The weekly union record., 1864-06-25
News Of the Week.

unintelligible than usual Enough has been
received, however, to show that the hero of
Vicksburg has completely outgensrale'i Lee in
leading him TO expect as attack upon the rebel
forces at MalEern Hill, and to make every
preparation at that point for general battle,
which anticipation is only ascertaioed to be
erroneous when the rebel General learns that
Grant and bis veterans have crossed the James
river and invested Petersburg, This is similar
to Grants programme in his Vicksburg cam
paign. in severing the communications of the
doomed city. and We have confidence il will
result in the capture of Richmond.
Below are the lates, dispatches:
New YoRK. June 20.-A dispatch from the
Headquarters of the Army of the Potomac
near Petersburg. Friday morning, SAYS: We
are again 10 front of the entire rebel army.
which has been engaged by our advance Of the
Second and Eighteenth Corps. Important
captures of guns, prisoners and positions have
been accomplished. The Second and Eighteenth
Corps are in line Of battle, aud, on the arrival
of the balance Of the troops, dispositions will
be made for the fual assault upon the enemy's
works. Since Tuesday night, when the Eigh-
teeuth Corps arrived, our lines have been
steadily pushed forward. Several strong posi-.
tions have been wrested by charges from the
enemy, and We have taken many hundred pris
ouers. Our advance is within half mile Of
Petersburg, which is 10 full view of almost our
entire line. Prisoners state that portions of
Lees army commenced arriving at Petersburg
on Wednesday night, only few hours after
the arrival of Hancock with the Second Corps
The City Point Railroad is no Y in our posses
sion. The Norfolk and Petersburg line is
commanded By our troops, the Eighteenth
Corps Of which landed at Bermuda Hundred,
and crossed the Appomattox on pontoons four
miles above the mouth, and penetrated south
ward TO within four miles before We encountered
opposition. Here skirmishing commenced, and
our lines drove back the enemy IS pickets. These
defenses were Immediately charged by Kinks
negro division, with splendid galIantry. The
enemy were put 10 fight. Two guns and a
considerable number of prisoners were captured.
The works were held until Hancock's arrival
Ol Wednesday, reconnaissance was made by
Hancock, and considerable skirmishing ensued
Only two divisions of the Second Corps, Bir.
ney'S and Gibbons. reached the field on Wed
nesday night. Barlow came up another road
at O'Clock on Thursday morning. The divis-
ions of Biruey and Gibbon deployed into line
OF battle, Birney occupying the left line and
Gibbon the right. On Barlow's arrival 10 the
morning be was ordered into position on the
left of Birney. Al 6 o'clock yesterday morning
the enemy opened heavy artillery fire on our
line. enflading it with batteries posted on our
left, rendering our advance or occupation of
position 10 the morning necessary. An advance
of the Second and Eighteenth Corps was
ordered by Hancock, who, in Meade's absence
took command of both corps, the several lines
of the rebel works being carried at the point
of the bayonet, and number of redOubts of
strength occupied. Sixteen guns were taken
and turned upon the enemy by the Eighteenth
Corps. Col. Egan's brigade of Birney's dvis
ion led the Second Corps, and gallaGtly drove
the enemy from his works, capturing formidable
redoubts and earthworks. Dwights and Gill's
batteries completely sienced the rebel artillery
on our left Col. Egan was seriously wounded
At O'Clock last night another charge was
made by the Second Corps, and an advanced
position was assumed and maintained, the line
thus occupied being rendered secure by the
of earthworks. 1t is impossible
to ascertain our losses, but 1900 probably will
cover it. 1t is regretted that our advance was
not pushed forward on Wednesday afternoon.
as prisoners concur in the statement that Wise's
brigade alone held the town until late 10 the
evening, when Lees troops commenced arriving.
Portions of his army marched from Malvern
Hill, crossing the James river on pontoons
above Fort Darling, while many were dis |
patched by the Petersburg Railroad. Our line
now formed faces the city from the east and
south, partly encircling it, and extends across
to City Point Railroad southwards to the |
vicinity of the Petersburg and Norfolk Rail- |
road. Burnside holds the left of our line, |
Hancock the center, and Smith the right The |
remainder of our troops arrived to day and will
be assigned positions. Our troops are confident |
Of final success.
Smith assaulted and carried the principal line |
Of the enemy's works before Petersburg on the |
18th, taking sixteen cannon, several stand of
colors, aud between three and four hundred |
prisoners. This line is two miles from Peters |
burg. The following has been received from !
Cen Butler, dated Donthard Landing, June |
10th, l P. NJ: Il went over the conquered |
works of the enemy with General Grant and |
engineer officers this morning. The works are |
Of the very strongest kind, and were more diff |
cult to take than Missionary Ridge at Chatta
nooga. The hardest fighting was done by the |
black troops. They captured six of the sixteen
cannon. The prisoners taken were from Beau
regards command. Some of them said they |
bad crossed the James river above Drury's /
Bluff. l don't think any of Lees army had |
reached Petersburg when Gen. Smith stormed /
the place. They seem 10 be making arrange !
ments to hold the west side of the Appomattox |
The town they cannot hold, as it lies exactly
under our guns
PHILADELPHIA. June 10Th President Lin
coin arrived at the Continental Hotel, to day /
At the Central Sanitary Fair, this evening, be /
briefly responded 10 toast and said Grant |
is this evening in position, with Meade and
Hancock, whence he can never be dislodged By
the enemy until Richmond be taken" lie |
declared his purpose of rapidly pouring to
Grant all the rcinforccments necessary to
capture Richmond
WASHINGTON, June l9th.-Dispatches from
Sheridan on another great raidl report vic |
tory over the enemy at Trevellyn Station. on |
the Virginia Central Railroad, q few miles !
north Of Gordonsyille. The enemy were found
massed at Gordonsvile in force, so no attack /