Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1864-07-06
THE WAR NEWS,
FROM GEN. GRANTS ARMY.
Iron. the Correspondent of tho n. Y, World

corps, without any opposition to speak of
oeing offered by the enemy, yesterday a
party sent out TO destroy the road were
set on by Anderson's division, of A. P.
llilIs corps ond driven off dsastrously.
lhis morning we take and hold it unmq-
Tested. What can be the enemy's reason
tor thus deserting this important point
has been tho cause of much speculation.
Before proceeding to give the particu.
lars Of yesterdays fight il will be necesso-
rry TO give an idea Of the formation of our
line at this point. The Sixth corps held
the lett Of our position the division be-
ing deploped as follows! Generals Wright
and Ricketts, were on the prolongalioN Of
:ae main lie on the left flank, while Gen.
" hea:on was swung around at right an
| giles with these divisions, and facing the
railroai, for the purpose of protecting the
Hanks from Gen. Wheaton's front, The
attack was made he having reason to be-
lleve that the enemy was not before his
position in much force, lie senta party
OF eighty shaTpshooters, Under CAPTAIN
Beattle, OF the fourth Vermont yolun-
teers, to see what was there, and if posi-
| ble 10 adyancedo and damage the railroad.
Quite large number Of pioneers were al
so attached to Captain Beaitie's party.
Cautiously leaving our works, they crept
stealthily toward the point where il had
been decided they should strike. SO cum
nInglr were their movements executed,
that ere the rebel cavalry yide!ts were
ware Of their prc,ence, our men were act
ually among them. When they discover
ed the dangerous proximity Of this dating
little force, il is safe TO assert they were
not long about surrendering all claim. to
the Weldon railroad, and bidding q spec
| dy adteu ta the vicinity. For the next
scene We witness, Is men busily moving
to and fro rlong the road, hammerng,
tearing, and burning "a they went Al
ready had they destroyed nearly 4 quarter
of a mile of ties, and rails and culverts,
when the enemy in force was seen advNn-
eng on them. The enemy's line, which
was formed to face the railroad, moYed
quickly toward !hcm, expecting to drive
| them off without trouble but in this some
one appears to have been mistaken, for
instead of fleeing preciptately, the sharp
shooters quit their works on the road and
opened fire on the advancing rebels. The
yolley did not check them, however. and
gradually our mcE fell back to hill, on
the crest of which they made another
stand. Another inc of the enemy was
now to be sPen advancing to the support
Of their first line. Strange as it may APP
pear, they had no skirmishers deployed.
but advanced on tho hill in two simple
lines Of battle. Support was immediate
ly sent to our little band, among whom
were the Fourth and Eleventh Vermont
volunteers.
The supports we're deplcyed as skirmish,
ers, and thus disposed, awaited the enc
my On he came, near and still nearer,
when suddenly our line of skirmishers o.
pcned on him with deadly effect. The
well-directed fire staggered him lie en-
deavorcd to recover, but failing, he fell
back on his second line, apparently salts
fed. The enemy Withdrew short dis.
tance then, facing by the flank, moved
toward the left Of our line. The troops
on the hill crest were, with the exception
of the Fourth and battalion of the FL
evcnth Vermont, now ordered to fall back
to the main line Of skirmishcr', which or
der they had hardly fulfilled when the
rebels threw force behind the detached
troops on the hill, aud before supp ,rt
could reach them, captured the 90 lire
party. Stimulated b, tnis partial success
thev made anJther dash ut our main line,
but tho strong line of skirmishers cover
ing il easily, held them at bay for several
hours, when they suddenly retired, with
out having seen our works.
TO find them and learn the exact point
on which our left rested was undoubted-
ly the object of the enemy, who, although
attacking in two strong lines, was eiiectu-
ally thwarted by our skirmisher, alone
for the skillful manouyering of which, too
much praise cannot b. bestowed on Colo
mel Pingrer, Of the Third Vermont, who
commanded them, The attacking party
proved to be Anderson's division, Of 4.
p. Hills corp, ard some Others. They had
made grand detour around Petersburg
for the purpose of deceivng our generals
by leading them to believe an attack was
to be made elsewhere.
The fact of their arriving at the railroad
| lust as our men got well to work, was sim
pie chance. Our loss in killed, wounded
and prisoners was modor1te the chief
loss being the regiment before mentioned.
The encmys loss is known to have been
vastly greater engaged us they were a.
gainst our heavy skirmishing line. Spec
ial mention will be made Of Colonel Pin
grer and Captain Beatlie for the eflicien-
cy and bravery displayed 10y them on this
occasion.
AT the commencement of my dispatch
announced the capture of the railroad
party advancing against it At o'clock
this morning, discovered il had been A.
bandoned by the enemy. Renforcements
were Immediately sent them. and the
road is now in our possession While mo-
wing down renforcemens on the line OF
the railroad, the enemy opened with ar.
tilery on them. General Birncy. COM
manding the Second corps, soon silenced
} the battery in very particular manner,
by throwing shells into the city. He has
found this very efieotive way to force
them to cease firing.
A mulatto who has just come inside our
lines reports Petersburg % Be filled 0ih people,
oil The Inhabitants ,rilhiu n rg1i,is of Ten miles