The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-10-09

4 HAAA nAH EodAAlNN
To-day three desperate efforts were
made by the enemy to retaks the
works captured from them by this
corps yesterday General Lee in person
commanded, but the rebels were each
time driven back with considerable
loss.
PREPARATIONS FOR DEFENCE.
As soon as night closed in on Thurs
day, ample preparations were made to
receive any attack which might be
made on our line, and General Heck
man retired felt perfectly satisfied
of his ability to repulse the enemy
should they advance during the night.
Early this morning brigade was moved
up along the James river to feel the
enemy, and were protected by the
navy, which harmlessly shelled the reb-
els. 1t was not however, deemed ex-
pedient to make any attack
GENERAL wuTzEL IN COMMAND or THE
CORPS
Brevet Maior-General Godfrey Welt
eel was assigned to the command of the
corps during the absence of General
Ord, whose wound compelled him to
go North. General Weitzel relieved
General Hickman at noon, and the
latter again assumed command of his
division.
THE ENEMY REINF0RCED.
Information was received during the
morning that heavy reinforcements had
reached the enemy during the night.
In front of Stannard the whole of
Hoke' rebel division, from Petersburg,
was massed, and an attack from them
was momentarily expected IL was
known that it would be serious and
desperate effort to retake the works, as
General Lee himself was in command.
THE FIRST CHARGE
The enemy were discovered about
two p NJ massing in the woods directly
opposite the fort csptured yesterday,
and in half an hour they charged with
q wild yell in three heavy columns Of
attack. The rams at the same time
opened upon our position, and our line
was enfiladed by the fire from the rebel
battery on the river. The men, how
ever, stood steady to their posts, and
received the rebels with so hot, so well
directed and so incessant fire that
they broke in confusion and retired 10
the woods.
THE FINAL REPULsE.
Twice again they were rallied by
their officers and returned 20 the charge,
but only with the same result. until.
finally, broken and dispirited, they fell
back in irredeemable confusion, leaving
the ground covered with their dead and
wounded.
THE ENEMY's CASUALTIES.
The prisoners report a thousand at
least killed and wounded Over three
hundred prisoners were taken by US,
including many officers and the greater
part of the eighth North Carolina regl-
ment Among those captured are sew
eral field officers, and Captain Mcguire,
inspector general OF CliDgman's staff
BATTLE FLAGS CAPTURED.
The regimental flags were taken all
by STANDARDS division Two of them
were captured by the Thirteenth Con-
neeticut and Eighteenth Pennsylvania.
GENERAL srANSARD,
of Gettysburg and Coal Harbor fame,
was wounded in the right arm and
compelled to leave the Fl, Id He has
elected during the last two days fight
ing the waTmest commendatiOn from
bis commanding officers by the magni-
fieent manner in which he handled his
division. Captain Kent, Assistant Ad-
jutant General on General STANDARDS
staff, is also among the wounded.
NATURE OF THE FIGHTING.
The fight has been pronounced one
of the most desperate and brilliant Of
the war, and, by his skiIlful manage
ment of his troops, General Weitzel has
added one more leaf TO the laureIs won
in louisiana
THE sTRAGGLERs,
Of course, commenced TO leave the roads
TO the rear as soon as the fight reached
its height, but were, unfortunately for
themselves, flanked and obliged to re-
turn to the front by some unexpected
of Captain Wheeler's pro-
vost guard.