New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-06-27
HE GREAT CONTEST.
Coptiuucd from First Page.

The Rebel cannon in No 10 here sent an expodngshei
along the line. Garry that work Sir SAID the Gen
sra and away went the negroes along the passing be
syeen Nos and 10 and taking No 10 In the rear ant
capturinc the gun Tic was not moment too early,
Rebel force being seen coming along the road by Oars
House The gun was trained upon them, and they saw
1t TO retire Col Rogers then occupied No. II. and
that finished that part Of the line. Meanwhile the boys
had entered No. 9 capturing gun there. making
five works and the connecting rifepits and SIX cannon
carried BY the colored soldiers whom people here in
sisted would not fight.
Let us now turn attention to Gen. Martkdale's di.
vision on the right. When the general advance was
shade they moved forward from the positions to which
tbey had been retired by orders the opening of the
battery on ArcAeTs Hill Col. Stedmsns brigade
rushed forward the ground before the l4sth
&ew.York Col Ginon being deplOyed skirmishers,
md the line of battle being from left to right the llth
Conn, Lieut. Col Mayfeld; sth Maine. Major -
.,2th N. H., Capt. Baker and battery OF the % Pa.
Artillery as support. They advanced quarters of
mile across the plaiu over bitches and one creek
steadily driving back the Rebels till within thirty yards
Of the riaepits when the Rebels made stand. They
we're however. driven to their ntrenchpents.
Again the battery on Archers Hill opened upon their
rear and fifteen or twenty men were wounded. Mean
while Gen Stannard advanced his brigade in the same
order as before, adding two companies of the Goth
Massachusetts under Capt. Harrington, to the sklrnsh
hne. They moved over the bottom land, bitches and
al, about two thousand yards, and asSaied the rifle
pits and bastion mounting two guns. The two com
panies Of the 18th Massachusetts, under Capt Harrng
ton carried the bastion capturing the two Napoleon
guns, three caissons, well filed. dozen tents, and
other camp equpage. The line turned the rife pits
and held them. The brigade lost in this charge three
killed and seven wounded, of whom six were officers
Finding that Col StedmGns and this brigade were
exposed TO the fire Of the Archer Hill battery AID hay
ing accomplished all that could be DONE darkness
closed around, the two higades were ordered TO fail
back to the cross roads. This order reached Col
Stednan just he the point of assauting the
1eld-woiks in front of him. Lieut.. Van Rensselaer,
with twelve OF fifteen men Of the l4sth NewYork had
occupied barn by order. When the order was given
80 fail back they were unable TO comply before tie
Rebels surrounded the barn, capturing tie whole party
Col. Stedrnan, reaching the cross roads was sent
with his brigade to reinforce the coored troops the
left who holding the most important positions. and
The the Rebels would he most likely to attempt 10
setake. Gen. Stannard marched his brigade 10 the cross
roads threw out the 55h Pennsylvania on picket and
biyouacked far the night
Gen. Brooks after capturing the redOubt at the Jor
dan House pushed on, crossing the ravine beyond and
taking position the crest at the house Of Dr. Friend
The batteries brought UP aud placed in position at
the Jordan and Friend Houses bOth OF which stu
sted Oh high hills commanding the Valley Of the Apo
Inaitox and the City OF Petersburg The skirnsh line
was advanced until darkness put stop to further oper
atoms. The 10Th New-Hampshire, Col. Coughln. re-
leved the skirmsh line The seeend line Of battle and
Col. Hennys brigade in column closely followed mp the
sdvance As darkness closing IN, they were seen
vending their way onward till lost in the distance. The
Rebel prisoners marched to the rear. Loaded by
the captured flag. Ambulances were hurried ~. the
wounded cared for ana the troops rolled themselves up
70 catch few hours sleep renewal of the conflict.
The negroes. upon taking the works in front Of them
raye way to all sorts of jublan demonstrations. and
with the greatest nonchalance went to building fires and
making coffee on the Petersburg side Of the f0rtifca
lions where they found by Gen Smith with arms
stacked and taking matters cooy though in THEN
own camps Upon being ordered to put out their fires
and resume their muskets one of the sable gentlemen
demonstrated with: why dc coffee about to bile.
But military Law waits for mans coffee TO bile,
and out the ares had to CO. During the day word ha'
been sent BY Gen. Butler that r6enforcements haf
left for Petersburg but that Lee reported as cross
ing the pontoon bridge at Drurys Bluff. also that tn
2d Corps under Gen. Hancock, had marched hoI
Windmill Point, and was due at night. Gen. Hancoc
came mp Just as the fight over. and relieved Gel
Hinkss and the two bIigades Of AmesS division aboI
xaidDight.
The skin displayed by Gen. Smith IL the conduct {
this affair certainly reflects great credit upon his judi
ment and abilities II is 10 be regretted that the oper
fions should have been delayed so long by untoWar
events over which he had no control The sequenc
clearly proves that had he been able TO have attacke
at . instead of O'clock, the remaining three houi
would have put him in possession Of the city. IL
works captured by his forces formed the most importau
on the line Of defensive works. and rendered the othe
portion of that line uotenable be enabled to al
tack any of them in reverse and also obtained en1
lading fire That night the Rebels were as busy
bees but all would have avsiled them much had ii
early morning attack intended by Gen Smith been col
suInInated. The delay occasoned by Meade's unwilling
ness to cooperate gave time for the arrival Of at lea-
5000 fresh men, who bad been occupying the line /
front Of Gen. Butler and who evacuated tler works
So'cock a. IL on TUESDAY and moved 10 Petersburg
not reaching there, however until after the attack wa
to have been made.
cannot dismiss this first days operations withon
mentioning the 'gallantry OF Gems. Burnhan and Stan
nard. Capt CLARK, A.eA. e.. and Lieut. Murray. A.
c. Aids TO Gen. Durham, were kept busy and expose
70 any and all compliments paid by the ebs TO our troop
Gen. Stannard had staff but he said TO Gen. Smith
s.Gcnsral, had some Every good orderlies intcl
gent men. and got along very well" Gen Stannaid
command is Hickman's old brigade. He along hi!
line continually, and personally superintendent all th
movements Like Gen. Smith, be does hot believe il
ordering troops into positions one knows nothing about
and truly feels the responsibility for the lives of the
be leads Gen Stannard has since been assigned TO III
command Of the LIST Division Of the 18th Corps vic