The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-08-19
FROM GRANTS ARMY.
important mOvement...Lar9e Foroe
ON North Side OF Jsmes River with.
In IL miles OF Richmond.


CIV WvHpsaa;InsseroN, Aug. 1.-THE mail boat from
xnsy roint to day reports that on Saturday af-
transnor. oody OF our troops embarked on
. LuaspoIS az City Point and moved up the
asu ce pertng the night, under cover of the
nle " ..o Tansports, they effected landing
near Uusc y. zap; The object of this movement
70 s'. eo " 70 .ne dlslodgment of consider
themselves on the river, and poss;hIv also 90
a reconnaissance to ascertain what tyoons "a
has before Richmond and if he ia senS;y,s omn
considerable reinforcements to Earlv "A'
Heavy firing was going on when the Wander.
bilt left, both cannonading and mnsketry.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 15.- World. special. l.
Plenty of rumors are in circulation here to-aav
in regard to the movements of the different ar
mics in Virginia, most of which are undoubt-
edly without foundation. There seems to be
little doubt, however, that important changes
are going on in the disposition of the rebel
forces, which, of course, must cause cores
ponding movements on the part of the Union
armies, which will take some time yet to be
developed.
The HeralGs City Point correspondence of
the 14th says but little fighting occurred for
week past, until yesterday morning. About
A. NJ. heavy guns were heard In the direction
of the deep bottom and O steady and some
time furious cannonading was kept up all day.
The attack was commenced by the enemy and
proved to be an attempt to dislodge, with
their artillery, certain working parties Of ours
that they seemed to have just discovered.
Their batteries were unable to accomplish it
however, and one or two Oftheir rams dropped
down the river as far as was prudent and added
their fire. The other affair was an artillery en-
gagement at long range throughout, in which
our losses are incOnsiderable and theirs Of
course unknown. The character or design of
the operations referred to in which the work.
ing parties were engaged cannot be more than
alluded to at the present. Time must develop
them further.
The Aeralds Point of Rocks correspondent
OF the 18th, says for some time past Butler has
been coming over brilliant scheme where
with to annoy the enemy and advance the I'm
ion interest in this region. Materially his plan
contemplates nothing less than the construc-
ton OF canal at what has hitherto been known
as Dutch Gap, and is hereafter to be known as
Buffers Gap, in the direct face of the enc
my, which when done, should among other
results by reason of its situation when complete,
will extend their line defences o distance of
four miles, that is to say the distance saved to
us by the digging of the canal which is to be
l4O yards in length. is seven miles of water
course in the James River. This morning the
men engaged on this work were shelled by the
rebel rams, but our gunboats soon drove them
away.
The HeralTs correspondent before Peters
burg of the 18th, says the rebels have erected a
new tort on the site of the exploded one, and
opened yesterday with two of WhitwOrths
guns. 1t is remarkable how few casualties oc.
CURED yesterday. heard of not more than
four or five; yet the rebels threw at Leaf sew
eral hundred shells during the day.
Later-.Important Movement,
BALTIMORE, Aug. 16-The following news
is published in the afternoon edition of the
american:
BERMUDA HUNDRED, Aug. 15.-The I'd CORDS
of Hancock's division were going on board
transports at City Point all day, apparently
for Washington, and started down the river
with bands playing gaily.
or course the rebels were watching from the
shore and no doubt felt much interest in the
movements.
The transports did certainly go down the
river ior ten miles or more when, however,
they put about, and under cover of darkness
returned. coming up by this place under full
speed at 10 P. M. and proceeding up the river.
At the same time the 10th corps with the ar
tillery of the I'd corps were crossing to the
north side of the James River and were all
landed within twelve miles Of Richmond be.
fore o'clock this morning.
This force, with Gen: Fosters, make quite o
respectable army. 1t is understood their first
move will be to destroy, if possible, the rebel
pontoon bridge above Fort Darling. If this
is successfully done Lee will be unable to trans
fer his army to the north side of the river
without marching by waysOf Manchester, more
than twenty miles.
THUS far all works well. Musketry firing
was heard in the direction of this movement
this morning There was but little hard
fighting done
Gen. Hancock accomplished his end by skill
full manGuvering and surprise, yand conse-
qnently our loss was small-it being considera-
bly, less than one hundred
Our troops have now gained an important
position within two miles of Fort Darling.
The Commercials Washington special, says
Hancock was to move to Balls Bluff yester-
day. on the north side of James River and to
the left of the rebel lines
If successful, this movement will necessitats
either the evacuation of Richmond or Peters
burg, as Grant will then be in a position to
bring his forces to bear upon either. 1t IL aiA
some rebel lnortars were also captured.