Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-07-01

near Petersburg the 22nd, says: 1t is ascer
tained that Lee has disposed of his troops as
ioilowe; He has garrison at Richmond aud
Petersburg, has slender force between the
two cities, has sent nine brigades to operate
against Hunter and has guarded his still un-
broken line of railroad via Danyille with a
large force.
The Herald's correspondent says Gen.
Fosters operations are both perilous and i'm
portant. He is expected to do the rebels
much harm. The gunboats are on his left.
The Lynchburg (Va.) Republican Of the
2Oth says Crook and Averill reached Qua
ker Church four miles from Lynchburg.-
They had skirmish with Imboden, gaining
some ADVANCES but they were promptly
checked by Inianty On Saturday an artil-
lery duel took place which lasted till one D.
m. when the infantry were engaged. Several
attemps to capture our intrenchments by the
Yankees were repulsed. The Yankee loss
was possibly s00F Fhis took places a. miles
southwest Of the city. Another fight took
place IL miles from the city at the same
time on the Forrest road where the Yankees
we're driven from the field. A general en-
gagement was expected on Saturday. The
Yankee cavalry are reported to be max
ing for the south side Of the railroad, and an
other body is making for the Danville road. ="
The Tribune's special Washington dispatch
says Gen. Grant has personally assured
the President of the certainty Of his taking
Richmond.
HEADoUARrERs ARMY OF PoroMAo,
June %.
Wilson's division has moved off in the di-
recdon OF Weldon Railroad, and when last
bomrN h. ~
we're tearing up track along the road. The
Second and OH corps have moved toward
Weldon Railroad.
Lee seems 20 have anticipated Grants move
ment by our left flank, or else designed to
turn our right, as when near Jerusalem Plank
Road the % corps we're confronted by Hills
corps and smart engagement ensued. A
battery was annoying the rebels, who succeed
ed in getting round on the flank and charging
it,
The infantry supporting the battery was sur
prised and after faint show Of resistance re-
tired leaving four guns in the hands Of the
rebels. Our line then reformed.
Two divisions Of the 5th corps were within
easy supporting distance on our right, and
the 9th corps we're ready for any hostilities
on our left. Charges wero made by the reb-
els, who suffered heavily with each fresh az
sault. There was heavy firing heard from
the 9th corps about midnight. At times mus
kerry firing broke ont into regular intervals.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE PoroMAo
June 23-P NJ.
The attack upon the I'd Corps on Wednes-
day noar the Walden Railroad did not result
disastrously as at frat supposed. The line
was formed by Barlow's division being on the
left, Birney's on the centre and Gibbons on
the right. Il was expected that the 7th corps
would connect on the left with Barlow, but
it seems that quite gap was left open, into
which A Hills corps entered, and before
cur men were aware OF it they received a vol
! ley from the rear, which caused a rapid re-
treat to the woods in the rear Of the Sd di-
vision. This left the flank of the Sd divis-
ion unprotected and the enemy taking advan-
tage of it charged through and fairly into our
pits, ordering the men to surrender. Our
troops, however, left the trenches and fell
back rapidly, but many Of them were captur-
ed and quite a number killed and wounded
before they got away. The number of our
loss in prisoners was about 1000 the loss in
killed and wounded will probably be 1900.
Some four officers, who had Just been ex-
changed and had only Joined their commands,
when summoned and ordered to surrender,
replied, Never !" " Death first !" and fight
/ ing their way out as best they could, the
most Of them succeeded in getting back to
our lines safe.
/ At 8 p. NJ. charge was made by the I'd
corps and the line of works from which they
had been forced in the afternoon was recov-
cred. We lost scarcely man in this charge,
as the rebels fred too high, the balls passing
over the heads of the men. A number of
prisoners were taken.
Skirmishng was kept up all night along
the line, the pickets being at some points not
more than fifty yards apart.
| At daylight this morning an advance Of the
entire line was made, when it was found that
the rebels had taken a new position sons
distance further back, where they had thrown
up some strong entrenchments during the
night, which they still hold.
/ Col Blaisdell Of the lth Massachusetts,
regiment was killed to-day, by rebel sharp
shooter, while visiting the skirmish line.
I The 9th corps moved toward the Weldon
Railroad this morning, driving the enemy be-
/ fore them, and during the afternoon it was
reported that they were in possession of the
road and arrangements were at once made to
destroy il,
4 Att p. NJ. a large force Of rebels was seen
moving towards the front, as If to resist the
advance of the 9th corps, and an engagement
in that direction is expected tonight.
LATER. June "a, A. NJ. Nothing but
picket firing took place during last night and
very little is going on this morning.
WAsHINGToN, June "a
In the Senate the bill to repeal the $500
clause was amended, and passed by vote o
"a yeas against nays. The bill provides
that so much of the enrolment act of March
/ 8, 1868, and the acts amendatory thereof al
authorizes the discharge of any drafted per
son from liability to military service by reas
on Of the paymen, of $500 for the procura
tion Of substitutes, be repealed, providing
that nothing contained in this act shall b'
construed to alter the provisions Of existing
laws relative TO persons actually furnishing
substitutes.
The second action provides tha, in all eall'
for drails hereafter made under the act for en-
rolling and calling out the national forces
and the act amendatory thereof, the same
may be made Jr such term Of time as th'
President shall direct, not exceeding one
year.
Section provides that the number Of mer
furnished from any district for the service o
the United States beyond and above its quot'
on cnIls heretofore made and the term Of seTv