The New York herald., 1864-08-17
G R A n +.
Brilliant Movement of a Part of
the Army Before Petersburg.
Splendid Results Al
ready Achieved.
The Rebels Surprised and
Their Works Taken.
CAPTURE OF GUNS AND PRISONERS.
ACTIVE MOVEMENTS IN PROGRESS.
General Hancock Reported to be Within
Two Miles Of Fort Darling,
&c.. d. -.
THE HERALD DISPATCHES.
~~~~r~~>~>>~~~~~~~>~~>~~
THE crNnVn rnupc
THE HERALD DISPATCHES.
THE SECOND CORPS.
Mr.. Finley Anderson's Dispatches.
STRAWBERRY PLAINS, NORTH BANK JAMES RIVER,
Aupust l4-EyeninQ

STRAWBERRY PIAINs NORTH BANK JAMES RvER,
August 14-EveniDg.
ANOTHER EXPEDITION UNDER MAJOR GENERAL HANCOCK
has effected lodgment the north bank OF the James
The enemy taken by SURPRISE as on the nrst OCCASION
has been driven from his first line of works the right
by Brney the left by Barlow, whilst this evening
Fosters brigade has captured four pieces OF artillery
The object OF the present movement shall leave 10
Individual surmse and the asueness Of the enemy II
shows that General Grant is wachfu calculating, ener
getc always ready to take advantage of the enemys
operations. Neither is 1t necessary now to particularize
the forces operating In this vicinity 1t was surprising
to many people, however, who saw the troops who
embarked on transports City Point Saturday even
ing and started down the river apparently on their way
Washington suddenly appear after midnight up the
river on their way towards Richmond Part OF the
marched by land and crossed the ponoon bridges
already laid over the river near Deep Bottom Part
came in transports, as have mentioned. This midnight
movement made under the most favorable auspices.
The scene was magnificent, heightened by the
apparently innumerabe lights the transports, reflect
ed on the water, and the brilliant moonlight.
ArrER THE TROOPS HAD pKBARKEp
and taken their positions some At the point which has
been occupied by the brigade under General Foster and
some this extensive piece OF open ground called Straw
berry Plains an advance made on the enemy's posi-
ton This position is q strong one The main line OF
works extends along commanding ridge, crowned by
formidable earthworks all along the crest In front Of
this main defensive lne however, series OF rife pits,
intended as strong skirmsh ne proved, as was de-
signed effective obstacle 10 our advance But early In
the morning portion OF the troops on the lefs under
command Of General Brnsy the Twenty fourth Massa
chuset and Tenth Connecticut in the advance, rushed
forward charging in gallant style, and almost without
firing shot the enemy from his rife pits covering
the Kngand road and captured about one hundred prs
oners Among them officers and privaes from ten
different regiments in Fidds and wilcox's divisions.
Those were Longstreets troops.
THE REBELS THEIR WORKS,
Tho enemy retired into his main intrenchments
Birney made good Of both his bayonets and his bat
teres During the afternoon the troops under his CON-
mand drove the enemy from an important position at the
junction the Knssand and New Market roads, on the
route 10 Richmond and then that Fosters brigade
by brilliant little charge captured the rebel guns. It
vac AT first supposed that there were six brass ned
PIECES and morars: but when we came to haul them
on VIC found that there were only four guns but they
were han dsome eight.inch howitzers
rHK ADvASCE--cAvALRy sKRMsHrNG.
From strawberry Plans oher troops advanced on the
| roads leading towards Richmond The cavalry under
General Gregg took the Charles City road, whence after
sharp engagement, Hamptons rebel legion was driven
IN considerable confusion, retiring last northery
direction and not Immediately upon Richmond The In.
fan,ry pushed forward other roads but found them
well fortified aud well defended for, from the moment
for offensive operations, which he could easily do rom
| tie com mmandng heights he occupies he commenced
moving troops from his right to his left, and mmedi
atey sent for reinorcemcnts, In order to protect his
most vital and threatened the prin.
cipal highways into Richmond
BARLOW CHARGES AND CAPTURES THE REBrL RFLk
Early W the afternoon General Barlow, with portion
OF his command charged line OF ride pts and took H.
The enemy resisted stubboruly with artillery aud
kerry but our troops assaulted the positions sort OF
Isolated crest-and took and now hold u.
COLONEL NAcY'S MOVEMENT
Later in the afternoon attempt by Colonel Macys
brigade p'erco the main line the beyoad, while
IL Illustrated the gallautry Of soldiers, unior
tunaiey unsuccessful Coonei Macy's horse was He'd
beside my own. lie Immediately pr cured ano,her but
II was also son shot down. By his horse fang him.
the Coone was injured inernay and had to be carried
from the led.
MAtV
belongs 60 the Twentieth MNsachusctts regiment and Is
very g8lsn, officer WotnneG IN Gettysbsrs, where no
lost hand. aud subsequently, wounded Ia the wilder.