Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1864-05-18

Gen. EWeli again repuiseu tuo eneny yes'
terday, who advanced on his front, with i've
lines of battle. The Yankee loss is terrible,
especially in Early's front. Ewells loss is
very small
About l2o'clock, yesterday, the enemy hav-
ing previously attacked Heth and Wilcox and
driven them hack,:sLongstreet planned and
was in the act Of executing flank movement
on the enemy's left wing, when, by the mis-
take of our men, he was, fired upon. Lieut..
Gen. .I4ongstreeta and staff werese7erely, though
not mortally wounded. Gen.Longstreet was
wounded in the shoulder-so 1.-The surgeons
with whom the press correspondent conversed,
and who examined his wound. Brig Gen.
Jenkins, of South Carolina; was killed at the
same time. Our troops continued to press
the enemy, until about 4 o'clock, driving back
their left and centre 4some two miles-our
left standing fastin its position.
Last night our men hold possession of the
eremy's battlefield on the laft and centre,
capturing a number of the enemy's wounded
aud some of the dead. The enemy fought
yesterday most obstinatelS on all parts of the
line. Our success was very great, though not
deemedSdecisiye.
Just before day light, some picket firing
was heard in front. of Hills corps, and about
a. m.. cannonading, lasting half hour, was
heard on Ewell's line.
Our loss thus far is about 5000, of whom
a large proportion are slightly wounded The
proportion of officers to priyates killed and
wounded, is very much larger than i'll any
previous fight.
The Yankee Gen. Hays is reported killed,
and q dead Yankee General, with initials H.
c., supposed 70 be Couch or Casey, was. found
on EweHs front.
The fight occurred in densely wooded
country. Little or no artillery was brought
into action.
At one time, yesterday, when the enemy
where heavily pressing Hills men, Gen. Ker-
shaw, oppertunely, by double quicking with
his troops, arrived on the field, checked, re-
pulsed and pursued the enemy; thus turning
the fortunes of the day at that end of the
The battle field extends overa space Of
eight miles in length. =
Rosser's cavalry Tough the enemy yesterday
all day on: our extreme right, losing heavily.
Eweil captured two pieces Of artillery in
the fight of Thursday and 1900 prisoners.
The wounded are arriving here and receiv-
ing every attention..
Gen. R. 81. Andersonis now commanding
ia place of ofLongstreet.
* Two thousand well and wounded prisoners
have been captured thus far.
The battle-ground extends from the Rapi-
dan River to the plank road, and is about
twenty-five miles East of Orange Court House.
The battle ls- not yet.eHded. The weather is
hot and sultry.
Gordon's Georgia Brigade and Johnston's
N. c., Brigade, Of Ewells Corps, turned the
enemys extreme right flank, about four miles
above Gerlnanna Ford, last evening, between
sunset aud dark, capturing 400 prisoners,
including Brigadier. Generals Seymour aud
Shaler. Tho enemy, completely surprised,
hastily nedlon finding their breastworks turn
ed and stormed. Our loss very slight.
Stuart was yesterday engaged with tie enc.
my ON our right, and it was reported he was
compelled to give back until Hampton Joined
him, when he forced the enemy to retire.
Tho eremy's losses thus far are estimated
st $4,000; ours will reach 1000. The Yam
kee Gen. Hayes is certainly killed. Wadsworh
is wounded and q prisoner; he may recover.
Oglesby is reported killed. 2,400 pGfTstes
and 100 commissioned officers thus far have
been registered here, not including the Yam
kee wounded, of which we captured some
l,50os chiefly in front of Iili and Longstreet,
on Friday.
Our mon began Saturday evening.to bury
Our own and the Yankee dead.
THE nATrLE NEAR PORT wA1rHiLLs
On Friday evening, May 6, the sneSy eoms.
mencei to advance from Port Walthall against
Port Walthall junctiso, the point where the
branch meets the main stem of the Peters
burg railroad-a distance of some three
miles. There was some sharpiskirmiShing in
which the enemy was repnlsed with loss of
alundred to . hundred and fifty in killed and
wounded. On Saturday the enemy, after be-
ing reinforced renewed his attempt to ad-
vance, and about twelve o'clock, after some
sharp skirmishing along the lines, battle
was joined by tbs opposing forces, and con
tinued With great fury for some four or,five
hours. The enemy fought with great stub
bornness, and showed resolute purpose to
reach the railroad. Our forces, under com.
mand of General Bushrod johnson, resisted
their advance most gallautly, and about six
o'clock, after q spirited engagement, drove
back their infantry. The srtillery continued
to FIRE slowly, but the enemy made no attempt
to recoverthe ground they had lost. During
the night, for prudential reasons, General
Bushrod johnson fell back upon Swift Creek
bridge, most important structure on the
railroad, = mile and a half from Petersburg,
and about tbasame distance from Port Wal
thall junction, against which it is we'll known
tAet this advance CT the enemy is directed.
The enemy's strength was not known, but
the best-informed sources estimate it at not
less than ten thousand. The prisoners taken
report that ;his whole movement up the
James river is under the direction of Cen
eral Butler, and that he accompanies the e1-
petition in person. .
SECOND DAYS FIGHT AT PORT wALTnALL
JUNCTION,
On Saturday, at ID o'clock, the enemy hav-
ing been heavily reinforced, the fight was
renewed, and continued with great dospera-
ton for three or four hours. About E o'clock,
the enemy was driven back with considerable
loss During the.night, our forces fell back
to Swift Greek Bridge. The enemy is sup
posed to have been about 10, 600 strong. Our
troops were under command of Gen. Bushrod
johnson, of Kentucky. Telegraphic commu
on., ,,.,.b Hhocfor 7,,;no