Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1864-05-28
THE WAR.

Our connected account of the Virginia
Campaign closed last week with the re-
ports contained 10 the news papers up to
Thursday evening.
BY the papers of Friday we learn that
Grant has swung his western flank back
until it rested on the Ny, about four niles
south Of elorsville. The Confed-
crates Of course advanced their line, and
held Spottsylvania where for tho present
we leave them and turn to another part of
the battle ground.
We have at length received some details
of Gen. Buffers late movement on the
James river. Our readers will remember
that some time since he constructed line
of earthworks across the narrow neck he
tween the lower Appomatiox aud James
river. From this limo he advanced along
the James to the siege Of Fort Darling
The enemy retired before him aud he ap-
proached, without much opposition, TO
within three miles Of the fort and nine
miles of Richmand. Here he captured,
without any struggle, the outer line of
works, and on last Sunday night was en-
camped near the fort with his tr oops
drawn up in line Of battle. Smiths corps
was on the cast, with their right, compos-
cd of some negro troops and Hickman s
brigade, resting on the James river. Gil.
more held the western part of the line,
with the left flank extending beyond The
Petersburg and Richmond railroad.
At daylight on Monday the Cenfeder-
ates began furious cannonade They
then attacked Smiths corps. A column
succeeded in getting between Hickman
and the James river. They attacked his
rear and doubled his brigade back upon
the next one. He, with one thousand
prisoners and four Of five cannon, were
captured. Smiths corps were thrown in
to confusion and began to retire. Gen.
Gilmore, on the left, was then attacked
but repulscd tho assaults, Soon he was
sent an order by Butler 70 abandon his
line and form in rear Of Smith, so as to
protect him, Nearly all the artillery was
sent 10 the rear, to be out of harms way,
and Gilmore came TO smiths aid.
AT this moment Batter learned that a
force of five Confederate regiments has
attacked rear guard Of negro troops
whom he had left near Petersburg, and
broke it up. lie at once ordered re.
treat Of his whole army, aDd as quickly as
possible they were Withdrawn to tue en-.
trenchmenss near Bermuda Hundred
where the gunboats in the Appomattox ant
James protected them from the enemy
} Smiths Corps is very much broken up
This retreat gives the enemy possession o
the railroad between Richmond and Pc
tersburg, aud will place Butler for somt
time on the defensive. His loss is said t
be FIVE thousand men.
4 There are large numbers OF guorillas II
Grants rear. Three hundred of them ar
} reported in one body near Falls Church
,, fifteen miles from Washington Man
are engaged in sinking torpedoss in th'
lower Rappahannock, and no boats ven
ture up that stream.
General Grant, it appears, has agai
Withdrawn his line. On Tuesday ayenin
his army presented a southwestern frou
along the Ny, the western flank being fou
y miles north Of Spootsylvania and the oas
: tern fax, four miles east of Spottsylvanis
On Thursday he presented an cntirel
different froht. The Ny was abandoned
The western flank was withdrawn aDor
y five miles towards Frederick sburg and ia
u eastern flank one mile, so that tho lin
u presented western front towards the er
! envy, the north flank resting on the Mass
Ii aponaX river, about seven miles south we
oi Fredericksburg, This line was yer
d near the railroad to Richmoud, and G uil
;, oy's Station was occupied, it being but
short distance in the rear of the souther
II flank. General Grant thus e.ired durin
q Wednesday distance of five miles on on
). flank, and one mile on the other. He
p now seven miles from Spottsylvania. III
!. reason Of his withdrawal not known.
IS Avaiing themselves of this position
n his troops, the Confederate on Thursda
q sent fanking party around lis mort
flank and captured the turnpike road leac
Is ing from Spottsylvania to Fredericksbur,
l. over which the Federal supplies had bee
u carried. a large Federal force was
once sent in that direction, and the part
" was driven off with loss of some prisone
y Grants loss durinv the dar il oyar or