The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1864-06-24
WAR NEWS.
WAR DEPARTMENT,

publication OF some general facts without
danger of premature disclosure, Alter
several days preliminary preparations, the
movement commenced Sunday night
The 18Th Army Corps, under command
OF Gen. Smith, marched to White House,
aud then embarked on transports for Ber.
muda Landing. Gen. Wrigbts corps
and Burnside's moved 20 Jones' Bridge.
when they crossed the Chickahominy
and marched thence to Charles City,
on the James River. Gen. Hancock's
and Gen. Warren's corps crossed the
Chick kahominy at Long Bridge, and
marched thence to Wicox.s on the James
River. The James River was TO be
crossed by the army at Powhatan Point
A dispatch from Gen. Grant, dated
Monday evening, 81 o'clock, Headquar.
ters, Wilcox's Landing, states tnat the
advance Of oar troops had reached that
place, and would commence crossing The
James River on Tuesday, and Smiths
Point that night; that no fighting was re.
ported during the movement, except lit.
tie cavalry skirmishing. Yesterday
(Tuesdsy) afternoon at O'Clock Gen.
Grant was at Bermuda Landing. In a
dispatch from him, dated O'Clock that
day, he says: "Our forces will commence
crossing James River to-day. The enc
my show no signs of yet having brought
troops to the south side Of Richmond
Our movement from Cold Harbor to the
James river has been made with great ce.
lerity, and so far without loss or accident.
An unofficial dispatch, dated at Gen.
Buffers headquarters 2:20 pm, says
that Smiths corps was coming on, 5000
having already landed.
A dispatch from Gen. Sherman's head
quarters, dated at O'Clock yesterday af-
ternoon near Kensau, states that the Gen.
is in front, advancing bis lines on Kensau.
Another unofficial dispatch, dated at 9
O'Clock last night, reports some advance
to-day: that Gen. Thomas has gained
ground, and that one Rebel brigade was
nearly surrounded. 1t further reports
that the Rebel Gen. Polk was killed to-.
day, and his body sent to Marietta.
WAsHINGToN, June II.
TO Myor- General Dir 4:
The following dispatches have been
received by this Department
CILY POINT, June Is, via jamestown
Island, 1880 A. M. l6.--General Smith.
with $4,000 men, attacked Petersburg this
morning. Gen. Butler reports from bis
observatory uear Bermuda Hundred, that
there has been sharp fighting, and that
the troops. and trains of the enemy were,'
as he writes, moving from the city across
the Appematlox, as il retreating. Han
cock is not near enough TO render Gene
raj Smith any aid. ..--
Cry PoINT, June 1850 p. M. Our
latest report from Smith was at A p. M.
He had carried the line of intrenchments
at Beatty's House. The coIored troops
were assautIng and carrying the rhepts
with great gallantry, but he had not car
iied the main line. He describes the reb.
els artillery fire as very heavy. lie expec-
ted to attack the linc just before dark.
Hancock is within three miles of Smith
JUNE lG AT 7e0 yesterday evening. the
principal lines OF the enemy before Peters.
burg were assaulted and carried by gene
raj Smith, in which he took 3 cannon, sew.
eral stand of colors, and between 800 and
400 prisoners. This line is two miles from
Petersburg. General Hancock marched
and took position on Smiths left at 3 A. NJ.
There was heavy firing in that direction
from s 10 6 O'Clock. No report has been
received yet from this quarter.
Fort HARDING. Va, June 1876 P. M.
Afier sending my dispatch OF this morn
ing, from the heights southeast of Peters
burg. l went over The conquered lines
with General Grant and and engineer Of
tcers. The works are of the very strong.
est kind, more difficult to take than was
Missionary Ridge Gt Chattanooga. The
hardest fighting was done by black troops
The first they stormed were the worst Of
| all. After the affair was over, Gen. Smith
went to thank them, and them he was
proud of their courage and dash. He says
they cant be exceeded as soldiers, and
hereafter he will send them in difficult
place as readil y as the best white troops.
| Tney captured six out of tho Is cannon
which bo took. The prisoners no took were
from Bcauragard's command. Some OF
them said they had just crossed tho James
|
ci Ice's army had reached Petersburg when
Smith stormod it. They seemed to be ma.
king arrangements to hold the west side ot
tho tho AppomattOx; the town they can't
think of holdsng, us it lies directly under
our guns Tho weather is splendid.
! CITY POINT, June l6, 4;l5 T., M.-Geuo
raj Butter reports from Bermuda Hundred
that tho enemy have abandoned tho work,
In front of that place, and his troops are
now engaged in tearing up the railroad be'
tween Petersburg and Richmond.
Tho following dispatch does not designate
the hour, but is supposed TO be later thar
tho preceding ono.
JAMESTOWN, Va, Juno lG Il came dowr
from tho pontoon above Fort Powbatior
yith dispatches for Secretary Stanton. Jus
as left Captain Pitkin reported to mo tha
Petersburg was in our possession.
, Nothing of recent date has boon hearl
from Gen. Sheridan; but the Richmon,
Wig OF the 10Th contains a dispatch from
Leo, stating that Sheridan had been routeo
in an engagement With Fitz Hugh Lee an,
Hampton, losing 500 prisoners, and leayipJ
his dead and wounded on the field.
A dispatch from Con. Sherman, date,
last night ut nine o'clock has been received
1t only statos tho relative positions OF tb
forces. No serious engagement had yo
occurred.
(SignedD l. M. STANTON.
II