The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1864-05-17


and tbs South.
raE EXrEpirtoN
The frss plan 10 strike and destroy the
railroad iasi nigh, vas rtlinQusbed 81 va
rlous good reasons. and n new enc formed
which seemed 10 have IN !, to a greater de-
gree The elements q success. Five brigades
we're detailed 70 push forward and seize he
road a the point, 10 be anlcr the command
Of Brigadier General Brooks, aud the diyls-
ion was to move forward az an early hour
this morning The column len the fortid-
cations at abou, ten o'clock General Burn
hams division having the infantry advance,
0nderdonk's New York mounted rifles Lead
ing.
mE START
Afler the command had been united by
Gen. Brooks. just without cur works. On
defdonh's regiment was sent ahead to feel
the way aud devolopc the enemys position.
General Rurnham's brigade followed closely
after The column moved quietly forward.
aud without interruption, FOR some distance
over common road. winding over hill
and through swamps aud rayines. under
hot sun. without finding a trace Of the enc
my; but when within two miles II the rail-
road the cavalry advance came upon the
rebels, ensconsed in a strong position in the
underbrush on either side Of the road, from
which they opened sharp iiie, which the
mounted rifles returned The enemy S ERE
increasing in strength ind rapidly. the
mounted rifles fell back 70 the infantry line,
which deployed as skirmishers and slowly
advanced, with strong support, in line Of
battle. The enemy had a very favorable
position, and made stubborn resistance TO
our advance; but they vera stead ly driven
back, with some loss to them, as well as 10
ourselves, and, after sharp skirmish Of
about an hour, they retreated to their main
line, IN front Of the railroad where they had
their lines Of battle and artillery. Oar for
ees we're now formed in line Of battle, with
the artillery in the centre, and began to al
vance slowly and cautiously towards the
railroad, really to meet any force the enemy
might have in position before them.
THE ENEMY MET IN FORCE.
Our skirmishers again met the rebels and
this time in strength this side ofIbe railroad,
with their front mostly protected BY swamp
aud their line well strengthened BY artillery.
No better position could have beon selected
fora sturdy defence than that chosen by
the rebels.
Our skirmshers we're soon engaged with
them along their entire line, I'D as our
main force came into action the rebels open
ed fire from six or eight pieces, and yigor-
ously sheled our lines and the woods in
which pur reserves we're forming Our fire
quickly became rapid from The infantry and
the engagement soon assumed the character
Of battle The woods rang with the rat
ding fire of the skirmishcrs and the regular
volleys Of the battle line, and above all the din
rose the rapid reports Of the enemy's guns
and the bursting shells. The impedimenls
which the enemy had thrown in the way Of
our advance were one by one successfully
overcome, and the line steadily advanced,
driving the enemy slowly before it. Our
right was strengthened by fresh brigades,
and the enemy gave way for while before
it; but regiment after regiment Of rebels
were sent in against it, and the brunt Of the
battle shifted from the centre to the right,
and ragged with intense fury. Pioneers we're
sent forward to clear place for artillery,
and finally Lieut.. Hun, general Of artillery,
succeeded in putting two Of bis rifle pieces
in position near our left, and opened upon
the rebel batteries, which we're annoying
our men considerably They were compell-
ed to shift their positions repeatedly by cur
artillery fire, and At times almost slenced.
The ground in front Of the enemy was most
unfayorably for on attacking party. TWAS
billy and trayersed isregularly by rayines,
and every advantageous position was natur-
ally seized and tenaclously held BY the reb-
els, who were almost completely hidden by
the dense growth Of young pines,r.d cedars,
dogwood and undcrbrush, Still our men
pushed forward, lighting at every eP,though
falling in their tracks here aud there along
the surging line, and Wrestling from the
rebels every strong point, one after another,
until at about five o'clock the rebels were
driven from their strongest position behind
the railroad embankment, which they he'd
for long time The railroad was gained
and lost by us two CT three fimes---once on
account Of the ammunition giving cut, and
again because the enemy had massed al the
point and pressed Us back by their force Of
numbers The last time we grasped the
prize. We held it long enough to &C ON
plish the object Of the movement The rail-
read bridge crossing one Of the tributaries
O, the Appomatiox river, within about seven
miles 81 Petersburg, was set on FIRE aud TO-
tally consumed, aud the rainad track was
torn up and destroyed for some distance this
side Of the bridge, and the road rendered
useless long enough for our forces 70 carry
out other aud more important operations.
1t is impossible to give minute "details Of
the battle, as from tie nature 81 Tie ground
il vas impossible to see bat very small
portion II the field
There we're repeated charges made by ihe
rebels, accompanied BY their peculiar yell,
but they we're allrepuisel wits flrmness and