Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-10-29
correspondence Associated Press.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, In
Ire Field, Oct. -, p. m.-The long looked-foI
and talked Of advance of the armies operating
against Richmond has at last taken place.
Yesterday, the final operations were com.
pieted by the Withdrawal Of the greater Of the
Army of the Potomac from the trenches and
massing it in the rear ready for the move
The first division Of the I'd corps. with part
Of the 5th and 9th corps, held the entire line
from the Appomattox on the right TO some
three miles west OF the Weldon road on the
lett.
All wagons, baggage, etc, sent to the rear a,
City Point.
at two a.. m. this morning General Hancock,
with the I'd and Sd divisions Of his corps,
moved along the Vaughn road, running south
west, ard after crossing Hatcher's run found
the rebels intrenched in newly made works
He at once charged them on the flank and
Grove them out, and took some twenty
prisoners, mostly cavalry, among whom was
Major Eenable, an acting Adjutant, but on
what Generals staff he would not tell,
The 5th corps took the Squirrel Level
road, and found the enemy posted at
its junction with the Duncan road, which
runs north from the Vaughn road to the
Boy nton road From this they were driven by
our administers with some loss, the LIST diyi.
sion having about forty wounded In the affair
The Sd division OF this corps took the advance,
and crossing Hatcher's Run, connected with
the I'd corps.
Meantime General Hancock advanced alon !,
by road. driving the enemy before him, till
ne reached the BoyntOn plank road, where the
column halted and formed In line Of battle on
the farm Of Mrs. Butler. the left resting some
distance west OF the road and the right extend.
ing TO q thick woods on tie rioht
The Fifth Corps had also formed and adj
yanced through the woods two miles, but the
left Of the line failed to connect with the right
OF the second.
The enemy fell back as we advanced, until
tie line neared Hatcher's run again, when the
rabels were found behind strong entrepch-
meLts, ard brisk firing ensued, but without
much loss TO either side.
At atout four in the afternoon, the enemy
taking advantage of the break in the line he.
tween the Second and Fifth, nassed Ander-
sons division of Hills Corps and charged the
right wing OF the Second, which gave way and
fell back short distance, but being reinforced
charged and checked the advance of the enemy
and captured number OF prisoners.
Our loss in the affair is not known butts not
believed TO be heavy. a few minutes after, the
enemy's cavalry, which had been cut Off on the
b, ynton road, made an attack On Gregg's divi.
sion, Cirectly In the rear OF the I'd corps, and
for time quite sharp skirmish was kept up
Gen. Gregg dismounted some OF his men and
finally drove them off.
In the charge made on the Second Corps two
guns were said TO have been taken by the en-.
envy, but were subsequently recaptured.
Fighting continued on this part OF the line
till after dark, when heavy rain storm set in
putting an end to the fighting for the day.
The Ninth Corps occupied the right of the ad.
vance, hut did not gain much ground, the OBJ
ject being to allow the left to get fairly around
on the Boynton plank road before the right ad
yanced.
The colored division OF the Ninth had some
skirmishing with the enemy, but nothing ap-
preaching fight. They lost few wounded
GYeggs cavalry bad a sharp fight with the
rebels IN tie forenoon, when they attacked the
rear Of his column. He charged and drove
them back, capturing a number of prisoners
and eight or ten wagons loaded with supplies,
together with horses, mules, etc.
The troops that occupied the country over
which we passed to-day were Boteler's and
Ioungs divisions OF South Carolina and Geor.
gia troops, with part OF Wilcox's brigade.
The lett wing gained about fifteen miles Of
country to-day, and is now in position to at
tack the enemys troops on the flank.
General Warren had narrow escape while
riding along the line to-day, ball grazing his
cheek and making slight wound.
OCTOBER IS, * m.-The number of pri-
soners taken yesterday is about 800.
Late last evening some rebel cavalry cap.
tured three or four ambulances belonging to
the 5ih corps, which got on the wrong road.
W, ID. MCGREGoR