The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-08-30
THE BATTLE NEAR PETERSBURG,
On, .Sunooy the 21st Of August.
From the Richmond Dispatch.

Early in the forenoon of Sunday our line Of bat
.le was formed east and west of the railroad and
an advance ordered. The troops moved forward
TO the work before them in beautiful order and the
best of spirits. They succeeded in driving the
enemy out Of their front lines of breastworks back
upon their main line, capturing three hundred pri-
soners Before the enemy were forced back, they
hotly contested the ground for an hour or two, but
we're finally compelled yield to the heroic valor
of our troops. In the meantime, fierce artillery
duel was 10 progress, the enemy throwing shell and
canister at our racks and batteries in the rear
replyiDp 1t is stated that in this contest one OF
those catastropbes occurred which We have so fire.
auen,Iy beer called upon TO record during this
war, namely: that number Of our troops on por-
ton of the line were killed and wounded by the
fire of our own batteries. The eneny's main
works on the railroad being deemed too strong to
attack our forces hela the second line of cntrench
ments.
Meantime an important movement was started
towards the euemy's extreme left, about o mile
vest of the railroad. body of our troops, acting
in conjunction with others, was sent down the
Vaughan road, some three our four miles distant
from the city, to reconnoitre the enemy's position
in that directions and ascertain their strength there
with a view to further operations 1t was discov-
cred that the Yankees had extended their lines
west to the Vaughan road, in the direction OF Pop
Tar Springs Church, and we're busily engaged IN
fortifying. An attempt to turn their flank proved
unsuccessful. Our troops carried their outer
works, but the inner were found to be Of such
great strength, and SO strongly defended by artil-
lery, that their capture would have been matter
Of great doubt without fearful sacrifice of life
The advantages gained subsequently given
up, and our loss at thi. point will probably reach
several hundred.
It vas here that the gallant Brigadier- General
John G. c. Saunders, of Alabama, was killed while
leading his men in charge. General Saunders
has for some time past commanded Wilcox's old
Alabama brigade, and in all the fights around Pc
tcrsburg has displayed the most conspicuous
bravery He was not more than twenty-five years
Of age, and gave promise of glorious and distin-
suished career. lie was struck by MIME ball
IN the thigh and the femoral artery severed, which
produced such copous bleeding that he died before
it could he checked. Colonel Lamar, Of Florida,
was also MORALLY rounded.
1t is stated that in addition to the strong nature
of the works on the enemy's left, which we're
saulted by our fanking column, one of the main
causes of the repuse at that point was the giving
way of "a brigade at very critical moment, which
caused considerable confusion and gave the Yam
KEGS great advantage After capturing line of
the enemys skirmishers and reaching their strong
est works our troops were compelled to retro.
A strong demonstration was made by the enemy
on Sunday morning about eleven o'clock on our
left, on the City Point road, with view of
tanning the strength of our forces at that point
For half an hour the firing Of musketry and artil-
lery was very rapid. About the same time heavy
Smelling was opened by the enemy all along the
lines in Prince George, but nothing was accom-
plished.
At night as we'll as could be ascertained. the
about three miles from Petersburg, their right
extending the wooded country to the Jeru-
- A. IL l.
Vaughan road on the west. Along this whole
line they have strongly fortified themselves. In
their rear, on the line of the railroad and on both
sides, they have thrown up heavy works a pro-
lection against flank movements At the Yellow
Tavern and the Gurley House, batteries of heavy
guns are planted and at every point open to assault
they are strongly fortified.
While these movements have been in progress,
the Yankees have given share of their attention
to the destruction Of the railroad, and it is stated
that the track is torn up to and beyond Ream's
station, ten miles distant frcm Petersburg. Re-
ports have been brought in that the Yankee cav
airy, under the notorious Speer, were engaged in
destroying the track one mile beyond Ream's on
Sunday morning.
All accounts agree that the fight was a heavy
one but the battle for the possession of the rail
road is yet to be fought, aud the indications are
that it will be attended by great slaughter on both
sides
In the engagement of Friday, the eneny's loss
in killed and wounded is represented to have been
very heavy, besides the large number of prisoners
captured We lost some prisoners and consider
able number wounded, but a small proportion
killed.
Passengers by the Petersburg train represent
that the affair of Sunday was much less disastrous
than it was reported to have been. Some say that
our loss not over seven hundred, and the high
est estimate that heard was one thousand, kill.
ed, wounded and missing, 49,
The Richmond Dispatch of the GATH says:
In three recent battles Thursday, Friday and
Sunday, the enemys loss, including prisoners
could not have been less than eight thousand: pro-
badly more. Our loss has not yet been stated Off
cialiy. butwe assured that it is much less than
that of the enemy.
The Petersburg Express relates an incident of
General Hagood, in Sundays fight, which adds
another to the laures previously won By that cal
liant officer. During the thickes: of the fight on
the Vaughan road Yankee colonel captured one
of the coors of his command. General Haeood, |
witnessing the act, and not wishing to lose even
one of the flags which had been borne so noby aud
CALAMITY on many bloody fields, confronted the |
Yankee officer and demanded its restoration. A |
refusal was given, and the two officers became en- |
gagged In hand-to- hand encounter the result of |
which was that Genera! Hagood slew his oppo-
nent aud bore off the flag in triumph.
A RAID INTO ILLINo1s-FIvE STEAMERS CAP. |
rURED AND BoNDED-Cairo August l5-About |
i've hundred rebel cavalry, under Colonel johnson,
crossed the Ohio river into Illinois, at Sabine Bar
Satnr0aV. H. -: