Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-05-19

sd not bs being
three mile from Dublin, snd was getting qaite com
tortably.
= MOVEMENTS ON soUTHsrDs-A SHARP FIGHT.
from prewrys Buff where he remained, for the purpose
of making reconnaissance in force of the enemys posi-
he proceeded to hunt the enemy and soon found him il
considerable force between Drewrys Bluff and Chester,
alb ut three miles from Drewry's Bluff
| sharp fight ensued Barous brigade at one
uncure of the fight thrown in Confusion but they
soon rallied and handsomely repuIsed the enemy driving
them some distance. The enemy left, his retreat,
away, our men could carry them eff After pursuing
the for distance men fell b1ck to their
enchments, occupying The same position as when they
We took eighty prisoners, and cur loss
pa ratiVely slight perhaps not over hundred. -
| The enemy found to be in large force 1t is likely
he is also receiving reinfoTcements from below.
desertsr yesterday "a youth who had former
iy resided in Richmond) that he landed muda
Hundreds Monday IT this be true it is clear that troops
| are still arriving there.
From ind the enemy is in large force the
Southsde AMI the vement threatens to become seri
ous one, yet we believe We are prepared TO meet It,
VERY LATEST.
The very latest news last night (l2 oclock) was that
the OF Yankee raiders said to be marching from
Hanover Junction on Richmond Dover Mills on the
James river, eighteen mi above Richmond, evidently d.
termned the canal and perhaps to the river
the Danvile railroad There nothing besides
this up to The hour OF putting our paper to press
THE NEWS OF THE FIGHT YESTERDAY THE SOUTH
SIDE, GATHERED FROM PERSONS ON The FIELD.
tenden the Petersburg railroad, of reporters
formed OF party of some twelve or fifteen gentlemen
which left the city yesterday afternoon in special train
for a reconnaissance the DAD far Chester
hey proceeded without eDcouuterUg hing of interest
as far az The bridge over Kkland's creek distance Of
some nine miles from he city There they found the tim
Der On fire which had been teed all through that country
to clear the approach several lines OF forfcations
scattered there and covering extent and
the flames kissing and cracking in tie air. The famed
by the strong tbs West, had been
copmuncaed bridge, ard he party, by the advice
mr. Gill, declined to the BRIDGE fearing that it
nj bt wholly destroyed before they could Al
er pause tow moments at the bridge, large num-
Der troops coming down the track OF the rail
road. They proved to lie our men who engaged in
the Il ght OF the morning and from whom very
estipg particulars IF it were learned.
1t appears that early yesterday morning General Ran
dete InEtQ make reconnaissance with two brig
ades the purpose OF ascettaning the position aud
strength my. Proceeding out they encountered
the enemg about miles the Half Way House,
tween the turnpike ard railroad Here, about O'Clock,
the fight commenced quickly General Ransom CALAMITY
commando in person. Our forces consisted of BArtons
and Gracey's brisades Bartons brigade occupying the
right left of the turnpike and Graceys still on the lett
After sharp fight the enemy driven to his
fortifcatons distance of mile and half. As
began, the Ninth and Fifty bird Virginia dashed il
upon enemys iues-makng no less than TWO charges
aid finally pressed them back their Notifications In
the pursuit oi the enemy men captured battery and
large number Of enrenctDg Tools but the horses of the
battery been killed. the could not be brought Off
large numbers OF reRforcements OF the enemy
coming up aud it being found that they
attempting flank movement, men were forced to fall
back.
The object OF the reconnaissance being accomplished,
the enemy hepg found position strongly fortified
and n great force our troops retired they fell back
they Tepeaedy offered the enemy ba e but he dare
venture to follow our troops out or reach
Our total loss was one hundred and fifty in killed and
wounded Most OF the wounded were borne of the field
efshJh Virginia is reported morally wounded
In prisoners Captured about hundred and lost per-
haps, fifty sixty. The Yankee prisoners taken
more command and principally of the troops withdrawn
We could learn nothing of the part Gracays brigade
took tie with whom our reporter conversed a be-
opged to Bartons brig de- We doubt not however that
Il cir participation equally gallant ard successful
Our troops reported that firing had been heard during
THE FIGHT LAST SATURDAY NEAR FORT WAbTHRALL JUNO
fight last Saturday Port Watha junction, the
railroad about three miles and half this side of Peters
burg.
Friday night closed ia upon the opposing forces after
several hours of sharp skmsh'ng Saturday Morning at
sunrise found the two armies drawn up In line OF battle
about half mile apart. ard in full view of erch other
Our forces oecup the railroad to the right and left of
Mr. Craig deuce, to the Junction, aud the
Yankees occupied position in an adjacent field.
SurIy artillery upGer ain Hankins, advanced several
hundred yards il front and opened the enemy with
lett aud the advance Of the enemys right But in
thirty mioues he friog both sides ceased except here
AID there Wild shot from the enemys artillery
made the railroad their lice of battle
and about half past two O'Clock the opened on
' turn our lett Tbev aay sncoee5eJ b
wempg numbers, i- reaching the railroad but Gen
Twenyfrst Twenty fifth aud Twenty seventy advanced
and drove The enemy back to their line IN great confu
The fighting continued until about o'clock, and was
for greater portion very severe our brave
and gallant driving every thing before them.
Our troops were confronted by greatly superior num-
bers, but they held their ground manuIy Their number
engaged twelve fifteen Thousand. The euemy ad
vauced in over henIng numbers, csna ed at divi
sion and two brgades upon that portion of our line held
by General Hagood's brigade. They were in such num-
bers to overlap ne which enabled them to flank
and extrems left This forced Gen. Hsgood to
change his froat which he did successfully but the
ment necesstated the exposure OF officers and
and caused the heaVJ loss which we sustained The enc
my, however, driven back, when the brave
South Caronans occupied THAR original lne and held
Br gader General Bosbrod johnson the senior Bri
gadisr command and said to have behaved with mach
GOODNESS. Lieutenant General u. d. Hill was also the
ground.
mentioned somewhat singular coincidence, that
the troops engaged the part of the enemy in this fight
were the troops brave South Carolnian had
so lone on Morr and James Islands, at Charleston
Our loss in the fight Of Friday and Saturday particularly
that Of Saturday. was very severe proving coucus7ey
loss in officers is large. In Gen Hoods brigade four
oct of field officers engaged in the fight killed
Carolina Volunteers killed the engagement Saturday.
der Colonel Graham OF the Twenty South Carolina,
wounded in two places, not vecy severely Captain
William h ssoney, OF General Hagoods staff supposed to
be moraly Toun1ed Lieutenant Colonel OF the twenty
seventh outh Carolina, (name forgotten severely
wounded il the head
OCCUPATION FORT PowGATAN BY THE YANKERs.
We mentioned yesteI day hat the Yankees ia coming up
the river had landed tour Thousand negroes Fort Pow
hatan. latest accounts this force still occupied that
oorhood by pferiug and depredaDg in every direction
Fort Powhatan about twenty miles below City Point
The river at that int very the channel huggng
he south ahore closely AID the banks high and pre-
'ipitous.
BURNING THE BRIDGE PETERSBURG AND WELDON
For prudential RETAINED from noticing thu
burning of the brdee on Petersburg and Weldon rail-
y a