The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-06-20
From the Army of the Potomac.
Particulars of the Attack on Petersburg,

NEW YORK. June 10.
The Times correspondent gives the follow
ing particulars of the fighting of the 18th
corps, near Petersburg, on the 18th. After
giving an account of the crossing of the APP
| pomattox, and the movement towards Peters
| burg, he says Kinks division of negro
troops, after skirmishing three-quarters OF a
mile, charged and captured the rebel rifle pits
and drove the enemy from two guns, but one
| of which fell into our bands. Our loss was
/ but twenty-five. The advance of all the
| troops was pushed on, and midday brought
! them up TO the defences two miles from the
city. After various preliminary movements
Gen. Smith determined upon charging the en-
emy's works. At nightlall this was DONE
The skirmish line advanced simultaneously all
along the front. This line was heavy and
carried the rebel rifle pits. Heavy support
ing columns followed. saw the charge of
Brooks division on the centre of the line. 1t
was magnifcently made the men dashing for
ward furiously over a corn6eld thickly inter-
spersed with stumps. The rebels in the fort
opposite could not get out, and whole regi-
ment, the Both Virginia, comprising the gar
rison, was captured. The 9Th Conn. and 1lth
N. II. regiments led this charge, and the
cheerinh and enthusiasm all along the line as
the onset was made, and after it proved such
cessful, was thrilling. Fifteen pieces of art-
lery were captured aud four earthworks, strong
enough almost to be called forts. Martndale
on the right, Brooks in the. centre. and Kinks
on the left, they led their troops and worked
them as unit. Two hundred and fifty pris-
oners by actual count have been taken, among
them several officers and Beauregard's Chief
of artillery. The enemy retreated principally
into Petersburg. Hancock's corps has come
up. Our losses considering the hard lighting
have been light. Lee, it is believed, has al
ready crossed the James river, and holds the
commanding heights on the west of their city.
We hold the heights opposite, and the city
lies between. We can utterly destroy it, and
to-day its surrender will be demanded In
case Of refusal the work Of besieging will
commence. This may bring on battle with
Lee, in which case Grant will probably bring
up his force, and decisive battle will take
place.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY PoToMAC,l
June 16, 6 p. M.
Smiths command which landed at Point Of
Rocks on Tuesday evening. advanced early
yesterday morning on the City Point and Pc
tersburg road, and finding the enemy near
Harrison Creek drove them into their fortih-
cations some bali a mile beyond. A line OF
battle was formed with Kinks colored diyis-
ion on the left. A charge was made and the
entire line Of works carried, our troops cap
turing sixteen guns 300 prisoners aud sever
al battle flags and should have resisted an at
tack from much larger force. The colored
troops are reported as having admirably taken
their part OF the enemy's line at the same time
as the others did Our loss in the whole az
fair was not over 200, OF which some forty
were colored- The % corps came up in the
evening, and took position OH the left of
Smith. In the morning an advance was made
by the I'd corps, Gen. Birney in command,
and the enemy driven from other strong posi-
tions with considerable loss In killed, wound
ed and prisoners. In the afternoon Gen.
Burnside came up and took position on the
left OF the I'd corps. At O o'clock in the eve
ming combined advanced was made along
the line and desperate struggle ensued on
the left and centre, both with artillery and
infantry, which lasted until long after dark,
Gen. Birney's command gaining breastwork
in their front and taking large number of
prisoners. This morning at daybreak another
advance was made along the lines. Gen.
Burnside has sent US about 400 prisoners,
mostly Tennessee troops, from Gen. Beaure-
CARDS command, among them sixteen officers.
Gen. Burnside also sent In battle flag cap
tured this morning. Gen. Hancock has also
taken large number of prisoners, who are
on the way to the rear. Our guns now CON-
mand Petersburg and can shell the city at any
moment.
1tu GIhut TttufDeu 10 HEADQUARTERS from
City Point last evening, and this morning has
gone to the front. Our loss yesterday is said
to be about 1900; that of the enemy was full
as large, II not larger.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY POTOMAC
June 16-S A. NJ.
The at tack made on the enemy's lines yes
terday morning was more successful than at
first reported He drove the rebels from two
lines OF rifle pits with heavy loss, taking four
guns and 400 prisoners, and holding the posi-
ton. In the afternoon be again pushed the
enemy still further, getting within about
mile and half of Petersburg, and taking
some more prisoners. Shells were thrown
into the city, one OF which struck church.
A prisoner taken yesterday reports that 81 900
OF Lees men were to have arrived on the
field that morning, and trains were running
almost hourly from Richmond. bringing troops
close to Petersburg, leanding them and hurry
ing. Many Of the prisoners brought in are
from Tennessee, this being their first fight in
this direction. They acknowledge having
been completely surprised yesterday morning,
and say the army of the Potomac fight differ
emily from the armies OF the West, but say we
cannot take Petersburg or Richmond. They
had not been accustomed TO throwing up
breastworks at every change Of line, and were
busy at this work when ordered to surrender.
Our success here was most complete and with
out very heavy loss. The-fghting on the re-
mainder Of the line during the day was rather
Of desultory character, and very little
change took place in the position OF either
party. Late in the evening our left still fur
Their advanced, and fighting continued all
night This morning considerable firing is
going on, but nothing definite has been heard
10 regard TO II. The 9Th corps came up last
night and reinforced our left
Reports were current yesterday that Gen.
Butler had advanced to the Richmond and
Petersburg railroad, and was engaged in de-
stroying the track when Lee surprised him
and drove him back to his entertainments with
heavy loss. Nothing official has been received
at headquarters relative to the matter. Troops
were sent to his support yesterday afternoon,