Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-06-16
THE MOVEMENT ON PETERSBURG, (vA.)

The movement on Petersburg (Va) last week was
made with about FIVE thousand men, uId,r the command
of Gen. Gilmore and Gen. Kautz The latter had four
teen hundred cavalry and the former brigade OF hrs
corps and brigade of colored troops under the
immediate command OF Gen. Hncks. The particulars of
the expedition are given in the annexed letter;
HEADQUARTERS IN THE FIELD, JUNE 9 1864.
Last evening there was uhusual sir around head
quarters Stat officers and orderes arrived and departed
quick succession An indt aabie feeling Of rxpecta
ton was experienced by everybody La Gen. Buffers
tent q counci of held Gems Gilmore aud Kautz
had arrived shortly after sunset and remained in conuta
ton with the Commanding General for severa hours Dur
ing the still hours of the night troops down and
TO the easIery side of the Appomatox pom
toon bridge hundred feet in length had bean thrown
over the river, about quarter OF mile below Point OF
RocAs On the bridge had been placed thick covering
of hay to deaden the sound made by the troops they
marched across. They numbered about tour thousand,
and were composed of infantry, cavalry aud artillery
Gems. Gilmore and KauiZ in command.
Between midnight and two O'Clock this msrning the
troops crossed noiseessy and safely They rested for
about hour and then took their line of march for
Petersburg Gen Gilmore with the infantry, regi
ment OF cavalry, and oil Gen Hncks coored troops
was to enter the city by OF the country roads Gen
Kauz, with his cavalry, 10 enter by the turnpike
the south side Of the city aud destroy iron broge
that pace If they found il possible to hold the city they
were to do But the principal object to destroy
the immense Quantities OF Government stores at that
point
Gen Butler had laid his plans for the capture of Peters
burg with great skill 1t appeared almost impossible that
the expedition should prove fixture The rebels
known TO have very respectable force 'front.' and
to prevent them annoying the of the column
manded by Gems Gilmore and Kauz, he had determined
to engage their batteries during the whole day With that
obj view he proceeded to the front shortly after
O'Clock this morning, and remained at the sigma station
the vicinity OF Fort Wisconsin during the whole day
Our gunboats had received orders to pay their respects
TO Fort Clifton This is the strongest of the rebel works
on our front The firing from the Commodore Perry and
other gnnboats stationed in the App0mattox river
beautifully accurate The report Of heavy gun heard
aud few seconds it followed by lesser report
he shell had burst right inside the rebel works the
white puff Of smoke indicated. Firing continued dur
ing the whole day from batteries and aso from the
eun6oats he guns in the rebel Fort Clifton replied very
eebly and either Of very small cabra or the ammun
hon they use Is of an inferior quality for not in dozen
OF their shells at all near GU works
The expedition to facilitate and insure the success of
Inch all the above mentioned precautions had been taken
by General Butler, took up it's line Of march for Peters
burg about three o'clock this morning The roads were
dry and IN capital marching condition Skrmisbers
sent ahead and also placed either flank After march
ing unmoested for about two miles General Kauiz with
his veteran raiders turned sharply Of left and Gen
Gilmore, with reg Of cavalry the infantry coored
troops and several pieces Of artillery t. the right
They to reunite their forces the CITY Of Petersburg
The line Of march Of Gen Glmores troops was through
pleasant country In short time lew shots were fired
at Gen Gilmore aud his stsf. while riding the head of
tue column None OF the shots however took effect The
Generals escort push ahead aud again voey fred
his time one solder wounded and several horses
were MANNED Until the column arrived within about
miles OF Petersburg the skrmshng continued but large
force of rebels encountered
On arriving within sight of Petersburg Gen Gilmore
accompanied by Brig Gen. Foster rrconnoered the enc
mys works. and found that Beauegard for the defence of
the CITY, had thrown up most elaborate and perfect series
OF works. few united we're ordered forward
when the fact was ascersned that tee works fully
manned and tbs rebels alert TO receive our troops
During Gen. Gimore's march up from the river woman
had come forward with the intelligence that B.aureQar
had received information Of our intended movement as
early o'clock r NJ Wednesday iust twelve hours
before our troops began to After giving the sub
jet due consideration And consulting with his sts n fl
GERS, Gen Gilmore decided return TO the Appomsttox
No word bad been received from Gen Ksuz and no firing
bad bern heard except the gunboats and the
on our front We proceeded a very eisurey pace ON
our way back to the aud there safely
about fve O'Clock this evening Gen Oil more's loss ali
told, is about twenty FIVE wounded did not learn that
any deaths had taken place
Gen. Kauiz with his tried and veteran raiders sbout
eighteen hundred in NUMBER rode to the soutb
ana finally struck the turnpike leading to Petersburg
They then rode bky forward and appear to have ken
the enemy considerably by surpre for they managed to
enter the rebel works. and actually penetrated for short
distance hin the city. Fndng however that General
Gilmore aud bis troops had failed n the cooperating
msDt and that he in danger being surrounded
and cut on retreat ordered They, however man 4
ng-d to bring of with them large number Of prs ,uer.
and several pieces light ARTILLERY. The destruction Of
the bridge not tocted in consequence Of the rspdty
with which the rebels gathering 10 his and on
his TANKS.