Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-06-18
Fighting around interchangeable
ported Evacuation of Richmond.

ported Evacuation of Richmond.
New York, June 1.-THE Times special
from Washington, dated 10th, says: One OF
Grants couriers,wh arrived here this morn
ing from Bermuda Hundred with dispatches
Tor the Government, says when he left yes
terday morning "Wednesday, 15th) fighting
was going on in the vicinity of Petersburg.
Cannonading and musketry firing, which
could be distinctly heard az the landing,
began at an early hour. 1t was very heavy
and appeared to be momentarily increasing
In severity. Grants whole army was across
the James river, its rear being several miles
west of Bermuna Hundred. The whole of
Smiths corps has arrived. Several thou
sand fresh reinforcements reached Bermu-
da Hundred, and more are coming up. The
9TH corps had the advance. lie thinks Pc
tersburg, before this, Is in our hands, as the
rebels had but q comparatively small force
there to defend it. Nothing had been heard
from Sheridan.
Especial to The Times.l
HEADQUARTERS BERMUDA HUNDRED, June
15.-2 A. M.-The 18th army corps, Gen.
Smith, detached from the Army OF the PO-
tomac on Monday, rejoined Buffers COM
mand last evening, landing at Point of
Rocks, AppomattoX river. On reporting to
Butler, orders were Immediately issued to
Smith to move at A. NJ, this morning,
upon Petersburg in conjunction with
strong cavalry force under Kautz. While
we are penning these lines the rumble of ar
tillery and Gathering of horses, as they
cross the pontoon bridges over the river Is
distinctly heard. Hancock crossed near
Fort Powhattan, about ten miles below
City Point. Gen. Benham arrived last night
with additional pontoOn trains, and Is cross
in Mt
spent nearly all to-day with Butler, visiting
the line of intrenchments at this point, and
expressing himself well pleased with the
condition of affairs here.
Butler to-day relieved Gilmore from conf
mand of the 10th corps. The ground of
this action is alleged to be diatoriness in
moving his troops on Petersburg last Thurs
day. Gilmore has asked a court of inquiry
to investigate the matter.
The Tribune's correspondent fJune 18th,
says the movement to James was in columns.
Hancock at the right nearest the Chickl-
hominy, Burnside on the lett, and Wright
in the centre. Sheridan is off with the
divisions of Gregg and TOrbett, to find
Hunter and pilot him in this direction.
The Herald's correspondent with Butler,
18th, says Kautz left here last night with a
large force of cavalry in the direction of
Petersburg.
The Herald's Fortress Monroe correspon
dent says the capture of Petersburg will
place us in possession of the key to all the
railroads connecting Richmond with the
south, preventing supplies from reaching
Richmond; also the rebel conscripts in that
direction. The only railroad open is the
Lynchburg and Danville and that is at
tended to by Hunter and Sheridan.
The Worlds Washington special says rll-
mors are rife that the rebels have evacuated
Richmond. The rebel Congress adjourned
hastily-without closing the business be-
fore them, and not only the prisoners but
non-combatants have been removed south.
1t is said the evacuation was provided for
three months since, when they commenced
removing the public archives to Columbia,
South Carolina, Macon, Georgia, and other
places. A heavy exodus of women and
children recently came, who think the place
is evacuated now, and that Grant can take
it without struggle. The capital was
never in such danger. The railroads south
are in Grants hands, and Averill's forces in
possession of the Danville road, and the
capital is completely isolated.