The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-06-17
HEADQuARTERs GEs. BUTLER,
Thursday, June 9, 1854

infantry from Gen 6illmores COM
mand, and the tramping Of the in
fantry was accompanied by the rumble
of artillery On the other side Of the
river the infantry were Joined by q
brigade Of coloFed troops from General
Hinks's division, commanded by Gen.
- Hinks Ia person, the whole except the
casalrF, being in charge of Maj Gen.
- Gilmore The l 400 picked horsenen
were under the command Of General
Kautz What could the marshaling Of
this force lebout 8, 600 in ali )mean2
EApt one who has ridden TO the left
Of our line during the past week, and
looked through the telescope at the
signal station, has seen the City of
Petersburg, lying about six miles dis
tant, waiting 10 be captured It's spires
snd houses hsvealooked imploringly
northward, although its Inhabitants are
strongly of the Southern persuasion.
With the reduced force left at his
disposal, Gen Butler has not deemed it
prudent 10 assault place known to be
fortified and garrisoned while any
doubts as TO the success of such assault
existed. All the information lately re-
ceived from various sources, however,
made ittclear that but a limited force
was left in and arouned Petersburg Gen
Butler therefore determined to make
diversion upon the city, and at the same
time to send Gen. KautZ TO enter Pc
tersburg from the opposite side, and
also TO again cut the Petersburg and
Weldon Railroad 1t was intended to
send Gen Kinks with a sufficient num-
Der Of his troops 70 carry the place BY
G ASSAULT Cor the conduct Of which move
ment Gen. H. is admirably adapted.
At this iuncture Gen. Gilmore ex-
pressed desire to take brigade from
his command, and to 90 in charge Of
the expedition. The desire was made
known to the Commanding General,
who thereupon assigned him TO the COM
mand.
Gen. Kautz, with his cavalry, moved
about daylight this morning for the
south, south-west side Of the city, fol
lowed by Gen. Gilmore with the infan-
try force "A the Rebel battery known
as the Clifton Battery" commands the
river road, detour was made 80 as to
get out Of its range. Breakfast was or
dered early this morning, and horses
Immediately after, and Gen. Butler and
staf left headquarters about o'clock,
riding 10 a commading position on the
river above Point Of Rocks To our
right Capt Follets battery was in posi-
tion and soon commenced throwing
percussion and fuse shell in the direc-
tion Of the rebel batteries opposite the
centre Of our lines. The firing, to a
casual observer, appeared very curious,
and quito the opposite OF warlike
3 - In front Of where the battery was in
position forest of solemn pines tower
ed aloft, completely shutting out al
view beyond. Here was a battery Of
six guns firing at stated intervals in the
most solemn sort of way at-what APP
parently nothing You saw the fash,
the smoke, heard the report, and the
peculiar whiz Of the shell as it sped on
over the trees, and then came distant
notes.-the explosion of The shell 1t
was difficult 10 tell what such seeming
ly random shooting could amount to
but after while it woke up the rebels
who, not having the reTnotest idea as TO
whore this battery was situated, vented
their indignation upon the batteries
along the center and right of our line.
This afforded our artillerists a renewed
opportunity to pay their respects and,
as usual, 10 silence the rebel guns. Tie
firing from Capt Felletts battery was,
however continued From the posi-
ton taken by the General, near tho new
signal tower erected by Gen. Weitzell,
an excellent view was obtained of both
sides of the Appomattox, and in the
distance was seen the Clifton Battery"
In the inner channel of the river hid !
den from view lay the gunboat Com
Perry the army gunbosts were also
within range Of the rebel work. On
the opposite side of the Appomattox
field battery was placed in command
ing position. The firing had Just open
ed and was at first rather wild This
was excusable in the gunboats as they
could not see the objective point al
though all were good line shots But
the land battery had not this excuse as
from their position the rebel battery
was in full sight Shell after shell ex-
ploded nearer al I nearer the work,
when fash and puff Of white smoke
came from the rebel gun, followed some
seconds after by dull boom, telling
that the graybacks were not going to
remain silent spectators of the scene
At first they directed their shot against
the land battery and over shot il. Then
they tried the guuboats and fell short
By this time the Com Perry, firing by
signals from the shore, had got the
range and lodged a shell from her 100
pound Parrot fairly in one of the en-
brasures The shell exploded and an
: army wagon could have been driven
through the opening thus made
Bat the rebels were not idle and be
tween the discharges of the Parrott gun
were Seen busily at work trying to re-
pair damages But 81 in vain. Shell
after shell was burst with unerring aim
in the fort, and the garrison forced 10
Leave. save one indiFidusl, who, in white
Il. 4
displaying his gymnastics by standing
upon the parapet, watching and lodging
the shells Meanwhile Gen. Gilmores
forces had passed on, and were ont of
range Of the battery. Soon their guns
were seen flashing, and slight skirmish
took place, but the enemy retired be-
fore them At noon they were within
one and half miles Of Petersburg, and
Gen g. sent a dispatch that he had
heard Ksutz's guns away TO bis left,
bat had had no communication with
him- Cen Gilmore started out with
instructions 70 advance upon Peters
burg and engage The enemy He returned
tonight Ii was immaserial whether
he succeeded or not, the real object be-
ing 20 divert attention from Kautz, who
fwas to dash into the itv from the oppo-
site side, burn the bridge over the APP
pomattox, destroy the stores and sup
plies. depOts, etc, and do ali that be
could 10 annoy and harrsss the enemy.
The signal glass showed that Kautz was
fulfilling has mission, Is cavalry were
seen attacking upon the further side
and driving The esemy 6efore them This
was inside the intrenehments, and in
the outskirts Of the city.
All was well 9Th the cavalry.
"Aud Gilmorer was the cry
Alas he was not there. He had en-
countered q woman who told him that /
she had been in Petersburg the day be- |
fore, and that the movement was known /
there Yesterday at noon.
Availine himself OF the second clause
Of bis Instructions, VIZ TO return to
nioht IL sent hack word that he found |