Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-10-05


Pits-Storming of a Rebel Redoubt.
Affairs on Sunday.
Correspondence Philadelphia Inuuirer1
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE PoToMAC,
Oct. AT this hour not a shot is audible along
our line anywhere within hearing distance to
the right or left Of the Weldon railroad Our
changed since our first occupation of it ON the
Both alt, although there has been considera.
bic amount Of fighting.
xsncoG NINE ae m yes1 9 the enemy ad.
furious attack on GenI Ayres Division Of the
tlftA Corps, which was holding the right of
the new extension of our line, and at that time
was unconnected with our old line, consider
able interval existing between the two The
attaching column consisted Of Heth's Division
Hills C9rps, and brigade (of said to be- dis
yanced resolutely for ward, and attacked len,l
AYres In his entertainments. The Ia tier, now
ever, was IN lily prepared for them, and gave
them such reception as instantly checked
their advance, and compelled them to retreat
with the utmost precipitation. The punish
tested by the large numbers Of their dead which
still lie in the woods in front Of our works
Our picket line was thrown forward as the en-.
sight of their own works This attack was
desperate endeavor to regain a portion of the
line Of works taken from them the day before,
including the fort furthest en- the right
Its failure seemed to satisfy them OF the i'm
practcabilty Of the enterprise, for the attempt
has not since been renewed.
IL
men were under shelter Of their breastworks.
With the exception Of this attack there was
little done yesterday, except for the troops to
get thoroughly soaked by a steady, drenching
rain, which continued with little intermissioa
1rom morning I'll! far into the night.
&c, Genera, Gregg,s cavalry had sharp Skin.
Culars In regard to it.
The line Of works now held by the enemy in
front OF our left is an off shoot from the forth
deations around Petersburg, thrown out for the
defense Of the South Side Railroad, and also
wagon road on this side over which supplies
have been hauled from Stony Greek Station,
on the Weldon Railroad. OF the latter roads
the Boynton plank road appears to be the
principal one, if not the only available one
now left In possession ct the enemy.
According to information given by deserter
Drought to headquarters this morning, train
OF tsree hundred wagons passed up this road
last night, going out for forage and subsist-
ence. They 60 by way Of Dinwiddie O. H.,
ard thence to Stony Greek depot. sle9
Even with this source Of supplies open, it
has been matter OF considerable difficulty TO
feed the army at Petersburg, and the enemy
can Ill afford TO lose even this, leaving the
South Side Railroad out of the question. Their
present line OF defense extends in front OF this
road, the Boynton Plank Road, where thew are
strongly fortified on strong ridge of land, and
will doubtless do their best to resist our further
advance: Their prospect Of doing this sue
cessfully is very slight, indeed, although they
may possible retard our progress for a time
To-day their position has been felt at all
polnts along our new line, and on the left a
considerable advance has been made, bat i
VIII PROBABLY not be deemed advisable to holdt
the ground acquired. ana -
Gen. Motifs Division, Second Corps, which
was on the extreme left, pushed on this morn.
ing ana occupied line of breastworks, about
Inree fourthS Of a mile in advance of their
former position, and with the >porti on OF the /
line on the right, continued to swing gradually
around towards the enemy until 3 o'clock this
afternoon, when they advanced directly against
the next line of works, which was not less
than mile and half in the rear of the one
taken this morning Glad e. ~ -~ .
This movement was intended only as q de-
Inonstration, and as the enemy opened such a
dre both OF artillery and musketry as to show
that an assault would meet with determined
resistance, our troops at once retired. For the
time during which they were exposed to the
Rebel fire its effect was quite severe, and
about one hundred OF our men were killed and
wounded.
Another demonstration was made at the
same time by Gen. Ayres, whose division adj.
yanced about q mile and q half In front Of their
works, and approached within short dis
lance Of those Of the enemy. A detachment of
one hundred men Of the 1920 Pennsylvania
regiment, the old Bucktails, supported by the
Regular brigade, actually entered one Of the
rebel forts. Their object in doing so was mere
plished they retired as did the remainder of
the division, from the fort just mentioned. The
lead works near the Weldon Railroad were
visible, and appeared to be about mile dis
At its nearest point our line cannot now be
more than two miles from the South Side
hahioou- an advance OF another lille WOulu
bring IL within range Of our guns; and even If
we should tail to obtain immediate possession
or It, 1t cannot be long before IL falls into our
lery. s--. = : - :
Reports from the James River represent
that there was brisk fighting there last night
and this morning. IT is said that Gen Birney
mas captured another line Of rifle pits, that
General Weitzel, commanding the Eighteenth
C0Ips, attacked and captured q redoubt from
winch we had been repulsed in the attack on
lne z''n uitimo In that Department, . 3
~ Ex-dovernsr Clifford, Of Massachusetts,