Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-08-24

YELLOW HOUSE, August 10, A. M
About five miles from Petersburg stands
the yellow house. The Weldon Railroad,
running directly north and south, divides
into two semicircles this beautiful farm.
Our earthworks extend along the road a
short distance, and, meeting the rebel bat
teries, turn off to the right, mutilating
magnificent field of corn, destroying the
symmetry of well-cropped hedges, and
Joining the timber again far to the right
and rear. In this field, on an easy rise OF
ground, occurred the conflict. The rebels
wished to preserve their railroad intact,
and our aim was to make them rellnquish
all hold upon it until such time as we
thought proper. Heth's division Oh Hllfs
corps guarded this point. They perhaps
numbered between three and five thousand
men. How came we upon them SO sudden
ly? Why was our visit so unexpected. or
tLev SO unprepared for an attack? This
has been a subject of wonder to me- IL
would be to any one who had ridden over
the ground, torn up at intervals OF ten or
fifteen feet to form shelters for pickets and
sbarpshooters. The march of the 9th corps
was arduous. The distance travelled was
not more than five or six miles, but the ef-
feet of the exercise and heat was apparent,
and increased the number OF those suf-
this side of the railroad our cavalry met the
enemy's pickets. That instant they were
driven in. Soon the reserve rallied and a
sharp skirmish ensued. Our infantry COM
ing up, ended this amusement BY driving
the rebels back from the railroad. AS soon
as our line was formed across the track,
Griffin's division began tearing 1T up
About noon, when the stragglers had near
ly all rejoined their commands, and the
men were regaling themselves upon coffee
and green corn, the enemy opened upon our
skirmishers. The I'd Division, commanded
by Gen. Ayres, was at that particular mo-
ment in state of transition. The hrst pat
tie line was being relieved by the I'd Divis-
ion, under Gen. Ayres, when they became
somewhat confused, and the.two lines be-
gan to be mixed into one. The rebels, ta-
king advantage of this slight token in their
favor, began to yell loudly, and press our
right most vigorously. Heth soon concen-
trated his whole division at this one point.
Our men began to drop here and there; 1t
seemed we were being surrounded, for both
flanks were open, and there was q chance
of being surrounded and crushed back,
when Col. Hoffman led up the I'd Brigade
of Cutters division and strengthened Gen.
Ayres' line, which was fast being overpow-
cred. 1t was their turn to suffer. The Pur-
perfume volley into the swarming
rebels when they were hesitating
whether to retreat or advance. They fell
back terribly repulsed. Hele at this inn
portant moment in the progress OF the bat
tie Gen. Warren had his horse shot in the
head. The General had very narrow es-
cape. Had his horse lowered his head at
the time Warren would have been shot In
the same manner as was the heroic and Ia
mented Sedgwick. The ball came from the
rifle OF some vigilant sharpshooter. After
quietly disengaging his feet from the stir
rups, the General coOlly ordered his orderly
to remove the'saddle and trappings from
the dying animal. The position, which is
avery advantageous one, Is ours. we are
strongly intrenched. The rebels will un-
doubtedly bring up reinforcements and en-
deaver to expel us, but their efforts will
prove futile.
AUGUST 1910 P. M.-Quiet prevailed till
5 o'clock this afternoon. We made several
attempts during the day to advance our
lines, but with very poor success. Ihe
men had their tents and blankets out to dry.
With each hour came fresh showers; every
one soaked through. All the fields where
our troops were encamped were in a liquid
state, and seemed to have no bottom.-
Five o'clock came and rain began to
shower down afresh. In the night
few shots were exchanged. Our caval-
ry were attacked and forced back upon
Wilcox's division of the Ninth corps. Our
men seemed glad of the assault. 1trelieved
them from all thought of discomfort and
wretchedness. With hurrah they ran to
meet the advancing rebels, giving them
volley which admonished them to beware
of closer approach. The gaps were soon
filled up, and every sign Of wayering dis
appeared from the gray, obscure line of reb-
els, marching with determined bravado into
the Jaws of death. Now our cannon opened,
and the thunder of great guns added to the
fury of the believing. The Union troops
hurrahed, and were answered by the rebels
with one of their prolonged peculiar yells.
From rig 1T to left the fight extended until
almost every portion of our line became en-
yeloped i'm the smoke of battle. At every
point their fierce assaults were repelled. In
a single night our men had thrown up sub
stantial breastworks. The rebels soon
learned this fact, and, disheartened and de-
feated, they ceased all vain endeavors to
repossess themselves of the Weldon road.
Before dark quiet reigned. Water rained
too. The roads are In fearful condition.
Wagons, ambulances, caissons, horses,
mules. everything, can be found sticking in
the mud between General Meade's head
quarters and the Yellow House.