The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1864-05-13
From the Peninsula.

WASHINGTON, May g. 1s64-The following ia
narrative Of events IN Gen. Buffers department
during the past week.
On Monday the ID instant, our forces being
encampcd from Yorktown 10 williamsburg Gen
Butler took heet Of transports up York river 10
West Point with large quantity Of timber anda
body Of wOrkmen to construct a wharf. The
enemys scouts filed the country watching cur
movements and could be seen scampering Il
towards Richmond with intelligence doubtless Of
this supposed attempt 60 land cur forces there.
On Wednesday morning oar TROOPS embarked
at Yorktown and IN twenty-four hours our troops
were being landed at City Point and Bermuda
Hundred, on the James river.
he negro troops are commanded by General
Hicks. On our way up the river two bridges
were left under Gen Weit2el at Wilson's landing
Gen. Hicks landed his negro troops at City Point
on Thursday night. Ehey marched up the hill
with cheer, pulled down the rebel flag, and tear
ing 1t into fragments divided the pieces among
themselves. They took about forty prisoners
here and held the point unmolested
Our white troops were landed at Bermuda Hun
dred, long and narrow peninsula on the south
side Of the river three miles above City Point
Areconnoisance was Immediately made by Gen.
Butler IN person, in which he narrowly escaped
being taken prisoner. His orderly only a short
distance from him was captured.
ON Friday the peninsula was fortified at Ne
naIrowost part, some five miles out towards the
railroad On Saturday a strong force or
derod TO advance 10 the Petersburg and Rich
mond railroad to break the communication
fight OF six or eight hours onsued, at the end q
which our forces had gained the railroad and torn
up two or three miles of track.
On Saturday tn rebels came down to the river
with battery and fired into our gunboats. The
second shot struck the boiler of the Suwanee and
exploded IT, cavalry expedition was sent out
simultaneously with the expedition up the river
IN a direction which need not be mentioned
On Saturday night our scouts brought intelh.
gcncc that there was great cOmmOtion in Peters
burgh IN consequence Of information that there
lsrrr log a. Al.
leading south and southeast Gen Beauregard
Is in command at Petersburg His force Ii est.
mated at not over six thousand men.
Con. Badly smith and Gen Gilmore are with
Gen. Butler.
Two regiments Of colored cavalry were soutup
the Peninsula from Williamsburg to Bottom.
bridge, under Col. West. At the latter place ths7
met the enemy dismountod, and had a sharI
fight with carbines. They drove the rebels n
and brought back torty-oight hOrses and saddles
but no prisoners.
On saturday last Beauregard with 1860 men
made a surprise attack upon Gen. Butler abou.
ten miles from Richmond So sudden and unaI.
pectcd was the encounter that Gen Butler HIM
ScI narrowly escaped capture Indeed his
orderly was captured fifty yards in front Of hin
The command being in readiness it quickly
PASSED from the defensive 30 the offensive pos-
ton, ana the enemy were most slgnally defeated
The World says: We have private adyices o
rumors To the effect that an attack had been
made on Fort Darling, which reports went on t
say, had been captured
1t was further rumored that the obstructioi
IN the James river had been removed by ile
/ Devil" and other inventions. which had accom-
panied the Monitor tiect, in which case the gun
boats could go up and shell Richmond
The HerGldS letter from Gen. Buffers ARM
has an account of battle between Gen Brooks
command and the rebels for the possession y
the railroad between Petersburg and Richnol-
/ The railroad was gained and crossed by rs fsO
| or three times once on account of the ammunition
| giving out 1t was lost and again because TIE
enemy had massed al that point and pressed o
back by their large number The last time We
gfasped the prize we held it long enough 20 g.
complish the object of the movement The raj
road bridge crossing one of the tributaries u ~
! pomatox within seven miles OF Petersburg We
set on fire and totally consumed The ralnM
1 track was torn up and destroyed for some Gs
lance and the road rendered useless long enough
Tor our forces 10 carry out other and more inpi
tant operations. Many Of the killed and wounft
were necessarily left in the field near the railroad
as the enemy massing themselves were abe y
drive Us away before We could get all the disabled
70 the rear Onf losses are estimated at abO~ =
$50 or more in killed and wounded
The Philadelphia correspondent Of the yer 4
chants Exchange, telegraphs that he hasiinG
/ good authority that Gen. Butler has cepIai@
! Fort Darling
| The Herald says: We learn that Gen Butte
commenced bis march ''on Richmond" from "
south side carly Monday morning. One ds''
uninterrupted march would bring his troops II
the James river, opposite the city. We hl
therefore expect important news from thasqaH
/ ter,