen Cars
Burned on the Louis
vile and Nashville
Railroad.
Capture Of Rebel Salt Works
in Virginia.
Movements of Forrest in Ten
neSSee.
GRANTS ARMY.
Rebel Assault Repulsed..Be
sance to within Two Miles OF Rich.
mond.-The Rebel Force.
BY TELEGRAPH.

NEW York, Oct. 4.-The HeralTs City Point
correspondent, Oct. e says, as the mail boat Is
about leaving we CLEAN few particulars of an
attack in force by the enemy upon our left
yesterday afternoon, under cover of the rain
storm. They massed two divisions OF cavalry,
and several regiments of infantry and attacked
Wilson's cavalry on the left of Warren's new
position.
A desperate fight ensued. We lost over 100
In killed and wounded, but maintained the
ground. Towards night the enemy gave. up
the attack and retired. This was the only i'm
portant operation of the day.
The HeralFs correspondent with cavalry,
Oct /, says it has been fully ascertained that
the rebel Generals Hampton, w. 81. Lee and
Young were opposed to US during the engage
ments of yesterday and day before. They have
been 30 frequently punished by our cavalry
that they will only fight under the most adj
vantageOus circumstances.
The Herald's correspondent with the 10th
army corps, Oct. /, says the grand feature of
the day has been Q reconnaissance in force up
to the inner line of the rebel works. Birney
has again pushed his forces up to the very
outskirts of the city, and was refrained from
entering and taking position only because his
orders would not permit him to do So
This morning the division of General Terry,
with cavalry, started out on the important
mission of feeling the enemy and ascertaining
his strength in the Immediate vicinity of Rich
mond. For this delicate movement the dispo-
sitions were made as follows:
Two brigades of infantry moved out by their
right flank to the Central road and, covered by
the cavalry, advanced up the road towards the
city.
Col. Spears brigade of Kautx's cavalry with
q section of artillery was thrown out in the city
road, with skirmishers deplOyed to the left on
the Central road. To cover the movement in
that direction, the rest of the cavalry deployed
as skirmishers in front of the infantry and ex-
tended their line on the left down to the left of
our main line. Six pieces of artillery accom-
panied the movement on the Central road.
When the line advanced to the Powell House,
O point on the Central road about three miles
from Richmond, they met q line Of rebel skir-
mishers Our skirmishers were withdrawn
and the 9Th and 10th Connecticut infantry reg
iments deployed in their stead.
These regiments advanced handsomely, driv-
ing the rebels before them with ease. The
rest of the column advanced steadily in line of
battle in rear of the skirmishers.
When they reached Howes House the enemy
opened on them with heavy artillery from their
line of works, but disregarding this the skir-
mishers pressed on and drove the rebels into
east of the city.
The cavalry on the right reached simultane-
ously the same line of works.
These works were ascertained to be of O very
formidable character and similar to those in
our immediate front at Laurel Hill. They
mount heavy guns, and are manned by force
of militiamen pressed into service in the emer-
gency from the shops, stores and factories of
Richmond.
The expedition having accomplished all that
was designed fell back at night to their old pc.
sition.
The losses In the movement were about thir-
ty killed and wounded. While the reconnOis.
no bolc oh
massing for an attack ON the left of the 10th
and right of the 18th. General Birney at once
made preparations which caused the rebels to
abandon their design whatever it was.
From prisoners we have to day gained the
following information as to the present strength
and organization of Lees army at Petersburg:
AndersOn's old division OF Hills corps COM
manded by Gen. Malone and Bushrod John
sons division of Beauregards corps say 20, 900
is all; the militia being scattered In the differ
cnt divisions
1t is reported that one of the above divisions,
designation unknown, returned to Petersburg
last night.
In front of Bermuda Hundred Pickett's divis-
ion of LOngstreet's corps with Early's, Ker.
shaws and Early's old division of Longstreet's
corps, Rhodes division, General Ramsur COM
handing Breckenridge's mixed command.
A railroad man captured to-day asserts that
on Monday last he saw 600 troops moving from
Lynchburg to Gordonsville to support EARLY
that two brigades, Kershaw's command had
previously been sent forwards for the same
purpose.
The Heralds 10th army corps correspondent
says most of the prisoners captured are of the
rawest kind of soldiers. men who have just
been thrust into the ranks. They tell US that
forces, every man capable of bearing arms was
sent into the field and all business suspended
In the rebel assault on the 30th about 500
| prisoners were captured
Paine's division, (colored) temporarily at
| tached to the 10th corps, has returned to the
| 18th corps.
Gen. Birney wrote letter of thanks to Gen.
| Paine and his command for their gallantry in
| storming New Market heights.