Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-10-31
REBEL ACCOUNTS OF GRANTS MOVE.
MENTS

From the Richmond Enquirer, Oct 2g1
At an early hour yesterday morning move-
ment in force upon our works was deyeloped
by the enemy on the lines below Richmond,
and on the right of our line before Petersburg
During the previ us night the ener1y had
made extensive preparatory maneuvers, and,
1t is said, had received heavy reinforce
ments.
Be this as it may, the enemy begun below
Richmond by making some demonstration
against our right, bringing about a heavy can
nonade, which was mterminged some time
after with considerable skirmishlng. The en-
emy made no determined attack upon our
front, but seemed 10 be simply feeling the
strength of our line They continued TO move
out TO the right. however, upon line parallel
to our works, skirmishing occasionally along
our exterior line, but making no impression
Upon reaching the vicinity OF the Jun ction of
Nine Mile road with the Williamsburg turn
pike, they made several serious efforts to break
our line, but were repulsed with considerable
loss. The cannonade continued during nearly
the entire day The principal fighting occurred
on the WILLIAMSBURG and Nine Mile roads,
some seven or eight miles from the city. Our
losses were very slight Firing ceased about
six o clock in the evening.
Pending the progress of affairs on the north
side still more vigorous attempt was made by
the enemy before Petersburg to extend their
lines toward the Southside railroad. They ad-
vanced at an early hour in force. upon our
works on Burgess farm, on the Boynton plank
road, seven miles southwest of the city, and
made seven assaults upon them, but were sig
nally repulsed each time
In the cavalry skirmishng during the day,
the gallant General bearing, OF South Caro-
lima, it is reported,,,was killed. After their san
culinary repulses in the morning, the enemy
renamed comparatively quiet on the right, but
commenced in the afternoon some heavy can
nonading and mortar she ling on the LETT OF our
Petersburg front. The losses Of the enemy are,
of course, unknown. 1t is evident they are
prepared now to operate on both hanks, and il
is likely they will attempt to extend their lines
upon both sides sim multaneously.
They were yesterday within a short distance
q NnrH iypr
they proceeded in that direction the deeper
they got into the swamp country, which Is
somewhat more uncomfortable, If not so dam
getous, in winter than IN summer. What OBJ
iect they can have in stretching out their line
on this side, unless it he the rather questions
BILE object OF getting upon the Central Railroad,
il is not easy to divine as yet. 1t is certain and
quite satisfactory that they made nothing out
of anything they attempted on yesterday.
Whatever their design was, W he ther as "feel-
er" or as the beginning OF grand assault, it
was a costly and a useless enterprise.
ALEXANDRIA AFFAIRs.-In the Alexandra
State Journ al We find the following:
We are orry to announce that Mr.. E. L.
Wentz, Chief Engineer and general Superin-
tendent of u. s. Military Railroads of Virginia
has been, by order OF Gen McCallum, trans
Southwest, with his headquarters at Nash.
VILE, where he will have general supervision
OF all the Military railroads in those Depart
ments.
James NJ. Moore, Esq, who has been con.
nected with this department ever since the
breaking ont Of the war, is appointed Chief
Engineer Of Military Railroads of Virginia
The trains this morning took up their usual
details from the safety guard. DIR. French and
Mr.. j. A. Smith were released this morning by
Capt. Gwynne from further duty in the sspe-
cial service" Mr.. WelIes a. Harper was ar
rested this afternoon, to take the place OF DR..
French.
We learn that the Richmond Examiner, as
well as several Northern papers in tine pay OF
the Confederacy. have charged that the safety.
guards on the Orange and Alexan oIa ano
Manassas GAP roads are cna'nea 70 an e. Ga Poseu
position On the engine. There Is MOI tne ie1ss
shadow Of truth ia This statement Ihese men
have ALWAYS been allowed 10 occupy coiuIort-
able cars and are Of course dispersed through
lanes n Thompson, who claims to belong
N E,,,oIl,s artillery corps, was sent in to Col.
Wons provost Marshal General yesterday.
ue ns,oe into our lines at Gaines Station.
,~- A correspondent Of the Richmond En-
,rtrsr says: From the lst of January TO the
NJ Of October, Mosby bad killed and captured
sixty nine Eederals for every man he had lost"
~ On the 23d OF September, the city of Al.
ex xandria in Egypt, was lighted for the frst
time with gas. rE.-n.E H. H-.s All
IL Several incendiary fires have lately oc-
CURED in Frederick county, aid.