New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-08-29
The Great Fight on Thur.iuy.

Special Dispatch 70 the ~ J. lI1oNAe.
W.sUTyGToS. Sunday Aug. y, lso+
Information received nom reliable sources, r.
gariing the attack on Hancock Corps on Thurs
day, reasonably lead one 70 the following infer
ences:
First,-Thet the enemy was successful, after 70
pea.ed and impetuous assaults, in compelling The
abandonment by our forces Of the railroad belo"
ReGlDss Station.
Second-That although attacking il vastly 'nPe-
rior numbers lie received bloody rePulse ia thfe'
successive instances.
rhird-rhst bis loss in killed and wounded must
have exceeded ours by twice the number, and that
finally, by an overwhelming force, he succeeded in
forcing us back from our entronchments on the
other side Of the RAILROAD bslov the stationa posi-
which we had already decided TO abandon
We fully accomplished tho special object In view,
viz; the destruction Of the track three miles below
the station, and although our Withdrawal from ou'
81 trenchmen1 was somewhat bsstened by The at
tack of the enemy, IL is bat natural to conclude,
from Trustworthy statements, that the severity OF
the blow inflicted upon tho enemy did not begin 10
him for the possession OF few miles Of
railroad embsnkment.
1t appears that Hancock's line below Keans's Sto-
ton formed two sides of triangle with the apex
little beyond the railroad and pointing westward
OF this Lao. General MIes temporarily command.
ing the LIST, formed tho night and Gbbon the left
The frat Division had been withdrawn from tie
extreme left on Wednesday night and on Thurs
dsv the I'd Division, Con. Gibbon. was sent 70 re-
occupy the position held by Gen. Niles on Wednos-
day.
While Gibbon vsslmovine toward the left he
vas suddenly attacked by strong Rebel force,
suppossd TO be under the command Of Anderson.
At the same time the division Of Gen. Miles was
furiously assaulted on the right, aid portion Of
tho LIST Brigade of Gibbons division vss hurried 70
his support
So impstuous vas the asssult however, and 80
overwhelming the numbers Of tho assailanta that
Miles vas forced to fall back in considerable con-
fusion.
Rsllying his broken lines with gsllsntry never
surpassed, General EiIes In turn assaulted tho
victorious enemy, and sfter several determined and
desperate assaults r5gained portion Of his original
lines.
simultaneously with the desperate assault on our
right, the enemy advanced upon our LEFT, whore
Gjbbon had succeeded in connecting with Miles,
forming strong line.
The enemy moved with fixed bayonets. hardly a
shot being fred. AS they advanced thsy received
a murderous fire from both artillery and musketryi
but notwithstanding the fearful loss OF life, their
sssed legons moved forward over the bodies OF the
slain breaking portion Of our right centre and en-
gaging our men i'll the works in hand to hand con
fict.
The struggle ~a a short bat sharp ons. oveI'
powered by numbers We fell back scnoss the Raj
Road, leaving the enemy in possession OF our In
trenchpeDts.
Reforming our lines in the woods behind the rail-
road we again advanced upon the enemy, WHO had
already occupied the railroad, and pouring in upon
his flank and rear well-directed fire compelled BIN
TO retire behind the vohs Which Se had but snoXi
time before evacuated.