Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-05-12
am, BuTLRRIB AnmY.
The ssttIs near PetersbnrR.
cOrsspondsnOsofthsN Z. Tipts
Saturday Evening, Nay 4, ,e4
BERNUDA HUA DRED. Va,

branch, The information was brought to-
me, and unfortunately used it without |
stopping 10 seek proof Of its truth. Such |
q thing could not have been done without
ftSt visiting Petersbnrg, ss the City Point |
branch starts from that place. What the |
gallant Hickman really did was, to adj |
vance, by order Of General Smith, with his
brigade (Lhe First of Weitzelis divisionl
for the purpose Of feeling the rebel posi-.
ton. BE moved out on the Petersburg
road until he came to the enemy. homj
be found posted on the Fort Walthall
branch railroad. A lively skirmish follow
ed, ana it was apparent that the rebels
were IN strong force. They; had no artil.
lery, which TACT gave US the advantages and
Hickman. after lively mnsketEy FIRE;
sqecseded In driving them off the railroad.
The rebels broughLtWo brigades ofiufantry
into action, and at times the fighting was
at Suoh close quarters that they could be
heard calling out 70 our men, tsYou are
towards to use artillery Wait uutil to-
morrow and We will pay you of" AS
Gen. Hickman had received orders not TO
bring on an engagement, he retired. The
brilliant little affair lasted about an hour,
and resulted in a loss to us of eight killed
and sixty wounded.
Dr. Suckley, Medical Directot of the 18th
Corps, established a hospital at the house
of rebel named Suoug, which is delight
fully situated on q bluff Commanding g
splendid view of the opposite side. Here
the wouDdedHWere removed, and received
excellent Care.
THIS morning the enemy paid us their
compliments, both on the river and land.
About ten O'Clock, a battery of field artil.
iery came down from Richmond on the
north bankot the river, and popped away
at the. naval vessels, which were fishing
for torpedoes nenr Turkey Bend. The small
gunboat Shosh0nee, q purchased vessel,
technically known as q 'IPasteboard'' boat,
was some distance in advance oFthe others.
The second shot from the rebel battery ex-
ploded the guuboaL's boiler, and she sur
rendered. "A few. of the crew jumped
overheard apd swan to the opposite bsnk
of the river, where they found shelter nm.
I'll the other bUats came up and ,droVe the
imperiinent rebels away. The men report |
that the explosion of the boiler Injured NO |
one on board, and that all the officers oil
the boat were taken prisoners. Admiral
Lee Kept up vigorous Smelling of the
woods fer some timO after the rebels were
driven away. :
The fight on shore began about the same
time as the affair on the James Rivsr.-t
the attack, plan WAS formed
oy our side haVingths object of advancing
upon the Petersburg anu Richmond rail-.
road 10 destroy il. Five brigades we're or.
gHnized, and marched in three columns 10
meet the enemy. Heckman's brigade again
vent out on the left, aud three brigades,
ahdeF Gen. Brooks, were assigned to tbs
centre. These forces were designated TO
engage the enemy at the position which he
nela yesterday 10 the eUc0anter with Heck. l
man, and divert his attention while the
column on their ghL adVancedsto the rail.
road near Chester Station. The dAy being
ezcessi yely warm il seemed to me almost |
impossible that any lighting could bef done
until the cool OF the evening, Bat the reb
els did not allow the heat TO trouble them,
and BY IL O'Clock A 81, having received
their artillery during the night, they open
ed hre brisklY on.onr- advancing columns.
from about the point whence they had been /
driven last evening. Our men replied
sPlendtdIy'andain a short time the engage
ment on the left and centre, became gener.
al. We could now and then. hear the drri.
val OF the trains both from Petersburg and
Richmond, which prisoners told us broupht
down reintorcements. They also said thar
General Beauregard had como up from /
Charleston with troops some DAYS since |
and was then commanding the forces in
front. While the left and centre were en-.
Ragsd, TOR the most part in artillery prac-
tlce, the right column, consisting Eot one
brigade comms1ded. by. Col. Barton, of the |
Forty-eighth New York, hurried forward I
upon road leading 70 the Petersburg rail |
road near Chester Station, where also IA
Junction OF the Port Walthall road. Here
they set q, bridge on FIRE aud DESTROYED the
track Tor some distance, but being savaRe-
~ pressed by the enemy, the order was
\ n 81 -.
] believe, is not thought to be very great.
The fighting continued with unWavering
yigor on both sides until 4 O'Clock, Whe1
the rebels we're reported to be falling back.
Atter following them some distance an or
der Was given for our troops 10 return to
tue line held in the morning
Tue cagnalties of the day i have beep
unable to Learn. Oar loss, is, reported.
however, not TO have been very serious-
1oSt OF the Wounds are from fragments of
shells: Twelve or fifteen officers are re
\ ported TO have been killed or wounded
%tnopS me latter Col. Dandy. OF the l0Oth
new hork, whose ttiaries are said to have
oeen slight. Gen. Heekmau's .I1orse wss
his hand. = = 49, =
The position of our forces here is CON
sldered lmpregnable. If We cannot pet
4 out OF the Peninsuls which contains pS3it
is certain that the rebels cannot get in
The natural deteOces of the place are Der.
teet, having luas o,bscdohe In tie way of
l ul and the gunboAts are depend
60 on TO keep the river open to Hampton
ne are very anxious to hear from Cram
oqt Beyond the knowledge of battle bay.
lng commeneed near Chancellor N ~.
netslpg dstipite, A negro refugee from
Hlchmopd came tons to day porting tbet
Lee, aud Ricketts, had both been serionsIv
wounded. - 'e -s.'..
NE ne near nothing from our cavalry 81.
PfeIuon under kuuIz. Il is thought that
us was toq late 70 cut the railroad az Hick
.osa 70 sime to prevent the mass of Bean.