The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-08-30
THE BATTLE on THE WELDON RAIL
ROAD.
FROM OUR own CORRESPONDENT. ]

PErERsBURs, VIBaISIA, August 26, 1851
The heavy firing which heard down the line
of the Weldon railroad yesterday evening is length
explained aud very satisfactorily to the Confederate
arms. BY direction of the UInm4uding General !,
IGeutenant-General a. p Hill started from camp,
near this place, wednesday evening, upon
grand flank movement, according 10 the opinions OF
the unoffi al wiseacres iii and out OF camp. This
however, was true only partially. GonerafHill had
purpose to attack the enemy who are holding the
road i'll our front just out Of town. His object was
to engage the force OF the enemy which II Was well
ascertaned We're engaged in tearing up the track of
the Weldon railroad between the point of their
cupation Just below the city and Rcamss station,
which is some ten twelve miles below the city.
The forces engaged i'll this expedition began their
move about three o'clock 2. NJ going by the way of
the Boydton plankroad some three and half miles
then detecting to the left at lIarnon's house, they
passed on to Armstrong; mills eight miles below
the city, where they cncamped for the night Early
next morning the troops again i'll motion, and
advanced as far as Monks Neck bridge, three miles
from Reamss station and parallel to 1T Here the
column halted until one O'clock, dwaitg the result
Of the cavalry reconnaissance which General Hamp-
ton then making III order 10 determine the
strength and position Of the enemy.
About IL O'clock, the cavalry under General
Hampton engaged the enemys cavalry and nian-
try about four miles below Reains's station, and
steadily pressed them back, a road parallel with
the railroad, Mslole'S station. As LieI-
tenant Cien.r3l \. + Hill learned that cavalry
had pressed the enemy back to Malones station, he
ordered General Hampton To connect his cavalry
with the left OF infantry and to prepare for
assault of the enemy works on the western side OF
the railroad, III front of Reams's station. About
2 o'clock, all arrangements being completed, Lieu
tenant-General Hill ordered the line forward, and
the command was promptly obeyed The line thus
formed, and III motion, was preceded by two squad
rons OF the Seventh Virginia cavalry, under Lieu
t.nant-Culonel Marshall, Of Fauquier. This little
body drove the enemy'S plckets back, III gallant
style their riho-Wts, iii sight OF the enemy
main line battle In this affair Colonel Marshall
was slightly wounded Having arrived Ill front ot
the enemy's line OF works, Geneal It'll determined
to assault them at once, and, accordingly, ordered
Maor-Gonerfl Wilcox to take two brigades al as-
sault tho enemy's works Scaless North Cardinal
and Anersons ldeorgial brgades were selected for
the work III hand. The dispositions beng made the
order to advance gwen, and the troops moved
forward in good style, driving iii with ese and with
| great enthusiasm, the enemy's skl1nishers and
| sharpshooters. AT the moment they began their
advance the enemy opened with artillery aud mus
kerry most rapidly. The result, briefly told, was
/ that our column was repulsed
General llili was determined, however, not to
i've up the struggle without another effort to dis
| lodge the enemy. Accordingly. General Heth was
ordered forward with Cooks and MeCrae's North
| Carolina brigales (ths latter Pettgrews old bri-
gat.l and Lanes North Carolina brigade, Wilcox 5
DIVISION commanded by Conner of South Carolina,
was ordered to unite III the charge. Mcdowan's
brigade was the extreme right engaging the en-
cmy's pickats and sharpshootcrs The second charge
was made somewhat To the right Of the point where
| the first was engaged, but still very it, The
second assiulting column forinei--Lane On the
left, Cook in the centre, and MeCrae ON the right
| Again, about p M. everything being arranged,
aliI officers having gone repeatedly up and down
\ the lines ana encouraged ihe inen, telling them
| what they had to do and what obstacles they would
meet the order given, and the men bounded fof-
ward with a yell that made the welkin fairly ring
again, and plainly told in advance ofa determina'