The New York herald., 1864-06-20
THE EIGHTEENTH CORPS.

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Mr.. j. A. Rrady's Despatch.
HEADQUARTERS, EiGHrERxTH ARMY CORPS,
In IBB FIELD, June 10, 1864. !
sQpE MARCH PETERSBURG.
At one O'Clock on the morning OF the 18th the
column Of Major General smthonly arrived Bermuda
the previous nigh-set out for Petersburg. Kautz
cavalry division took the lead. and before daylight the
entire command had crossed the ponoon bridge
the Appotomatox, above Point Of Rocks and in full
march for the rebel city, Kautz, pushing rapidly ahead
drove the rebel pckets before him until he arrived al
their first line when turned 10 the left and moved TO
the orthcations on the other side Of the city.
sxlrH's TRoors.
General Smith had under his command two divisions or
his corps and Kinks division Of negroes, besides
tho cavalry division Kauz. Following after the cav
airy the negroes arrived the battle neld and
before the first line Of rebel works, along the
front OF which the cavalry had passed time before
NEGRoEs.
General Kinks formed his command 10 line OF battle
and advanced upon the rebels, with Duncan commanding
his right and Holman bis lett The result Of this charge
waited FOR with great anxiety The majority Of the
whites expected that the oolored troops would rum but
the sable forces asonshed everybody by their achieve
ments. With . wild yell, that must certainly have
struck into the hearts their foss the Twenty
second and Fifth United States coored reamsnts
manded by Coonels Kidder and Connor, charged
under hot fire or musketry and artillery the rebel
ditch and parapst and drove the enemy before them,
capturing large brass field piece and taking entire
possession OF their works.
REBEL
was something entirely unexpected as they had nothing
Of the kind put up at this place when Gilmore made
his unsuccessful advance few days SINCE They bad
! evidently not yet completed the works here An
finished abatis composed Of only sixteen sharpsned
trees ound by the rebels OF not the least service
When the negroes found themselves within the works Of
the enemy words could paint their delight Numbers
o. them kissed the gun they had captured with
CANT satisfaction, and fevsrish anxiety manifested to
get ahead and charge more Of the rebel works
number Of the colored troops wounded and few
killed In the first charge. large crowd congregaed,
with looks Of unultsrab!e admiration, about Sergeant
Richardson and Corporal wobey OF tho Twenty second
United States coored regiment, who had carried the
coors OF their regiment and been the first in the
works.
The rebel force had believed to be merely Peters
burg militia and but little doubt bad been entertained
OF being able TO enter Petersburg with the
Gilmore could bavo done the last OCCASION His
attempt found, however, had prepared the enemy.
and additional works and additional men found in
position between us and the city VIC coveted
BuooKs ADVANCES
and waiting orders to charge the work they
afterwards carried, Brooks division began TO make ms
appearance, and In very short interval Of time
position on their right, and moving forward TO flank the
euemy TO turn his lett while Kinks changed his 'front.'
Unexpectedly to everybody, however, the darkies
cessuy carried the rebel position before Brooks vete
could interfere, and they in consequence not
engaged until the grand fight in the evening They lost
many slightly wounded through the day. from the
l.Itat G.t--
which they had to sustain while getting
into position 1t would require than heavy she'll
ing, however, drive back Brooks, aud the gallant sol
der held his position, aud carried out General Smiths
orders throughout the day with his usual systematic
coolness.
MARTiSDAIE's DIVISION
which had to take another road after crossing the pom
toon, and thus compelled 10 make a crcutous march
along the winding Appotomaox, not the enemys
front until near midday.
TIE LINE
General Smith gradually formed his line Of battle along
the whole rebel 'front.' and about the rapid discharges
Of Kautz's howtzers, ana the far of cheering and
mpercepblc discharges OF his carbnes. the cavalry
charged sot showed that this splendid and successful
officer making desperate efforts to carry the massive
works bis front All through the afternoon Brooks,
the CENTRE and Martndale and Kinks bis snks,
srmishing with enemy but owing TO the formidable
character of the rebel works and the difficult nature OF
the ground II only with the difficulty that the
troops could be properly disposed for charging effect
lively.
TAKEN.
simultaneous advance Of the three infantry divisions,
after desperate 6ght carried the enemys outer line,
and succeeded in getting good position which TO
artillery to operate their main works.
which discovered to be strong earth orks anked
here and there by massive earn FORTS Beauregard has
evidently not forgotten his engineering skill, and every
position was admirably selected.
The ARTILLERY coMxASpER.
The artillery wns under the direction Of Captain Folle
chief OF that in this corps, and composed Of
pieces some Of which were magnificent rincd guns.
Thompsons James and Belee's batteries were Soon ie
position high groand Immediately In front Of Brooks,
between the CiyPont and Jordan roads and commenced
succession Of artillery voeys that drowned ovey other
sound and completely sienccd the rebel guns. Their
discharges nled the air with aud dust, that OBJ
scured all view
The GRAND CHARGE
Night was rapidly approaching when the charge was
finally ordered by General Smith. Al hafpast 1ve
NJ Brooke advanced the centre with tho thirteenth
New Hampshire. Eighth Connecticut Ninety. second and
one Hundred and Eighteenth New York, Of Burnhams
BRIGADE on bis frsnt When they approached the rebel
works they for the nrst time realized their formidable
character.
GENERAL suRvnAa,
however, dauntiessy pushed on and the event justified
lis action His brigade rushed through the bitches aud
moats and clambered the high walls with loud cheer,
aud the demoralized rebels fed before him. In Ave min
ues he had carried their works and captured six guns,
battle flag and two hundred and forty prisoners
GENERAL naRnSpAtn's ACTION.
MartindsIe right, swept the open country,
with sannard leading, and, carrying the rebel pcsiion
captured three guns and number OF prisoners
y~p A 4
Kinks charged simultaneously with his segroes and
carrying three lines Of ntrenchments drove the enemy
before him like sheep, and planted his coIcrs their
fort,6ca,ious great success had been accomplished