The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-06-25


rietta.
No military intelligence from any other
quarter has been received to-day.
(Signed.) EN-. STANTON,
Secretary of War.
The Assault On Petersburg.
New YORK, June 20.-The 7ytbaaes
special, dated Headquarters Army Of the
Potomac. near Petersburg, Friday q. M,
June 18th, says: We are again in front of
the entire rebel army, which has been en-
gagged by our advance, the I'd and 18th
corps, and important captures of guns,
prisoners and positions have been accom-
Plished. The I'd. 9Th and 18th corps are in
line of battle, and on the arrival Of the bal
ance ofthe troops dispositions will he made
tor final assault upon the enemy's works:
the 18th corps arrived in the vicinity Of
town, our lines have been pushed steadily
forward, and several strong positions have
been wrested by charges from the enemy,
and we have taken Is guns and seyeralh hum
dred prisoners. Our advance is within
half mile of Petersburg, which is in full
view Of almost our entire line.
Prisoners state that q portion of Lees
army commenced arriving at Petersburg
wednesday night, only few hours after the
arrival of Hancock with the I'd corps, and
that Wise's Brigade, commanded by Wise
in person, held the town until that time.
City Point Railroad is now in our posses
sion, and the Norfolk aud Petersburg line
is commanded by our troops.
The 18th corps, which landed at Bermuda
Hundred this day, now led the advance,
crossing the AppOmattox on pontoons laid
four miles above its mouth, and penetra-
ting southwark to within about four miles
OF town, before encounteriug any Opposi-
ton. Here diminishing commenced, and
our advance, steadily pushing forward,
drove back the pickets Of the enemy, who
took position in their outer defences. These
defences were Immediately charged by
Kinks negro division with most splendid
CALAMITY. The enemy we're put to fight
and two guns and a considerable number
of prisoners captured. The works were
held until the arrival OF Hancock at 5:l2 p.
M, Wednesday.
On the arrival of Hancock in the even
ing, a reconnaissance for the purpose Of as
certaining our exact position was made,
and considerable Diminishing ensued.-
Only two divisions, Birney's and Gibbons
reached the field Wednesday night, Bar
low, who pursued another road, bringing
up the rear and coming up at o'clock yes
sions of Biruey and Gibbons deployed in
line of battle, when their proximity to the
rebels was discovered and our troops hi
vouacked on the field, Birney re-occupying
the left Of the line and Gibbons the right.
On Barlow's arrival in the morning he
was ordered into position on the left Of
Birney.
Between and 8 O clock yesterday morn
ing the enemy opened heavy artillery on
our line, eu6ladiug it with batteries posted
on our left, and rendering an advance or
occupation of position to the rear imme-
diately necessary. Accordingly the ad.
vance of the I'd and 18th corps was order
ed by Hancock, who. in the absence Of
Meade, took command Of both corps. The
result was highly successful, several lines
of rebel works being carried at the point of
the bayOnet and number o. red0ubts Of
great strength, occupied by l6 gums, were
taken and turned upon the enemy by the
18th corps. Col. Egan's brigade, Birney's
division, led the charge and galiantly
drove the enemy from his works, capturing
ut the same time two formidable redouts,
and with Dwight's and ellis batteries
completely silencing the rebel artillery
On our left the works were held until about
p. M, when dispositions for the final
charge upon the enemy's last line was
made. It was at this time that Col. Egan
was severely if not seriously wounded in
the spine. and the attack was Temporarily
postponed. At 6 o'clock last night, how
ever. another charge was made by the I'd
corps and an advanced position assumed
and maintained. The line thus occupied
was ut once rendered secure by the imme-
diate construction Of earthwcrks.
AT this time 1t Is impossible to ascertain
the extent of our losses, but 1850 will
probably cover the total casualties. It is
to be regretted that our advance was not
pushed forward on Wednesday afternoon,
as prisoners cOncru in the statement that
Wises brigade alone held the town until
late in the evening, when Lees troops
commenced arriving. Portions of his army
marched from Malven Hill, crossing the
James on pontOons above Fort Darling.
while many were despatched by the Peters,
burg Railroad. Our line, as now formed,
faces the city from east to south partly en-
circling it and extends across City Point
Railroad, southwark to the vicinity of
Petersburg and Norfolk Railroad. Burn
side holds the left of our line: Hancock the
LEFT and Smith the right. The remainder Of
the troops will arrive to-day, and ae as
signed their positions. No one doubts but
that Lee will defend Petersburg. Our
troops, nevertheless. are confident Of final
success.