The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-08-23
THE FIGHT AT PETERSBURG.
frRom OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT

PETERSBURG, VIRGINIA, August %, 1861.
To-day, for the first time in the history OF the
campaign of the Army of Northern Virginia, the
Confederate arms have suffered a check and re-
pulse.
After the FIGHT Of Friday evening our forces fell
back again to the entertainments just outside OF the
town The enemy at once threw forward their
picket and skilmish line and occupied the ground
which We had abandoned. All Of Saturday passed,
and, for reasons which.lt would be inludieious TO
state no renewal of the fight was made This morn
ing, however everything being in readiness, Major
General Teth attacked the enemy vigorously III 'front.'
l. e., those confronting him and facing up the rail-
road towards Petersburg, whilst MaJor-General Ma
hone having passed down the Squirrel road until his
forces reached the Vaughan road, turned square to
the left i'll order supposed, TO strike the en-
emy in flank and rear just back of the Davis House
The column attacking in front drove the enemy back
some half mile, taking his line OF breastwoiks
and over three hundred prisoners. Here, how
ever, they halted, owing to the strength OF the
enemys next line of works, which was literally lined
with artillery. The column engaged III the thanking
programme was, however, not so successful. Inc
skrinishers having been deployed and started for
ward our line of battle soon formed and moved on IN
support In few moments the eneInys sklrmlsheIs
"a line strong as our line OF batte Is encounefeo'
and our men dashing forward, press them back TO-
wards their line OF breastworks And now the enemy,
from number of guns pour u raking and destruc-
tive fire of round and grape shot and schrapIei;
For awhile brave boys press boldly ofwaId, but
in an evil moment brigade of ours give back, and
despite the efforts of their gallant commander, re-
fuse to rally The contagion spreads; other troops
give away, and soon the whole mass comes rushing
| back pell-mell, exposed TO murderous a fire In
retreat rs that to which they subjected whilst
advancing. Hagoods Is. C.) brigade, however,
nothing daunted, actually press on amid that heavy
| fire of shot and shell, and reach the enemy's
| works When General Ii. reached the works he
found that of his coonels had surrendered his
regiment, of his brigade, without consulting him.
At once repudiating the act of his subordinate lie
ordered the men TO fire and then to save them
selves his supports the right and left having both
Il long since fallen back. General I'll. himself es-
capped, though two horses were killed under him
The engagement lasted about two hours, ending
about IL o'clock, and has not been renewed since
/ that hour.
tack that the whole OF the Fifth aud Ninth corps
were massed on the railroad, and also two division;
Of the Second Prisoners say that Grant and Meade
l were both present at the hgnt Ihe enemy wrft
dsubtless expecting an attack, and were advantage
ousy posted on both sides of the ,ilroad with Their
lines forming crescent with their ares fronting us
| hence Malone found no flank to strike.
Some cavillng critics will doubtless take occasion
to animadyert upon this failure IN order tina. th'
failure may be perfectly understood VIII gave th'
| reason which, in my Judgment, ded To IT, In th'
| first place the enemy were present III overwhelrn
| ingly strong force when compared with our mum
bers. In the second place, they. were admirably
posted and very strongly fortified artiticially Ia
The third ,aee to the eternal diseredit OF one Of on
bieades, be it said that they broke and Ian, an.
refused to be rallied by their gallant commander
though he and all that man could do And finally
if the eneny were not applsed of our attack 1t Wa
not because the plan and time were not known, evel
10 the yery urchins Of Petersburg. Whose FAULT
was that these matters leaked out, do not know
but / know that eighteen hours before, the trns
place and character Of the taat we've on TIE lips
| ali soldiers and citi1ens. Our loss will, thins
| foot up about one thousand, the greater part 9
which was borne by 1arris's Mississippi and lila
goods South Carolina brigades, both of which aete
| with conspicuous 9allanffy
| Among the names OF the gallant officers who lei
to-day are Biigadier-Generui Saunders, Alabama
| Captain Spain, Adjutant-tsaerai oi General f,t
| negan's brigade; Colonel Lamar, Florida Colonel
Council and Thomas, and MAJOR Bell, are missins
hut are supposed TO be prisoners Lieufenai
| Davis, commanding sharpshootess, Sandefs's Ala
| bama brigade, one OF the most gallant spirits
had lust been recommended for the majority
his regiment, and would, doubtless, have r
Other brave and gallant spirits without ram
| but full Of patriotism and bravery, yielded '
, ! their hyes on that snsanguined held but,