The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-10-04
THE WAR NEWS.

THE WAR NEWS.
Military operations yesterday on the north side of
James river, below Richmond, possessed but little
interest. At intervals during the morning the re-
port Of distant cannon was heard which doubtless
proceeded fiona the fleet sheiling some position
cupied by the enemy. Persons from the front in
folmed US that everything was comparatively quiet
The Yankees still hold possession of Fort Harrison,
and are said to be strengthening the work Ii is
also reported that they fo,tifying ON the place
known ' Enterprise" formerly owned by Jacob
3. Atiae on the Daitytown road five miles below
Richmond. While this lacks official confirmation,
the intelligence comes to in such manner as TO
leave little doubt Of its truth The rumor that the
enemy were re-crossing to the south side Of the
James was reiterated yesterday; but the Petersburg
Express has information, received on Sunday, that
train Of artillery had re-crossed on the pontoons,
and it not believed that any infantry had gone
over.
The conduct Of the enemy in Henrieo has been
marked by some pecuharities. While some citizens
have been heavy losers by their presence, others
state that they have not been annoyed but that on
the contrary the Yankees exhibited disposition to
purchase and pay for such provisions they needed
KEGS permitted TO remain in the county for any
length OF time. they will doubtless display their
plundering propelisites to the fullest extent
The report that George ID. Peasants, sheriff of
Henrico, has been captured by the enemy is incor-
rect They visited his place twice. but he effected
his escape.
There is no confirmation OF the report that con-
siderable force of the enemy is advancing up the
Peninsula.
FROM PETERSBURG.
The operations Ill front of Petersburg for the past
few days have been quite active, anu give brief
resume Of them for the information of our readers
Having thrown large body of troops to the no lth
side OF TIE James, ana gained some advantage there,
a division OF the cnemy'a cavalry was moved, Oh
Thursday, across the Vaughan road to feel our Do
sition and strength and, if possible to establish
themselves III that locality. Their effort sgnally
failed, thanks to the energy and good behavior OF
our cavalry, who repulsei the enemy and re-estab-
ishei then lines, which had been temporarily
broken.
On Friday, however more serious ana success
tul movement was executed An entire corps Of IN
tlutly, with a considerable force vi artillery fell
upon works on William Peebies's farm, On
the Squirrel Level road, II mile and "a
Laif west OF the enemy's original lines, and by
ment, in dislodgins our troops Fort McR,e, ana
portion of the line of breastwolks adjacent, fell
into their hands, with one piece OF artillery and
few prisoners Flushed with their success, the Yam
KEGS advanced again. III the direction Of the
Boydton p.ankroad, ana swarmed over Bosseau's
Bosweifs. Pe2ram's ana Jones's farms, but We're
L III. 1.,s4.
,her onward movement. Battle Was here joinel,
and the enemy forced back III the direction OF the
captured works, with severe loss in killed wounded
ana prisoners. The engagement began late i'll the
afternoon and was closed by the dai kness of night
with the enemy still i'll possession Of the captured
works on Peebles's farm anl a portion OF then
column slightly i'll advance. The enemy's dead and
wounded fell INTO our hands, with large number OF
prisoners, estimated as high as twelve hundred
On Saturday, operations were early resumed on
our right, anu the enemy's advance driven back 10y
our infantry WHO, during i charge, captured about
two hundred and fifty prisoners, and an assault was
made on the fortified position ON Peebless farm
which was, unfortunately, hot successful The enemy
dufng the night had received strong reiuforcements
and had considerably strengthened their woIk3--
Our loss in this affair triiiing.
AT a later period in the day, General Hampton
succeeded Iii gaining point the left flank of the
enemy, some seven or eight miles from Petersburg
which, being discovered, portion of his command
was attacked. Our were some what hotly pressed
and compelled to retire slowly but reinforceInents
coming up, they again advanced, and in turn drove
the enemy to theirworks capturing two hundred pm
soners and otherwise inflictng heavy loss.
ollr baf,,
the following: Colonel Bookter Of South Carolina,
killed. Colonel McCraTy, of South Carolina slightly
wounded; Colonel Barbour, Of North Carolina,
slightly wounded.
DIR. John Fontaine, whose death We announced
yesterday, was General Hamptons medical direc-
tor.
Saturday closed with the enemy in possession OF
our lost works, but no further advance, and our
troops IN good spirits.
The body OF Lieutenant Colonel Cummings, of
Vermont, was found the field OF Saturdays fight
The prisoners captured represented the Fifth and
Ninth corps, showing that the enemy was in strong
force Oil our right. Many We're drunk when brought
into Petersburg, and behaved in all impuJent and
disordeIly manner.
On Sunday, little was done except heavy skirmisG-
ing between the opposing forces. Our troops fell
back during the night from the Of Saturdays
engagement, and the enemy ON Sunday afternoon
advanced their lines some few hundred yards
Their pickets at time occupied the houses of DR.
Boisseau and Oscar Pegram, one mile distant from
Peebles'a farm, but were shelled out by artil-
lery.
The Yankees, on Sunday, took a portion Of our
picket line neal W. W Daviss house. three-quaTters
OF mile west Of the Weldon railroad, capturing
twenty prisonera. In the afternoon they were
driven back and our line rc-estabhshed.
The loss side OH Thursday, Friday and
Saturday is estimated at five hundred, and that of
the enemy at five thousand. Over fifteen hundred
prisoners were brought into Petersburg from the
battles OF Friday and Saturday
Passengers by last evenings train report that
with the exception of some picket firing, nothing
occurred yesterday on the lines. The situation re-
manned the same as OH Sunday, the enemy still
holding the works On Peebles's farm The object Of
the enemy, iii these movements is evidently to gain
possession OF the Southside railroad. Our troops
are in good spirits, and, to the expression OF
gentleman with whom We conyerseJ last evening,
matters are all right i'll front of Petersburg.
A RAIDING PARTY OUT.
Two regiments Of the enemy's cavalry, with ar
tillery, appeared yesterday morning at RuskelPs
hill, fourteen miles north Of Gordonsyille. 1t is
supposed that the object of thus moyeuant is raid