Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-09-30
MaR KxRs


EIyER-THEIR REPULsE AT PoRF ell hAR
For several days past the booming ct arlsryat long
intervals has been distinctly heard in this city proceed
ing from the Smelling Of Buffers working forces on the
canal at Dutch Gap and the replies Of the Yankee bat
terss So accustomed had our citizens become 70 the
sound of cannon in that direction that il scarcely ex'
cited attention. but Wednesday night at an early hour,
the firing was 90 loud and frequent that close observers
of passing events believed that something more than
the shellrg of Dutch Gap or the Yankee observatory
was progressing and the sequel shows that they were
not mistaken.
Toe firing continued throughout the entire night, as
stated in yesterdays Evening edition. About sunrise,
and for some time af.er the reports Of artillery were
very rapid and in tn lower part Of the city the sound
OF muskstry Was audible. 1t was then evident that
serious conflict had taken place between the opposing
forces below Richmond.
As the day advanced reports from the seat Of opera
lions began to spread, and before o'clock the com
muni,y was thrown into q state Of martial excitement
by the conflicting character Of these reports. The
usual sources OF Information we're applied to for Au-
,hento news bu! for some time nothing could be Cd.
tsinsd beyond the fact that the from below was
not favorable.
Eubsco leudy, il was asCertained that Grant had
thrcrn largs force across James RIVER at Dep Bot
tom Tednesday night that this force mad united with
the troops which had been concentrating az and oceu-
pyug the camps near VAriua that one column esti-
mated at come twenty thousand strong, moved at
an early hour in the morning against nIrenchmens
north aud eass of Ohsls Butt, whist another column
advanced up the Charles City road.
B-tweon and 10 o'clock, the enemy stOrmed and
carried salient known Fort Harrison. At resent
writing We have no deGnts particulars Of the assault
or OF the manner in which the attack received BY
the garrison We Only know thas the little force hold
ing the Fort was compelled 10 fall back 70 the second
line OF works.
The Yankees do not appear to have pressed forward
tosard4 0lGiRls after their success al Fort HarrisOn
They probably eOncu4el wisely, thai divergence TO
me uKat, or east by the New Market or DAIbytoWn
ROAD was 3 safer course.
They moved towards Richmond, aud approached
90 near shat the smOke OF the guns at defenee
and from the shells bursting in the air, plainly
Vlsibls from lofty points OF observation in the city
THIS was bstgeen / and 2 O'clock p N.
B,tueen noon aud the lateat hour mentioned, there
wa. some sgp,sh LIS on Of rush into the oy b. the
advancing ioe, bu persons better informed knew tha
steps had bsen taken by the military authorities which
would ,fJo,uaUy avert this humiliation, Aad perhaps
ensure 70 the enemy the Chastlsement which they
deserved.
About O'Clock P. NJ, the firing reOsded and finally
ceased l1ylp. a. iong intervals Ali the local troops
AID reserves mad gone to the 'front.' the streets were
comparatively dsseFted and there were no longer any
sEus OF in the thoroIghiares Of the city,
Al hour iaer sal confirmation received ut the
War Department u lhe Iepuise OF tho enemy q. J. H.
Faylol'a FAiu-siK miles below Richmond. Toe q, -
pAeh was dated "a. OhatEas duff 3 clock P. H., aua
stated that the attack on FyrI Glmor Handsomely
repused by troops, etc. The roPulie pOiut
ana she Resistance encountered on tue NsW Market
ad, Cau5ed tho Yankee commander to recall his
troops so as to avoid placing them between two Hiet--
irons and and thus eLoed the last grand On 10
Richmond"
Various opinions as to the object Of this mOVemeRt
have been expressed. 1, was generally believed that
me movement was a tein5 10 draw troops from
tie south SIDE where the real attack would be msdl by
Grant, but We have no information from Petersburg
coufrmatOry OF this view. Another theory is that But
lsr nAYng nearly completed his canal believed it to be
q senal 10 the success Of his plans that the Yankee
troops should occupy all the ground on the north side
Of James river within Smelling distance of "Dulch Gap
and that this movement therefore Designed to dis
lodge our troops occupying glal Hill and the ada
cent gEount
Boiole going to press we may get additional particu-
lars OF the eVentg which occurred below the city yeater
cay.
lis proper to state that several Of our reporters are
il she ranks OF tho Reserve Corps and We are there
fore, prevented from giving extended and salts
factory sketch OF WhGg has taken place.
TIE LATEST.
Since the above in type, We learn that the enemy
aid not advance in force nearer to the ci than Fort
Glmer" al which point the assaultiDg column was re-
pulsed with very heavy loss. Various accounts concur
in stating that the ground in front of this salient WAS
thoky covered with the Yankee killed aud woun ded-
After their rspulss here, they fell back towards the
starting point in the morning.
About tulset force Of cavalry, supposed to consist
Of several regiments crossed over from the Williams
burg road in the droetOa of Mschsniesville, This
movement is regarded ssa mere reconnaissance, and
measures have been taken to BRING it 10 speedy term
nation,
From o'clock to Top. n, very little firing could be
hesrd a. the front. The firing a. the defences OIL
she left, yesterday, was caused by the batteries IL
position there Smelling the woods beyond them, from
he presumption that the distant foliage might cover
Yankee force. Th,rs was no enemy closer TO Rich
uond than those on To lO's farm, except tie cavalry
above referred 70.
Amang the baseless reports circulated, yesterday
was one that the 26h Va ('Cy") Battalion was cap
tn 81. From Mr.. J. Il. Taylor, who arrived from
his farm last night, We learn that this
Battalion, Ool Elliott commanding was a. New Markei
earl in the mornins and pursuant ORDERS changed
re position to Fort Gimsr, in tho deleno of which
place it took part, losing four five killed Snt
wounded. We could not learn their names. Our as