Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-08-25
From the Richmond Examiner, 18th last.
TEra War E.xvS

There was Yesterday general Impression in the com
| muuity that were on the eve Of stirring events
that great battle Imminent al along the line from
Petersburg on the south to White Oak Swamp on The
| north. Al the day advanced this opinion some
what confirmed by the telegram from Petersburg, ar
nouncipg that O. two O'Clock yesterday morning, al
tie artillery on Cur lines south OF the Appomattoz fired
upon the enemy for Al hour and half, and that the
enemy's cavalry we're demonstrating towards the Wei
don road on our extreme right A nuraber OF rumors
we're in circulation 10 the effect that medtated
general attack upon the enemy'g lines. Under these
circumstances it caused surprise WHEN, about five
O'Clock, P. NJ, heavy cannonade sprung Up in d-
recton eas by south Of the city, apparently lire
with the battl3 field of Monday and Tuesday.
Up to the time of this writing the firing is unex-
planned From the sound of the guns we should think
it was distant about ten miles from the city, and pref
ty certainly somewhere between the Charles City road
| and Deep Bottom.
Persons who came over by rail from Petersburg last
evening reported that the enemy had sheled the town
violently yesterday morning, and that during The day
ten thousand Yankee cavalry had taken possession OF
the Weldon road. Whatever they may have accom-
plshed, we think there were hardly so many cavalry
THE LATEsT.9
The telegraph Informs that infantry and cay
airy force CT the enemy yesterday morning broke thro
cur cavalry lines extreme right south of Peters
burg, and reached the Weldon railroad, wheE after
they had torn up some track, they were attacked by
our infantry and report sad beaten and forced to
treat.
OUR RAMS DO SOMETHING.
Before the last advance of Graut up0l The ia side
OF the james our lines included Signal Hill, an mpor
tan point tie north bank, two miles and half by
land east of and below Chaffn's Bluff During the
movements aod fights Of Monday and Iueeday Ue lost
this position, and the enemy occupied it in force and
planted upon and in rear of it heavy siege guns BY
successes Of Tuesday evening Te-eetabished our
whole line with the exception Of this point and 1t be-
ing desired 10 retake this Wednesday evening iron
cads then lying at Grave Yard Beud, ordered to
drop down ana she'll the position They performed the
| required service most efactualy. Their fir
| ing mas beautiful. Every bhel exploded just
at TIC right place The ereLGy replied with heavy
guns, some of them being 280-pounders. But SO ac-
curate and rapid was our fire upon tie Iili that the
enemy found 1t necessary to eVacuate it. Wien, at
daylight yesterday morning. our infantry advanced
upon tue position, they found it abandoned. Some
prisoners taken la the immediate vicinity state that the
enemy's loas during the engagement was twentyone
killed and large numbtr wounded There was no
casualty in feet, OF them being struck. The
enemy fired from distance CT twentyeight hundred
yards, we from twelve 20 twentythree hundred yards
The celebrated McAvoy fuse used by U.s. and to it,
In great measure, it Is due that enabled to
explode shell just where we desired. 1t IS to be
regretted that this fuse not in general il
our armies instead OF The most unreliable percussion
fuse.
TIE BATTLES OF MONDAY AND TUESDAY,
We have authentic information that IN the series OF
severe engagements fought this eide OF the river du
ring Monday and Tuesday, and eliminating in the bat
tie below Whites Tavern on Tuesday evening, en-
tire loss in killed. wounded and missing did not exceed
thousand. 1t is believed that cur killed will scarce
~ humber one hundred. The enemys killed. alone will
coed our losses from all Causes In killed, wounded
and prisoners Grants loss is not less than seven eight
| thousand.
| Siege H.nttsrs-Fonr EIandred and sevensh Day.
The firing on Thursday was more sluggish than
usual. Battery Gregg fired SO shots, and the "Sgamp
Angel battery Il shots OF Fort Sumter. Suliivan's
Island fired one shot at Morris Island and Battery
Wagner replied with four shots at Sulivans Island
In the afternoon flag of truce beat from the feet
communicated with Col Rhett's headquarters On Sui-
vans Island.