The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1864-10-07
WAR NEWS.

opeIalioIS ol tilt lvtu CoipS IN thc re-
cent advance on Richmond -
They broke camp at 3 p. NJ, 2Sth
ult, and by rapid march reached and
crossed the James at daylight, 10Th ult.
At Deep Bottom, Immediately on adj
vancing, they met the enemy and Skin
mished up the roads and across the
fields till near Newmarket road. This
road was occupied by the enemy who
were strongly intrenchod ON the nights
and obstinately contested thciradyance
/ The enemy's position in addition to its
strong natural character was rendered
doubly formidable by an almost impen-
etrable slashing Ga thick grove cut
down and the trees left as they fcll)
that covered the slopes The colored
| troops under Gen. Paine were ordered
/ to carry this position, and their charge
was one of the grand features of the
operations Of the day They never
halted or faltered, though their ranks
wore sadly thinncd rs they advanced
The successful accomplishment of their
task pat Che enemy TO confusion and
sent them rapidly up the road towards
Richmond Cons Grant and Butlor
came ON the field during the struggle
and were Enthusiastically received by
the troops When Cen Grant rode
along the lines the shouts and cheers
Of the men were beyond example
Three miles above Newmarket the
enemy he'd very strong work but
Birney followed up his advantage, and
pursued the retreating rebels SO close
~ that they could not stop to reform
in this place Two miles further on
the rebels had strong line ofrcdoubts
perfect in their character, carrying
heavy artillery and located at such
brief intervals that it was impossible to
3 force a column of troops through them.
j These works crossed the Newmarket
: road just beyond The Laurel Hill
! church. and their guns swept in all di-
] roctions. Gen. Birnev at once deter
. mined to carry such Of these works as
q lay in his front, by general assault
c accommodating the ground himself
, amid such storm of shells MS is rare
e ~ surpassed The assault WAS mad
at , T. NJ, the men cheering mt
& starting on q rum. They were me
S with n mmdorous fire of grape anJ
canister, and unceasing yolleys of mus
i- hotiy that marked terrible havoc il
o their ranks Still unfinchingly the,
g held their way. In crossing an inter
T. yening crest OF open land they were
IF exposed to a frlGhtful ontlading fire 9
g artillery, and the casualties were terri
'r bic. Still the lmepressed forward O.
l. approaching the redoubts they wer
)t found even more formidable than wa
'e at first supposed Aperfect abattis hell
ID them at bay, while the rebel Infantr
literally moved them down. The fort
cs were surrounded by broad dltcl
PC eight feet deep INTO winch some of th
e. coiored troops leaped onlyto lind them
o. selves penned - with no door Of re
III treat. These works mad no sally port
o and We're accessible only by draw
I'd bridges over the bitches These &
es course were drawn up the line wa
he withdrawn to the farther side OF TIA
M crest, which position was held unit
ny night when demonstration was mad
M against the works in the ditch in whic
p our men were cooped mp, thus gun
ne themano pporiunitytoescape Ihoug
OIL an advance Of from half to three
to foIths Of mile WAS accomplished,
ell cost MS dearly. The corps lost owe
"a SEQ men, kllcd and wounded. Gei
nd Burnham, commanding IA division,
ls reported killed Coils. Stevens an
En- Donohuc We're wounded, but not dal
re- gorously
At the same time this was going o
he Kautz's cavalry dashed boldly mp
ng the very gates of Richmond, wine
be- fact he reported to Butler who
POI once dispatched division Of infant
IN to bis support This division march,
nd Eunresisted to within musket range
to the city, and probably might ha
.he marched into the rebel capital, thou,
18th it is clear they could not have held
ces On arriving at the suburbs of the cit
ion they found Kautz withdrawn for wi
ign purpose The division was then {
ra- dered to return Although our a
to vance was checked at Laurel Hill, o
expedition is by no means terminate
ted Hickman and Stannard's diyisio
sed of the 18th corps crossed the James
ken Aikens Landing, and milo "