The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-06-21
SIEGE OF PETERSBURG.
Headquarters Army Potomac,
near Petersburg, June Ia. IN. {

~
near Petersburg, June Ia. IN. {
We are again in front of the entir,
rebel army, which has been engaged by
the advance of the Cd and 18th corps and
important captures of guns, prisoners and
positions has been accomplished. The
I'd, 9th and 18th corps are in line Of bat.
tie. and on the arrival of the balance oI
the troops disposition will be made for q
final assault upon the enemy's works.
Since Tuesday night when the advance
of the 18th corps arrived in the vicinity
Of the town, our lines have been pushed
steadily forward. Several strong position.
have been wrested by charges from the
enemy, and We have taken eighteen gun.
and several hundred prisoners.
Our advance is within half a mile OF
Petersburg. which is 10 full view of al
most our entire lines. Prisoners state
Lees army commenced arriving at Pc.
tersburg Wednesday night, only few
hours after the arrival Of Hancock with
the I'd corps, and that Wise's brigade,
commanded by Wise in person, held the
Town until tnat Ime.
City Point Railroad is now in our DOS
session. and the Norfolk and Petersburg
line is commanded by our troops.
The 18th corps, which landed at Ber-
muda Hundred this day. now led the ad-
vance, crossing the Appomatox on pom
toons, laid four miles above its mouth, aud
penetrating southwark up to within abou.
four miles of the town before encountering
any opposition. Here skirmishing com.
menced, and our advance steadily push
ing forward drove back the pickets OF the
enemy, who took position in their outer
defenses. These defenses were immedi-
ately charged by Kinks negro division
with most splendid gallantry. The enemy
was put to fight and two guns and con.
siderable number of prisoners captured,
and the works held until the arrival OF
Hancock q. halfpast4 4 p. m, Wednesday.
On the arrival of Hancock in the evening
a reconnaissance for the purpose of as.
certaining our exact position was made,
and considerable skirmishing ensued.
Only two divisions of the I'd corps
(Birney's and Gibbons J reached the feld
Wednesday night. Barlow, who pursued
another road, brought up the rear, and
come up at 6 o'clock yesterday
Thursday morning the divisions of Bir-
ney and Gibbon deployed in line of battle
when their proximity to the rebels was
discovered, and our troops bivouacked on
the field, Birney occupying the left of the
line and Gibbon the right.
On Barlow's arrival in the morning he
was ordered into position on the left of
Blrney.
Between 5 and 6 o'clock yesterday
morning the enemy began heavy artil-
lery fire on our lines, en6lading it With
batteries posted on our left and rendering
an advance or the occupation OF position
to the rear Immediately necessary. Ac-
cordingly, an advance of the I'd and 18th
corps was ordered by Hancock, who, in
the absence of Meade, took command Of
both corps.
The result was highly successful, sew
eral lines of rebel works being carried at
the point Of the bayonet and number ol
redoubts of great strength occupied.
Sixteen guns were taken and turned upon
the enemy BY the 18th corps.
Col. Egan's brigade Of Birney's divi-
sion led the charge OF the Cd corps and
CALAMITY drove the enemy from his works,
capturing at the same time two formida-
BILE redoubts, and with Dwight's and Gil
lett's batteries, completely silenced the
rebel artillery on our left. The works
were held until about one p M. when
dispositions for the fnal charge upon the
enemy's last line were made. 1t was al
this time Col. Egan was severely if no.
seriously wounded in the spine, and the
attack was temporarily postponed.
At 6 o'clock last night. however, an.
other charge was made by the ed corps
and an advanced position assaulted and
maintained.
The line thus occupied was At once
rendered secure by the immediate con-
struetion of earthworks.
At this time it is impossible to ascer-
tain the extent Of our losses, but $500
will probably cover the total casualties.
Il Is believed our advance should have
been pushed forward Wednesday after
noon, as prisoners concur in the statement
that Wise's brigade alone held the town
till late in the evening, when Lees troops
commenced arriving. A portion Of his
army marched from Malvern Hill, GROSS
ing the James xiyer ON pontoons above
Fort Darling, while many we're dispatched
BY the Petersburg Railroad.
Oar line, = nov ferned, faces the city
from the east and south, partly sncircliee
Is and extends across City Point RaiIsoad,
southward 70 the vicinity Of Petersburg
and Norfolk Railroad. Burnside hold