Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1864-11-05
THE ADVANCE OF GRANTS
ARMY.

GENERAL GRANTS ARMY.

from the trenches and masslug 1T III the rear, |
ready for the move
The 1st division of the end Corps, with a
part of the 9th and 9th Corps, held the en- !
tire line, from the Appomattox on the right
TO some three miles west of the Weldon
road on the left All wagons, baggage, &c.
were sent to the rear, at City Point.
At two o'clock this morning, General
Hancok, with the 2nd and Sd divisions of
his corps, moved along the Vaughan road,
running southwest, and after crossing
Hatcher's Run, found the rebels entrenched
in newly made works. He at once charged
them on the flank and drove the enemy out,
and took some twenty prisoners, mostly
cavalry, among whom was Major Venable,
an acting adjutant general, but On what
generals staff he would not tell.
The 9th Corps took the Squirrel Level
road, and found the enemy posted at its
junction with the Duncan road, which runs
north from the Vaughan road to the Boyn-
ton road.
From this they were driven by our skir-
misliers, with some loss, the 1st Division
having about forty wounded in the affair.
The 81 Division of the corps took the adj
vance, and, crossing Hatcher Run, connect
ed with the 2d Corps.
In the mean time Gen. Hancock advanced
along a by-road, driving the enemy before
him till he reached the Boynton plank road,
where the column halted and formed in line
of battle on the farm of Mrs. Butler, the
left reaching some distance west of the road,
and the right extending to thick wood on
the right
The 5th Corps had also formed and ad
vanced through the woods two miles, but
the left of the line failed to connect with
the right of the 2d Corps. The enemy fell
back as we advanced, until the line
reached Hatchers Run again, when the re-
bells were found behind strong cntrench-
ments and brisk firing ensucd, but without
much loss to either side.
At about o'clock in the afternoon the
enemy taking advantage of the break in the
| line between the 2d and 9Th Corps, massed
! Anderson's division of Hills corps and
charged the right wing of the I'd, which
gave way and fell back short distance !;
but being reinforced, the latter charged and
captured number of prisoners.
Our loss in the affair is not known, but is
not believed to be heavy.
A few minutes after the encmy's cavalry,
which had been cut off on the Boynton road,
made an attack ON Gregg's Division direct
| ly i'll the rear of the Second Corps, and Tor
a time quite sharp skirmish was kept up.
General Gregg dismounted some of his men,
and finally drove off.
In the charge made on the Second Corps,
two guns were said to have been taken by
the enemy, but they were subsequently re-
! captured.
Fighting continued at this part Of the
line til after dark, when heavy rain storm
set in, putting an end to the fighting for the
day.
The 9th Corps occupied the right of the
/ o1 hnt nat N hp
object being to allow the left to get fairly
around on the Boynton plank road. The
colored division of the 9th had some skir-
mishirg with the enemy, but nothing APP
preaching fight. They lost q few wound.
ed
Gregg's cavalry had sharp fight with the
rebels in the forenoon, when they attacked
the rear of his column. He charged and
drove them back, capturing number oi
prisoners, and eight or ten wagons loaded
with supplies together with the horses
mules, DC.
The troops that occupied the country over
which we passed to-day were BOtelcr's and
Young's division Of Sonth Carolina and
Georgia troops, with part Of WilcoX's
brigaue
The left wing gained about fifteen miles
Of country to-day, and is now in a position
|
General Warren had Il narrow escape
While riding along the line today ball
grazcd his check and made a slight wound
October 29-7k a. M.-The number OF
prisoners taken yesterday was about three
hundred.
Late last evening some rebel cavalry cap
tured three or four ambuancCs belonging to
the 9TH Corps, which got on the wrong road
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POToMAC,
Oct. 20.-The late movements of this army
have resulted in extending our lines as far
as Ilatcher's Run, on the Duncan road, a
distance OF about three miles beyond our
former position on the left, and in the dis.
coyery of the exact position of the cncmy's
lines, and the works erected for their de-
fence, rs well AS il more complete knowledge
OF the country between us and the South
Side Railroad. 1t was not believed that the
enemy had any very strong works in this
direction, and that taking them by surprise
they could be easily driven into their inner
lines of Petersburg, but to the surprise OF
all, not only were the enemy found eutrench.
ed on both sides of the .3oyntOn plank road,
but they had strong works on both sides OF
the run, extending several miles.
The I'd Corps in their charge on the plank
road, drove the rebels from their works on
the south side OF the ran and across the
bridge, of which they held possession until
ordered to withdraw.
In the advance of the 9TH Corps they
moved on the south side of the run, and the
road being very crooked in this vicinity, by
! keeping close to it there was gap between
the lett and the right Of the 2d Corps. The
enemy took advantage of this, and massing
in the woods, under cover, made a most de-
termined assault on the right of the I'd Diyi-
sion of the I'd Corps, evidently ofthe inten-
tion OF capturing the entire force on the
right. Their charge, for very short time,
was success, but our men rallied, charged in
turn, and, driving the rebels back, cut off
the greater part of Anderson's brigade of
Hills corps. The number of prisoners thus
taken here was about 400, including many
officers. Meantime the 9TH Corps had reach
ed the enemy's works in their front and be-
came hotly engaged. The loss here was not
so heavy as in the I'd Corps.
Darkness approaching, and it being deem
unsafe to occupy so extended q line with
strong lines in front, and exposed to flank
attacks from cavalry, orders were issued to
withdraw about TWO miles, which was done
| without loss.
During the engagement the enemy drove
our men from two guns, but before they
could be removed our men charged and re-
| took them