American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-06-29
NEWS DY TELEGisAPM.

special pisptch to the pittsbug 0azctto.
WAsnSGroN, June 23.-News here
from the army down to the 22d inst says
there has been no tightlngsiuee Saturday,
but there was some light skirmishing ON
Monday
The losses before Petersburg up to this
time, according to reliable lists, come upto
near 1900.
There is no expectation here Of q spec
dy fall of Petersburg.
A severe fight occurred between por-
ton of Shoridans cavalry and llamptou's
division, of Fitz Hugh Lees command
last Tuesday. Sheridan, as was stated in
previous dispatch, returned to White
House ON Monday evening from his late
raid. Hearing that body Of febel cav
airy was in the vicinity Of Abercrombie,
he started on Tuesday morning and adj
vanced about two miles from White House
when he suddenly came upon the enemy
concealed in thicket A saIele, fight
ensued and continued TIL three O'clock
when the rbcls fell back two miles. Here
they again made a stand and held their
position till darkness closed the fight
During the night the enemy fell back,
and ON Wednesday morning Sheridan or
dered another advance. Hepursucd some
| five miles but found no enemy. We cap
turcd about 80 prisoners and a number Of
horses. Our loss is fifty wounded and II
| killed
! The Administration members of the
House had another protracted caucus to-
night on the course to be adopted with
! reference to the Presidents request that
the three hundred dollar Communication
clause be repealed 1t should be under
stood that Messrs Schenck and Garfield,
representing the House Military Commit
tee, have so persistently urged the repeal.
solely because0f the representations made
to the Government Of the absolute neces-
sity of such a measure to prevent our ar
mics from being hopelessly depleted. If
| there il a mistake about it, it is made by
the Presidentaud Secretary Of War, and
not by the House Military Committee
1t is proper alseto state chat in the caucus
to night facts were furnished tending very
strongly to show that the Government
does not misapprehend or oyerrate the
necessities of the crisis These facts it
would, Of course, be improper to give in
detail but it is not amiss to say that they
are such az to have largely aided in pro-
/ ducing the existing depression at the
clpitol Still stout resistance is made
to the repeal and at this writing quar-
ter to cleven-the caucus is still in ear
nest debate, and there is every indication
that majority will fatly refuse to grant
the Governments wishes If it does,
the Cover lment viii have been defeated
| by its own party in a matter it deems OF
vital importance. In any event, the
question thus sprung upon Congress in its
closing hours promises the gravest COM
| plications.
HEADQUARTERS, June 22, ) A. NJ
There was some artillery firing on the
right and picket skirmishing at various
points along the line the whole OF yester-
day. resulting in the wounding Of few
men. but causing no change in the posi-
ton. A battery stationed on an elevated
niece of ground in front Of Petersburg
kept annoying one of our batteries on the
| left some time, when it opened in return,
one of the shells exploding in the midst
of the men at the rebel guns, and causing
a cessation of firing on their part
General Hancock is recovering from,
his indisposition and expects to resume
the command Of his corps in few days.
President Lincoln paid visit to Gen.
Grant at City Point yesterday.
The whisky tax bill will be definitely
settled tomorrow a. meeting Of the Com
ference, probably before noon. Scarcely
doubt is entertained but that the tax
will be dollar and half from the first
Of July, and some are even pressing some
thing higher still.
The bill to repeal the fugiti'e slave law
passed the Senate to-day by z to r.
Garrett Davis spoke his long speech in
opposition to it, which as usml, had no
other effect than to clear the galleries