Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1864-07-01


AbaAdensd-Prssent Position Of Our
Line, hast OF PstersburE E-lmpertsnee
Harrisen's LandiaR-Entire Route OF
General Huntsr at Lynchburg = The
oonasdsIates fursuing Him-Disaster
10 Hhertdants Cavalry
From Our Own Correspondent
WAsnwoToS, June %, 1864.
Through the kiud attention Of gentleman
just from the army at Petersburg, am in
possession OF some facts ia regard to the 20.
sition Of affairs there and thereabouts, up to
the 25th inst
The great "hauk movement Of Gen Grant
has been definitely abandoned Nothing
whatever was accomplished by it, and It re-
suited in a serious disaster to the three corps
engaged in it The movement was fully
known to Gen. Lee as soon as it began, and
the maneuvers OF the latter came very near
cutting off the corps Of Hancock and Wright
from the rest of the army. The Confederate
attack on these two corps was made in such
q manner that neither corps could assist or
support the other, aud so that each one re.
ceVed the attack of greatly superior force
The loss which these two corps sustained in
the aiair must greatly impair their efficiency.
1t was feared on the Oath that strong Con-
federate force had taken possession of the
! junction OF the Prince George turnpike and
the Jerusalem road, eight miles south of Pc
tersburg, which would have prevented the re-
turn of Hancock and Wright to the lines be.
! fore Petersburg; but fortunately for these TWO
corps, the Confederate retired to point near.
sr TO Petersburg, and on the 25th the three
corps Of Hancock, Wright aud Warren re.
traced their steps, and resumed their places
10 the lines before Petersburg
Thus, owing to the failure of this flank
movement our lines before Petersburg at
present only lay to the east of that city Our
right rests on the south side of the Appoma-
tox river. Our left rests on the railroad run
ming from Petersburg to Norfolk General
Grants design Of moving his line around to
the south aud west of the town has completely
failed
An industrious attempt has been made to
uuderrate the importance of the recent de-
struction by the rebels OF the wharves and
public property at Harrison's Landing, Will
cox's Landing and WestoVer, on the north
side Of the James river. Every one who ia
acquainted with that locality, however, can
not fail to see that it is great misfortune to
us, and that it may seriously embarrass Gen
Grants operations The wharves and land
ings were very extensive, and very durably
constructed OF the best materials, at great
these wharyes was such that there is every
probability that they would have been requr-
ed for the operations of the army during the
present campaign The work Of destroying
them was done by = regimentunder Col Grey,
by order Of Gen. W H. Lee
We have not yet heard the last Of the de.
feat of Gen, Hunter at Lynchburg. 1t seems
that Gen Pope, with his 4 900 men, had not
+ Joined Hunter when the latter made his at
tack on Lynehburg, although he had been or.
dered to do So | learn to-day that Lynch
burg is now considered entirely out of dan.
ger, that Gen Hunter has retreated TO the
western part Of Virginia, and that Gen. Mic
OILS has sent ovt strong detachment to COB
Bile up Pope. They will have to march fast
enough, if they expect to catch the nimble
footed Pope
Itis re ported to-day (and this statement
comes direct from Lynchburg) that the mair
body of General Nichols force and Breckin
ridges whole division are in hot pursuit after
General Hunter column Hunters fight i
is stated, was very precpitate His troops
threw away blankets, knapsacks, aceouter
, ments and even arms in large numbers
Eleven pieces Of artillery and fifteen caisson,
were found Abandoned the guns being spikeC
in buHgling manner, bnt being entirely un-
? injured Hundreds OF stragglers from Hun
ters command have heen captured and sen
back under guard, to LynchburP.
General Sheridan : cavalry arrived at vii
cOxs Landing on the James on the 2Gtb, from
White House on the Pamunky On arriving
at the James River, they encountered supe
rior force of Confederate cavalry supported
by infantry, and severe engagement ensued
f The account which have received of the af
fair states that after fighting desperately, tht
Union cavalry succeeded in crossing, anC
Joined General Grant. Their loss was heavy
1t would seem from account that there is
large Confederate force on the north side o
the James River of whick Heaths Division
! east of Richmond, mentioned in my last
forms only part. The movement of Gener
al Fosters Division to New Market, on th,
, 22d, has no doubt put his force on the guard
and caused them TO be very alert in guarding
against any demonstration on Richmond from
the southeast. General Sheridan's cavalry
however, could Scarcely have been in condt
tion to fight with much vgor, as neither th'
men nor horses have had much rest for mani
days, MALcoM