The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1864-06-17
Washington, June 18th, 1864.

To Major General Dix:
The following dispatches have beer
received by this department
City Point. June 15.-Via jamestown
Island, a. m, 10th. Gen. Smith, with
$4,000 men attacked Petersburg this
morning. Gen. Butler reports from his
observatory, near Bermuda Hundred, that
there has been sharp fighting, and that
the troops and trains of the enemy were,
moving from the city across the Apo
mattox, as if retreating Hancock is not
near enough to render Gen. Smith any
aid.
The Richmond papers have nothing to
indicate suspicion of our crossing the
James River. They expect to be attacked
from the direction of Malvern Hill.
City Point, June 10, 2:30 p. m.-Our
latest report from Smith was at 4 D. m.
He had carried line of entertainments
at Beatty's House, the colored troops as
saulting and carrying the rife-pits with
great gaIlantry, but he had not yet carried
the main line He describes the rebel
artillery fire as very heavy, lie expects
to assault the line just before dark.
Hancock is within three miles of Smith
City Point, June 10th, 7 a. m, via
jamestown Island Has a. NAT 1920
p. N. yesterday, Smith assaulted and car
ried the principal line OF the enemy be-
fore Petersburg, taking 16 eannass<Es
eral stand of colors, and between 300 ~.
400 prisoners. The line is two l,niles
from Petersburg. Hancock GOT Vi, and
took position on Smiths left. To-day
there was heavy firing In that direction,
from five to six o'clock No report has
been received yet.
bout Hard Landing, Virginia, June
10TH p. m.-After sending my dis
patch of this morning from the heights
south east of Petersburg, | went over the
conquered line with General Grant and
several engineer officers. The works are
Of the very strongest kind-more diff
cult TO take than was Missionary Ridge,
at Chattanooga The hardest fighting
was done by the black troops. The forts
they stormed were the worst of ALL After
the affair was over, Gen. Smith went to
thank them and tell them he was proud Of
their courage and dash o1vsays they
cant be oxcelled as soldiers,tt ID hereafter
he will send them in as difficult places as
the best white troops They captured
six out of the sixteen cannon.
The prisoners we took were from Beau
regards command. Some Of them said
they had jast crossed the James, above
Drury's Bluff | do not think any Of
Lees army had reached Petersburg when
Smith stormed it. They seem to be ma
king arrangements to bold the west side
of the Appomatox. The town they can
not think OF holding, as it lies directly
under our guns. The weather is splendid.
City Point, Ais p. IN, June 10TH
Gen. Butler reports, from Bermuda Hun
dred that the enemy have abandoned.the
works in front of that place His troops
are now engaged in tearing up the rail
road between RchmonG and Petersburg.
The following despatch does not desig-
nate the hour but it is supposed to be
later than the previous ones.
Jamestown, Val came down from
the pontoon above Fort Powhattan with
dispatches for Secretary Stanton. Just
as left, Capt. Picket reported to me that
Petersburg was in our possession,
Nothing Of recent date has been heard
from Gen. Sheridan, but the Richmond
Wing of the 10Th contains dispatch
from Lee, stating that Sheridan had been
routed in an engagement with Fitzhugh
Lee and Hampton, losing 500 prisoners
and leaving his dead wounded on the
field
a dispatch dated last night, at 8 o'clock
has been received from Gen. Sherman
1t only states the relative position Of the
forces. No serious engagement had oc
CURED, but bitter engagement was ex.
pected with the enemy
(Signed,) T.. M. STANTON,
oC