Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1864-06-20
REPORTED FOR THE DAILY EMPIRE
MORNING REPORT.


NEW YoRR, June 20 -- Tribune special
Headquarters Army Of the Potomac, near
Petersburg, Friday morning, June l9 We
are again in front OF the entire rebel army,
which has been engaged by our advance Of
2d and 18th corps and important captures of
guns, prisoners and positions been accom-
plished The I'd, 9th and 18th corps are in
line OF Laitle, aud on arrival Of troops dispO.
ticn will be made for an assault upon the
enemy's works, Since Tuesday night when
e advance Of the 8th corps arrived in ri-
cinity of town, our lines have been pushed
steadily forwurd Several strong positions
have been wresied by charges from the enemy
and We have taken Is guns and several hut.
deed prisoners Our advance is within half
o mile of Petersburg, which is in full view OF
our entire line. Prisoners state portions OF
Lees army commenced arriving at Peters
burg on Wednesday night, only few hours after
arrival Of Hancock with % corps, and tn It
Wises brigade, commanded by Wise in per
son, held the town until that time City
Point is now in our possession, and Norfolk
and Petersburg line is commanded by orr
troops The 18th corps, which landed at Bur
muda Hundred this day now led the advance
arosslng AppomatoX on pJntoons laid tour
miles above its mouth, and penetrating south
ward up to within about tour miles OF town
before encountering any opposition. The
Diminishing commenced and our advance
steadily pushing forward drove back the
ckets OF the enemy, who took position in
| toeir outer defences These defcnces were
Immediately charged by Hins negro division
with most splendid gallantry, enemy put to
| hisht and two captured Works held until
the arrival Of Hancock 2 p NJ Wednesday,
| On the arrival OF Hancock in the evening re-
c0uuoisance for purposes Of ascerlaniug our
exact position was made and considerable
lskirmishing ensucd, only two divisions, 2ud
| Bruey's and GIBBONS reached the field
Wednesday night Barlon who pursued another
road bringing up the rear and coming up at
Is o'clock ysE1r1ay. Thursday morning
divisions of BTney Rnd Gibbon deployed in
line of battle when their proximity TO the reb-
els discovered and our troops bivouached
on the feld--Brney occupying left of the line
Gibbons right On Barlow's arrival in the
morning he wos ordered into position on the
left of Birney Bstweed FIVE and six o'clock
Yesterday morning the enemy opened
very heavy artillery fire. upon our line,
nfading it with batteries posted on oar left
and rendering an advance or occupation
position to the re.r Immediately necessary
disposition for final charge upon the enemy s
cit line was made. was at this time that
| Col Egans was severely II not seriously
wounded in the spine, and the attack was
| emporarily postponed. AT six o'clock Ia, I
night, however, another charge was made by
the second corps, and an advanced position
assumed and maintained. The line thus oc.
cup,ed was at once rendered secure By imme-
diate construction of earthworks At this
| time it is impossible TO ascertain the extent
of our losses, but 500 will probably cover
! total casualities IL is to be regretted that
our advance was not pushed forward Wednes
Iday afternoon, as prisoners concnr 10
stating that Weser brigade alone held the
town uni late in the evening when LeeA
troops commenced arriving A portion Of his
army marched across from Malvern Hill cross
! ing the James River, on a pontoOn bridge
above Fort Darling, while mauy were DIS
| patched by the way Of tbe Petersburg Rail
road, Our lines is now formed, and faces the
city, it extends across the Guy Point railroad
southward to the vicinity OF Petersburg and
! Norfolk Railroad Burnside holds the left,
Hancock and Smith The right The remain
der Of the troops arrive to-day, and wall be as.
sumei their positions
! Contrary to exp plctations no general engage
men had occurred since yesterday, although,
! Gghting on our LETT ~ a time was severe aud
heavy Ea-iy this morning the n and
second arrived The lett oosing eonsidera
bic advances, when for short time the fight
ing was exceed,ns, severe, The results oi
the battle were not decisive, bat were iavora
Bile -Four additional guns we're captured by
,he Second Corps in the charge. Making q
total OF % guns. Ths whole line is material
y advanced
Accordingly the Second and Tenth Corps
wac ordered by Hancock, who in the ab-
sceuce Of Meade took command of both Corps
The result was highly successful Severa
lines Of works we're taken at the point oi
the baYonet and a number Of redoubts OF
great strength are occupied. Six cen guus
we're taken and turned upon the enemy by the
Is Corps Colonel Engou brigade OF Bir
ney Division led the charge Of the Second
Corps, and gallauty drove ihe enemy from his
works, capturngHt one time two redoubis
and with Dwights and Gibbons batteries
C ,mpleted in siencing the rebel batteries on
our left.
NEw YORK, June l9 -1imes special, Head
Quaters, lsth Brueys division, ID corps
occupied O line within 500 yards OF the city
and threw few shells into Petersburg, firing
several houses.
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