Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1864-09-03
OFFICIAL WAR BULLETIN.
THE ATTACK ON HANCOCK's LINES.
DESPERATE BATTLE on THURSDAY
EVENING
Dcfcnt Of The Rebels.

Defeat Of the Rebels.
WAsulNeroN, Aug. %, 1920 A. N.
Major General Dix, New York:
On Thursday, the 25th General Hancock. |
who was south of Ream's station, was at
tackled several times during the day, but he
rcpulsed the enemy at each assault
At 81 o'clock, \. NJ. II combined attack was
made on his centre and left, which, after one
of the most desperate battles of the war, re-
suited in the enemy Withdrawing from the
field, leaving their dead and wounded on
the ground.
The details were given in the following
brief official reports of Generals Grant,
Meade and Hancock.
The following has just been received, dated
SECOND ARMY CoRPs. Aug, 2j.-FOr Gen
Humphreys The attack about $50 =. ".
was probably intended to be simultaneously
by Wilcox on my centre and Heath ON my
LETT. The enemy formed in the woods,
/ placed their artillery in position and opened
heavy cannonade, lasting about fifteen
minutes.
| They then assaulted Miles force. lie re
/ sisted tenaciously, but the enemy broke his
/ line. Some Gilpn's troops were hurried
/ over torepair the damage, and the enemy
J only SnlIlcu SllBnt lOOtnOIt.
They soon attempted on my extreme left.
/ driving Gibbons division from his line
Ills men had been much wcarird going
over to Gen. Miles and back during the re
/ pcated assaults
Gen. GibbOn succeeded in forming
strong line, and the enemy who were press
ing on with great enthusiasm were severely
| checked by the dismOuntcd cavalry under
, Gen. Gregg, which he handled handsomely.
Gen. Miles rcgnincd most of his cntrench-
mentS, distinguishing himself. All he had
| To work with were such small parties aS
could DC rallied and formed by staff officers.
The fighting was continuous till dark, the
enemy being held in check by artillery, dis
mounted cavalry and skirmishcrs.
At dark we withdrew for reasons stated.
The chief of artillery reports that he lost
about 250 horses.
The enemy made no advance up to a late
hour last night holding, as far as could he
scen some Of our captured guns with their
skirmish lines. They must have suffered
/ heavily.
This is acknowledged to have been one
of the most determined and desperate fights
of the war, resembling Spottsylyunia in
character, though the number engaged gives
less importance.
forward this afternoon, prisoners from
the field Wilcox and Heath and Major
Angel, of my staff, saw and cunyerscd with
two prisoners OF Morgan's division las, night.
do not find them this morning. They said
that Mahons division, with the exception OF
one brigade, was there. tSigncd)
MANSFIELD :. HANCOCK,
Major General,
|. :. Grant, 1t. General.
The following is Just received:
SECOND CoErS 1870 =. NJ, Aug. ga
safe guard who was left on the battlefield
remained Jucre till after daylight this \. Nj
vt thu, time the enemy had all disappeared,
leaving their dead on .he battle field un-
hnrried. This shows how severely they
were punished, and doubtless hearing ot
the arrival OF rcinturccmcnts they feared the
result to-day ii they renamed.
lSigncdD G. q. MEADE, Maj, Gen.
The following is just rccciyed;
SECOND ARMY CoRPS, | \. NJ, August
2Gth.-IO Lieut.. Gct. GrdAt,-Sincc send
ing my last dispatch, have convcrscd with
tirc safe guard referred to. He did not
leave the field till after sunrise. At that
time nearly all the enemy had lett, moving
towards Petersburg lie says they abandon
eel not only their dead but their wounded
also.
lie cunycrsrd with an officer who said Their
losses were greater than ever before during
the war The safe guard saws hc was over
the field, and il Wa, covered with the enc,
my 5 dead and Wounded.
lie has seen great many hattle-hcldS,
but never saw such sight. There were
very few OF our dcau, nearly all being of the
enemy.
think do not oycr,tate the loss of the
enemy in the last two weeks battles az
10000 killed uud Wounded. We have lost
heavily, bat our loss has been mostly in
captured when the enemy gained temporary
advantages.
The number of rebel prisoners taken un
our side has not yet been reported.
All oi our wounded are brought oil, but
our dead are unhuucd. / have instructed
Gregg Iumakc .n rilau to send party 60 ia,
hv.d Go bury our dead tSigurdJ
q. q. MEADE, MAJ. Gen,
70 [ 5 Grabt Lieut.. Gen,
our iuryrs hold lhc Weldon road, and ia
dispaich dated 40 3 4. n, yesterday, Gyu-
cral Grant says that thrir luss ut this road
seems 90 br blow lo the enemy be cannot
stand.
uyu Grant makts the tliuaiug rpnu of
nh unsuccessful attlga ui thr rurlly uu n,u
iutiers piekel hnr uu ihursday. u. ,ut
my drove ia buil,ru p,ektt uue Iup
picket guagd soon alIird. hoNe,sf. aul
drove the rntmy hark AMI Trrsiahlishr,i
thls linv Tho rrsHll sas our kiil,d anI
; siAis.n wounded, aHd iouHe,n missing oa
ouf side
iso commanding oflsss snd any ning
sailisivd n'sn ssFs oaplaici ifom The enemy