The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-06-20
BY TELEGRAPH
Portland Daily Press.
OFFICIAL NEWS DISPATCH.
Grants Last Flank Movement !
The Attack on Petersburg.
FROM GEN. SHERIDAN'S COMMAND.
Capture of SEQ Prisoners and 600
Destruction of the Virginia Central Railroad
Destruction of the Virginia Central Railroad.
FROM GEN. SHERMAN'S ARMY.
JOHNSTON RETRE4TING d!
WASHINGTON Jnnals-1op n

w AShiNolONs u uue lou l.. M.
To MAJ. Gen. Dir The following dis
4 patch from Gen. Grant, dated yesterday al
| City Point, has been received by this Depart
ment:
The 9th corps this morning carried two
more redoubts forming part OF the defences O
Petersburg, capturing 450 prisoners and foul
guns.
Our successes are being followed up. Our
forces drew out from within fifty yards of the
enemy's Entertainments at Cold Harbor, made
flank movement OF an average of flfty-five
miles march, crossing the Chickahominy and
the James River, the latter 1000 feet wide and
eighty-four feet deep at the point of crossing
and surprising the enemy rear at Petersburg
This was done without the loss Of a wagon OF
piece OF artillery, and only about $50 strag-
giers were picked up by the enemy.
In covering this movement Warrens corps
and Wilson's cavalry had frequent skirmishes
with the enemy, each losing from fifty to sixty
Ia Killed and wounded. but infieting an equal
if not greater loss on the enemy.
The 18th corps (Smith's) were transferred
from White House TO Bermuda Hundred by
water, aud moved TO the rear of Petersburg
on the right OF them, and surprised or rather
captured the very strong works northwest of
Petersburg, before sufficient force could be
got there by the enemy TO hold them.
He was Joined the night following this cap
ture by the I'd corps, which in turn captured
more of the redoubts. Further south of this
the corps was followed by the 9th, with the re-
suit above stated.
All the troops are now up except two divis-
ions covering the wagon trains, and they will
be up tonight.
The enemy in their endeayors TO reinforce
Petersburg abandoned their entertainments in
front of Bermuda Hundred. They no doubt
expected troops from north Of the James Riy-
er 10 take their places before we discovered H.
Butler took advantage OF this and moved at
once on the railroad and plank road between
Richmond and Petersburg which he hopes to
retain possession OF.
LATER-Unofllcia dispatches show that at
So'clock this morning the enemy still occu-
pied Petersburg.
Nothing to-day from Sheridan or Hunter.
Dispatches from Gen. Sheridan report q
brilliant victory near Gordonsville. Twenty
officers, 500 privates and 800 horses were cap
tured; also announce the destruction of the
Virginia Central Railroad. lie attacked Cor
louisville, but the enemy being reinforced. he
thought 1t prudent to retire.
Our loss in killed and wounded is SIS; Of
these 400 were wounded,
more detailed report will be made here
after.
(Signed) EDWIN NJ. STANTON.
Secretary Of War.
WAR DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON, June 1911 o'clock.
To MAJ. Gen. Dir dispatches from Gen.
Sheridan have just been received He reports
victory over the enemy at Trevillian Sta
ton, on the Virginia Central railroad. a few
miles south Of Gordonsvile, where Gen Lee
reported a rebel victory. The official report
is as follows:
II have the honor to report 10 you of the
arrival OF my command at this point. Also
TO report its operations since leaving Newcas-
tie Ferry. | crossed Pamunkey river on the
18th. marching via Catlett's, and encamped on
Herring Creek. On the morning of the Sth |
resumed the march, and encamped three miles
west OF the station. On the 9th marched
through Childsburg and Newmarket, encamp-
ing on Eve Creek, On the 10Th crossed the
North Anna and encamped at Buck Childs,
about three miles northeast of Trevillian. Ny
intention was to break the railroad at this sta
ton, march through Mechanicsylle, cut the
Gordonsville and Charlottesville railroad near
Lydsey's House, and then march into Char
lottesville; but on arriving at Buck Childs
House found the enemy's cavalry in my i'm
mediate front. On the morning of the 18th
Gen. Zscbeit, with his division, and Col
Gregg's brigade OF Gen. Gregg's division, at
tacded the enemy. and after an obstinate con-
test drove then from successive lines of breast
works, through an almost impossible forest,
back to Treyillian Station. In the meantime
Gen. Custar was ordered with his brigade to
proceed by contrary road, so as TO reach the
Station in the rear of the enemy's cavalry.
On his arrival at this point the enemy broke
into complete route, leaving his dead and
nearly all Of his wounded in our hands, also
twenty officers, 500 privates and 800 horses
! These operations occupied nearly the whole
OF the day. AT night encamped at Trevil-
4 liam Station, and on the morning of the 18th
/ commenced destroying the railroad. From
\ this point TO Louisa Court House the work
was most thoroughly done,-the tier burned
and the rails rendered unserviceable. The
/ destruction of the railroad occupied until 8
o'clock OF this day. | directed Gen Forbert
10 advance with his division and Gen. Davis
brigade Of Gen. Greggis division, and attack
the enemy. who had been reinforced by infan-
try during The night, and had also constructed
rife pits about five miles from Gordonsyilie.
The advance was made, but as the enemy s
| position was found too strong 10 assault, NO
assault was made. On the extreme right oil
our lines portion of the reserve brigade car
ried the enemy's works twice, and was twice
driven therefrom by infantry. Night closed
contest / found that the ammunition of the
command was not sufficient to continue the
engagement. The next day cars also came
i down TO where we were engaged with the en-.
envy. The enemy's loss was very heavy. Ny
losses in killed and wounded will be about
515, Of whom 400 were wounded. | brought
off 27I In my ambulances, all that could be
transported. ! captured, and have now Will
me, 80 prisoners Of war, including twenty
commissioned officers. My loss in captured
will not exceed l60."
(Signedl Z. III. STANTON,
! - II.