Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-08-29
THIRD DIsPATcH.
Especial to the UieveIaH~ aEADER.I
WASHINGTON, Aug.

! WASHINGTON, Aug. 2S.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE PoTo-
MAC, Aug. 26-Afternoon.-On Thursday
afternoon, about o'clock, quite a severe
engagement took place at Reams' Station,
between the First and Second Divisions of
the Second Corps and Hills and Long
streets Corps. ..
The Second Division was marching down
the track to the position about three miles
below the station, from which the First
Division was withdrawn on Wednesday
night where they were attacked by
strong force under the rebel General An
derson.
They retreated until their right con-
nected with the First Division, which, un-
der General Miles, occupied the entrench-
ments in front of and around the station.
Our line was a crescent-the right flank
being nearly at right angles with the rail-
road, the center little beyond and nearly
narallAl .r,i4L -, IL tlle Irn recrosslng and
receding from it.
Two regiments belonging to the First
Brigade, Twentieth Division, we're posted
outside the works, upon the extreme right,
to take any returning party from that di-
rection in the flank and rear.
-Four assaults were made upon our posi-
tion = the first directly upon our front.
This charge, as also the next two, in which
the enemy threw themselves upon our
more extreme right, was repulsed with
fearful slaughter of rebels.
The fourth assault was one of the most
desperate struggles of the war. The massed
troops of the enemy were thrown with
wild impetuosity upon our extreme right,
while vigorous attack was made stimuli
taneously upon our left. Hardly shot
was fred by the enemy. who were in
structed to reserve their fire till they
reached our outer works.
The two regiments on the outside of the
works at the right we're driven wildly
back, but otherwise our line did not move
We poured a death-dealing fire of mus
kerry and artillery into their ranks, and
their repulse again seemed certain. For
ward, however, they came, driven by 6
: reckless frenzy to the very front of oul
entrenchments, bnt some new recruits
upon the right centre became panic
stricken and fed, and before General Mile
could fill the gap with reserve troops, the
enemy we're within our works. A brisl
hand to hand encounter ensued. Tn,
enemy, in overwhelming masses, crowded
, in, and our men were forced to retire.
In attempting to get away Clarks Bat
terry on our left the horses were all shot
but men enough were left to work tn
guns.
The 4th New York heavy artillery, act
ing as infantry, rallied around the guns
= and turned themupon the enemy almost i
their very teeth.
Seventeen of its officers, with great POI
- ton of the command, were wounded @
lost, after inficting fearful punishmer
upon the foe.
Our whole line fell back afterwards int
shelter of the woods. Reforming an
moving up the railroad, and across it, ou
:. men began to pour fire into the flank an
- rear of the enemy, who occupied tn
y works upon the right of the track.
After asharp contest the rebels wei
, obliged to abandon this position and retir
7 behind entrenchments parallel with ii
ID road. After dark, our troops quietly will
le drew. ......
k, Our loss Is probably not over one thol
a sand, and eight pieces of artillery. II
Is rebel loss was fearful. It is reckoned b
III many good judges at 1000. Their gal
Sc is nothing, as the abandonment Of the
in position was unimportant, except to pr
ID. vent the destruction of the railroad, Whit
D. had already been accomplished.
eS A few more such assaults would annit
IN lSte the rebel army.
~ The spirit of our army is unimpairet
" Our position on the left is secure.
e. We are having heavy rain while
T. write, midnight.