Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-06-23
HEADQUARTERS OF THE SECOND ARMY CORPS,
Nenr Prfarshurp lime IL 1864


Near Petersburg June Is, 1864.
At eleven O'Clock last night furious at.ck was made
Burnsde's 'front.' at the point where yesterday morning
he attacked the rebel position with such effect capturing
line of works, with several pieces Of artillery and about
Ave hundred prisoners After contest in which
our behaved admirably the fort was reoccuped by
the enemy.
With the exception of change of their defensive lines
by the enemy this morning nothing of Importance has
transpired to day
1t was designed to change the rebel position early this
morning by simultaneous attack by the several corps with
Badly Smith the right Brney with the Second Corps on
Smiths left, Warren, with portion of the Filth Corps
next in lne and Burnside the left At daylight how.
ever it discovered that the enemy had during the
night quietly withdrawn bs lines to point within mile
of the city, where line of defences had been pre-
pared This doubtless made necessary the frequent
and threatening demonstration made by Brney, Barlow
and Burnside during Thursday and Friday which resulted
the loss to the enemy of what Hancock regards the
key to the position they then occupied.
The change in the line has had the effect to concentrate
the forces under Beauregad while enables troops
cover important approaches to the left and right and
places the city within range OF our Of about fourteen
hundred yards.
AT about FIVE O'Clock this afternoon an advance upon the
rebel lines ordered, with view to more thoroughly
developing his situation. This accomplished, with
considerable loss, however in wounded Birneys division
suffered the most.
From prisoners learn that Beauregad with his main
army commands the defences Of the city, though it
evident that LoDgstreet, Wilcox and Ewe have por
tions of their commands to operate under Bssuegard it,
indeed their entire corps not present No decisive
evidence has yet appeared prove the presence our
front of more than small portion of Lees army There
is an apparent effort on the part Of the rebel leaders to
mIsesd TO the present disposition Of their forces
the prisoners captured invariably admit that they have
been instructed by their officers to only Beauregard
az their commander at this place
There has been ss fEng this evening than al suy time
since operations commenced ut this point Tomorrow
may witness the evacuation of Petersburg by the enemy
which occurrence will not surprise general officers at
headquarters.
BEFORE PETERSBURG, JUNE l5-10P. M.
In my last mentioned the assault by the third division
Of the Ninth Corps, at three yesterday which was
unsuccessful The charge made the line OF breast
works opposite our left and running corn6ed in
front of and parallel with track of pine woods The third
division advanced from their own position across rayne
running parallel with the bresstwork and over the crest
Of its further decsy into the open fields before the works
Then under heavy he they advanced across the field
nearly to the rife plts before them but their having ta
eight hollow, which afforded shelter from the
shower of bullets that bad been peltng them they stopped
and did not advance further
At ak p M Gen Ledlie's division OF the Fret corps
was ordered to renew the attempt Gen. Ledlie formed
his attacking column under Of the rnvne above
toned, In three ln the first brigade Col Gould second
brigade Colonel Pierce, and third brigade, Col Marshall
succeeding each other in the order named Reaching the
open held at the top Of tae slope and emerging they
started for the entertainments with fixed bays
nets and without stopping 10 fire gun. Tyo satteres
TO the left and to the right poured sbesvy enadng
FIRE of grape and canister into them they advanced
while another firing at extremely short range directly
la front, combined with musketry 1t was terrible tenn
pest OF deadly missiles to through and many GOOD
man fell on the way but the work was nevertaeless 40
comp ished In gallant sye The enemy displayed the MT
most pertnacity and IN the neps the FIGHT was waged
band TO hand and large numbers Of dead rebels were left
in them, mingled with own men
Alter being driven from the main line the enemy rahed
At the second and smaller line not moro aan one hundred
yards 10 the rear from which .so they were driven but
rayng' egain Ietook tnem but again compelled TO
retreat still they returned to the charge four several
times rushing from the woods in our sront with degree
OF determination that seemed pexbaa.ble and after dark
wnen t3e nrng mad somewhat subsidized, their skrmhers
cswed forward and scooped out in tho light sand so
the'r little rhe-pits A. close |. possible TO lines