, 1864-06-20
THE VERY --LATEST.
M0NDIX,3 O'CLOCK j. Ii.
WAR DEPARTMENT, WAsH.NaTo
Sunday, June19, 18G4-9:A5 2. II.


To Major General Dix:
This evening dispatch from City Point,
dated 9 o'clock this morning, reached the
Department. It reports that our forces ad-
yaanced Yesterday to within mile In front
Of Petersburg, where they found the enemy
occupying new line Of lutrenchments,
which, after successive assaults, We failed to
carry, but VIC hold, and have intrenched our
advanced position. -.
From the forces of the enemy within the
enemy'B new line, 1t Is inferred that Beaure'
gard has been reinforced from Leefs army.
No report has been received by the Depart
ment concerning the casualties Of our army
III its operations since crossing the James
River, except the death Of Major Morton,
mentioned yesterday.
Gen. Sherman reports today: s1The en-
emy gave way last night in the midst Of
darkness and storm, and at daylight We en-
tered his line from right to left. Tho whole
army is now in pursuit as far the Chatta-
hootchie." Gen. Sherman adds: II start at
once for Marietta
No military intelligence from any other
quarter has been received to day.
. E. Ii. STANTON, Secretary Of War.
War DErAnT1EHT, [
WASHINGTON. Saturday, june 1s-1l p. N. {
| To Major General Dix:
Dispatches from Gen. Sheridan have just
| been received. He reports q victory oyer
the enemy ut Treyillian Station, on the Vir-
ginia Central Railroad, few miles south OF
Gordonsyil1e, where Gen. Lee tew days
since reported q rebel victory. The official
report is as follows:
| "lhave the honor to report to you the ar
rival Of my command at this point, and also
to report it's operations sfuce leaving Now
castle Ferry. crossed the Pa1nunky River
| on the 9Th inst, marching ria Ay1ott's, and
encamped on III ring Greek. On The morn
ing OF The 8th lesumed the march ria Pole
cut Station, md encamped three miles west
Of the SUTTON.
son the 9th marched through Childsburg
and New Market, encamplng On Erie Greek,
| uear Toupg's Eti ,ge. On tie 10th m 1cl-
I'd via Andrew q Tavern and Leyinan's store,
crossing both branches Of the North Anna,
und encamped at Bnck Child's, about three
| Ulit8 u0{LleE6t u 1lEflllAu GLAtQu. 1AJ
Intention was to break the railroad at this
| Station, march through Mech1nicsrillt, ont
the Gordonsvii1e and Charlottesville Railroad
uepr the Lindsay House, and then to march
On Charlottesville. But IN our arrival at
Buck Child's found the encmy's cavalry In
my immediate front, On the morning Of the
l1th General To1bett with bis division, and
Colonel Grrgg, Of General Gregg division,
attacked the enemy. After an obstinate con-
test they drove him from successive lines OF
breastWorks through an almost impossible
forest, back on Treviliian Station In the
meantime General Custer WIS ordered with
his brigade to proceed By @ aeountrS road 80
% to reach the stution in thu rear Of the en-
son his arrival at this point the enemy
broke into complete rout, leaving bis dead
and nearly all of his wounded tn o1r hands
ulso 90 officers, 500 men and 800 horses.
These operations occupied tug whole Of the
| day. Al night encamped ut Tresilliau Sta
lion, and on the morning Of the 18th Inst.
commenced destroying. the railroad from
this point to Lorraine Court House. This
was Thoroughly done; the ties burned and
the rails rendered unserTiceable The de:
strncsion of the railroad oeeqp1cd until
o'clock Of that day. when directed Gen
,Iorbett to advance with his division, ant
Gen. DnYIs' brigade Of Gen. GreEss division
in the direction Of GordonsTille, attack tht
enemr, who Ind concentrated md been re-
|
had also constructed rifle pits at point!
about five miles from QordouBville. The I'D
vance Was made, but a8 the enemy's position
Was found too strong to assault, no genera
attack was made. On the extreme right Q
our lines q portion Of the reserve brigad.
carried the enemy's works twice, and wa
tNlce driven the1efrom by infa1try. Nigh
closed the contest. found on examination
} of the command there was not 3 suf1cienc!
! Of ammunition to continue the engagement
The next doy trains of cars also came do ri
to where VIC were engaged With the enemy
"The reports ofprfsonels and cit1zen* war
that PlcEttt's old dlrision was coming II
| 1oro during tho night md next mornin:
, | withdrew 1ny commaEd over the North ANN
I'D CerpeEter's Ford, near Miners bridge
| In addition the animals were, for two entfr
| days in which We We're engaged, wit hou
= forage.
THE surrounding country atfordcdnot
but grazing Of q very Inferior quality an'
generally 1t such points as were inacceeaa
l']e to use The cavalry engagement Of th
12th was by fur the most brilllant one Of til
{ j present campsiisn. The :enemy's loss wa
j very heavy. They lost the following name'
cffcers in killed and wounded: CoL Meal
lister. commanding a regiment killed
/ wnrndea; and Col Custer, commanding
regiment, wounded, Ny loss in killed an,
; wounded will be about 575. OF this numbe
i90 are wouuded+ brought of In. my am
. balances SIT, all that could be transported
The remainder we're. with number Q
rebel wounded that fell iato mS hands. lie!
tehlnd. Surgeons and attendants were d.
tailed and remained in charge Of them.
captured and have now with me, so rebe
soldiers, including twenty commissioner
officers: Ny loss in captured will not OF
ceed lc0. They were principals from th
5th Michigan Cavalry. This regiment gul
| l'ntIy charged down the Gordousrills Roa1
! capturing 500 horses and about 500 men
] but were finally surrounded and had to Civ
them up. :.".
When the enemy broke they hurried be
tween General Custer's command and Col
onel Grceg's brigade, capturing five caisson
of Penntngton's battery, three 81. which wcr
afterwards recaptured, leaving in their hand
| two caissons. A more detailed report vii
| he made hereafter.'
l.. Eslgned] =. II. STANTON,
l. =. Secretary Of War.
l a