The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1864-08-25

and fce. A, last an impcrious military necessity
induced our ot'cers 10 take action. and our arul-
lerv ofeuei q mur,ierous fire, which saved the
corps and probably The entire army, at great
and terrible sscrih+e. The srring mass II friends
and fce were swept away In a few m nutcs, anil
this event, which may tc dcplorcj tut cannot he
censlrrs, contribute. to swell the aggregate Of our
lcsss during the day.
On Saturday the operations were chiefly directed
10 bringing up rccnforcencnts and planting cav
airy in pJstiou-s work Of almost incredible difh-
Guilty, in consequence OF the hoavlncss u the
roads induced by the rain. OR position scross the
railroad consisted ot an oIcn tract, surrounded cn
three sides by belt a timber, within which our
lines constructed IN horseshoe form with the
outer curve towards The enemy. The rebels form
cd In the open space between our entertainments
and the wcods and II important TO note that a
sccton Il The railroad nclulci in the curve oi
lines.
On sunday morniog extensive picket firing
curred but no movement Of importance took place
until A. NJ, when the enemy advanced under
cover of eonvcrging FIRE " artillery. Our guns
responded, when n brisk csnDonading cnsucd,
during which our troops prepared for the assault
that the enemy evidently designed N make. The
stur burst the portion OF our works held hv Gen.
Cuticrs IL vision, and the lca Of Gen. Ayers The
relels evidently believed that this constituted our
extreme lca- aud attempted. therefore. to turn our
flank, and insert an entering weige between our
columns or roll them back. With this Wow, they
charged In three columns Nruss the open space be-
tween our lines and the timber belt, our artillery
pouring into thor ranks deadly tire II shell and
grsJe, which cAusei thom to rcco IN confusion.
They first hestaed, aud then rctfesc,l, leaving in
our hands bVo prsoners. Our loss IN this affair
was comparatively slght, as our troops fought un-
der cover, while the enemy necessarily suffered
most severely. Among the prisoners WAS = num-
Der ~ Confederate officers Of hish rank.
The resumption Of scivc operations the south
sids Of the james yer, has induced the recall of
General hsncock's Corps and the greater part of
the iorces employed on the north bank. Only .
slight force now remains on the peninsula which,
bnuevcr. ic streuctleucd at pplaufe. 3D AS To
threaten Fort Darling and Richmond. General
Grant having apparently adopted hi present line
~ W cover all probable CON. ngenoies.
BY TELEGRAPH
Rebel Abandonment Of the Attempt to Re.
cupturc the NeIdon Railroad, Etc.
Heldgudytsys Army Of the Potomac, August
23-The enemy early yesterday morning dissp-
peared from the front Of the Fifth and Ninth Corps
on the Weldon Railroad, and the belief is that the
attempt to regain possession Of this important line
of communication has been abandoned, and that
the enemy are fortifying their eft flank " resist
an attack in this direction from our forces. They
may, however, be preparing 10 make dash our
! line in some other direction. Occasional hiring has
teen going on along the centre, aad was quite
| lively during tho night. This morning occasional
shots are heard. The roads continue wet, making
travel very difficult. Abort thirty rebels were
brought In during the night, principally South
Carolinisns, most Of whom claim to he desertcrs.
The story, however Is not believed, ss the soldiers
| from that State have furnished fewer descrters
\ to side than any other in the Confederacy
| They arr strong, hearty looking men, and seem Il
think the end Of the struggle is at hand, and they
believe Petersburg to be almost within grssI,
and thai 1t will be ia our possess oA at ear
day.
From Fortress Monroe.
Fortress Monroe, Aug. 20, rtd Blltmore Aug
H.-Ihe mail steamer Keypor, from City Point
has arrived here with ninety rebel efccrs, csp,ur
ed in he reccn, operations on the Weldon railroad
The privatos captured during the same now
| said to number between 100 and $40. They vii
be brought down tomorrow. Our forcos have I'd
vanccd ON the Weldon Railroad 10 within two mile,
OF Petersburg without opposition. The rebels hav,
retired within their csrthworkss and longer dis
putc the pcssesson Of tie Weldon line. The Dan
willie road Is naturally the Vt In order to roccv,
Gen. warrcn's respects. Indeed, it is rumore,
here this morning, that a cavalry dash in that di
rection has already been made.
Rebel Prisoners.
Wd'hiagtoh Aug. 2i.-The mail steamer to-day
troueh, up about sixty robcl officers, including
colonel, major and captain, and lieutenant cap
turcd on Sunday.
All quiet on Tucssiny Another Rattle ex'
| pectcd.
w York, Aug. 2I.-wc learn through priva,
sources that on Tuesday morning all WAS quie
with Gen. Grants army, but another battle wa
expected ON that day, the Rebels still being de
sirous Of shaking Gen. Grants grasp Oh the weldo
Rsilrosi- The utmost confidence was felt by on
forces in their ability 10 hold It
GENERAL SHERIDAN.
Continuous SkirInishing.
Hdrpers Ferry, Va, August es.-The position
OF our array still remains unchanged. A stron
1.-Two If faptrongh,napts have ta.t tbrntu, out g.