The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1864-10-03
The Deep Bottom Fight.

New YORK, Oct. 1.-The heralds lOth
Corps correspondent says, of the operations
of that corps in the advance on Richmond:
The Corps broke camp at three in the after
noon of the 18th, and by rapid march
reached and crossed the James at daylight
on the 29th, at Deep Bottom. Immediate.
" on advancing they met tho enemy and
skirmished up roads and across fields, to
near the New Market road. This road was
occupied by the enemy, strongly entrench-
cd on heights, and the advance was obsti.
nately contested. This position, in add.
ton to the strong natural character rem.
dered doubly formidable by the almost i'm
penetrable thickets that covered slopeF.
The colored troops under Gen. Paine were
ordered to carry this position. Their
charge was one of the grand features OF the
operations of the day. They never halted
or faltered, though their ranks were sadly
thinned, as they advanced. The successful
accomplishment of their task put the ene-
my to confusion and sent them rapidly
down the road toward Richmond.
Gems. Grant and Butler came on tho
field during this struggle and were enthusi-
astically received by the troops; when the
Generals rode along the lines the shouts
and cheers of the men We're beyond exams
ple. Three miles above New Market the
enemy have a very strong work but Birney
pressed his advantage and pursued the re-
treating rebels 80 closely that they could
not stop to reform in this work.
Two miles further on the rebels have a
strong line Of redoubls, perfect in their
character, mounted with heavy guns and
locateda al such brief intervals, that it is i'm
possible to force column Of troops through
them. These works cross the New Market
road just beyond the Laurel Hill Church
and their guns sweep the roads in all direc>
tons. Gen. Birney at once determined to
front by general assault, accommodating
the ground himself amid such storm Of
shells as have never seen surpassed. They
we're met with a'murderous fire of grape
and canister and unceasing volleys of mus
kerry that worked terrible havoc in their
ranks, still unhinchingly they held their
way. In crossing an intervening crest OF
open land they Were exposed to frightful
enflading fire of artillery and the casualties
were terrible, still the line pressed forward.
On approaching the redoubts they were
found even more formidable than at first
supposed; perfect abbattis held them at
bay while the rebel infantry literally NOW
ed them down. The forts were surrounded
by broad ditch eight feet deep, into which
some of the colored troops leaped only to
find themselves penned in with no door oil
escape. These works had no sally ports and
were accessible only by drawbridges over
the bitches; these of course were drawn.
The line was withdrawn to the farther
side of the crest, which position was held
until daylight, when a demonstration was
made against the works, in the ditch of
which our men were cooped up, thus Civ.
ing them an opportunity to escape. Though
an advance up the road Of from half to
three>quarters of a mile was accomplished
it cost us dearly. The corps lost over FIVE
hundred men killed and wounded. At the
time this was going on Kautz's cavalry
rushed boldly up to the very gates of Rich
mond, which fact he reported to Butler,
who at once dispatched division of in,
fantrJ to his support. This division
marched unresisted to within musket
range Of the rebel capital, though it was
clear they could not have held it. On ar.
irving in the suburbs of the city they found
Kautz had withdrawn for wise purpose
The division was then ordered to return.
Although our advance was checked at
Laurel Hill, our expedition is by do means
] terminated.
i The Herald's correspondent with The
18th corps, gives the following account o
the fort taken by that corps in that move
ment. Heckmen's and Stanard's divisions
Of the 18th corps crossed the James rivel
at Aikens Landing, and mile was reached
before they came in contact with the enc
my; they showed no desire to fight and fell
back rapidly Four miles were thus absn
doned. When they reached their main
force, however, they showed resistance, and
opened with sharpshooters and artillery o.
every description. Immediately in front Of
Stanard commanding the road was a large