Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1864-06-23

ports some advance to-day; THAT Thoms
has gained ground, and that one rebe
brigade is nearly surrounded" It furthc
reports that "the Rebel General Poll
was killed to-day. and His body cent Il
! Marietta"
In another part Of Gen. Sherman
East Mississippi Division. our forces hav,
not met with the euccess that have atten
ded competent commanders Gen. Wash
burne, at Memphis, reports that the ex'
! petition. consisting Of 5000 cavalry
1000 infantry, and Is picees of artillery
sent out from there few days ago under
command of Gen. Sturgis. encountered
large rebel force on the 10th inst, I'M.
der command of Forrest, at Guntown, on
the railroad running south from Corinth,
and after severe fight, in which our loss
in killed and wounded was heavy. our
forces were worsted.
At the latest accounts Sturgis was at
Colliersville, retreating towards Memphis
He further states that with the troops
that had lately arrived. Memphis is safe.
General Sherman having received the
news Of Sturgis's defeat, reports that be
has made arrangements TO repair Sturgis's
disaster. who will resume the offensive
Immediately.
No other military intelligence has been
received by this Department since my
last telegram.
L. NJ. STANTON, Secretary of War.
Wan DEPARTMENT, June II.
To Major General DIX, New York:
The following dispatches have been re-
ceived by the department:
City Point, june Is, via Jamestown
Island, 80, n m, June 16, 1854
General Smith, with Il, 600 men, attack
ed Petersburg this A. VI. General But
Ter reports from his observatory, near
Dcrmuda Hundred, that there has been
sharp fghtirg, and that the troops and
trains Of the enemy were, as he writes,
moving from the city across the Appoma-
tox river, as ii retrcating. Hancock is
no. near enough to render Gen. Smith
any aid.
The Richmond papers have nothing to
indicate suspicion Of our crossing the
James river. They expected to be at
tackled from the direction Of Malvern Hill.
City Point, June 10, I 80 p. m.---Our
latest report from Gen. Smith was at
P. VI. He had carried line Of entrcneh-
uents at Beatty's House, the colorel
troops assaulting and carrying the rife
pits with great gallautry, But he had
not yet carried the main line. He de-
scribes the rebel artillery fire as very
heavy, He expected to assault this line
just before dark. Gen. Hancock is with
in three miles of Smith.
City Point, "a, June l6, I a. H., via
jamestown Island IL 40 a. m.--At I 20
p m. Yesterday Gen. Smith assaulted
and carried the principal line Of the enc
my before Petersburg. taking l3 cannon,
several stands of colors, aud between
three and four hundred prisoners. This
line is two milra from Petersburg. Han
cock got up and took position on Smith s
left at 8 A NJ. to-day. There was heavy
firing in that direction from to 6 O'clock
No report yet
Port HdlthaH Landing. June l6. l
p, m.-Atter sending my dispatch of this
\ NJ from the heights sou,hea., of Pc
yersburg, l went over the conquered lines
with Gen. Graat and the engineer officers.
The works are Of the very strongest kind
more difficult even to take than was
Missionary Ridge at Chattanooga. The
hardest lighting was done by the black
troops. The forts they srormcd were.
think, the worst of all After the affair
was over Cen Smith went to thank them
and tell them he was proud of their
courage and dash He says they cannot
be excelled as soldiers, and that hereafter
he will send them into difficult place as
readily as the best white troops. They
captured si1 of the sixteen cannon which
he took The prisoners captured were
from Beauregsrd's command Some of
them said they Rad just crossed the
James river above Drury's Bluff
l do not think any of Lees army had
reached Petersburg when Gen. Sn,;ti
stormed the works They seemed to be
there this morning, however. and to be
making arrangements to hold tie west
side Of the Appomatox. The town they
cannot think Of holding; it lies directly
under our guns, The weather continues
splendid
City Point, 10, AS p m, june l6,
via jamestown Island, II Tsp. NJ Gen.
Butler reports from Bermuda Hundred
that the enemy have abandoned the works
in front Of that place, and his troops are
now engaged in tearing up the railroad
between Petersburg and Richmond.
The following dispatch docs not desig-
nate the hour, but it is supposed to BE-
later than the preceding ones:
James'oten, Va, june 10" came
down from the junction above Fort Pow
hatan with dispatches for Secretary Staun-
ton. Just as l left Captain Pitkin, re-
ported to me that Petersburg was in our
possession"
DOUBTFUL STORY
Nothing Of recent date has been heard
from General Sheridan, but the Richmond
Wig of the 18th contains dispatch
from Gen. Lee stating that Sheridan had
been routed in an engagement with Firz-
huh Lee and Hampton, losing 500 pri-
soncrs aud leaving his dead and wounded
on the field.
From General Sherman dispatch dat
ed last night at P. NJ. has been receiv-
ed 1t only states the relative position
of the forces No serious engagement
had yet occurred.
EDWIN NJ. STANTON. Secretary of War.
wAn DEPARTMENT, June IS, 10. p. m.
To Major General DIX Of New York:
The following dispatch from General