Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-08-23
THE WELDON BATTLE.

Further Details of the Desperate En-
gngement on the weldon Railroad
----UnfavOrable AccOunts--.-Losses
Heavier than RepOrted---Our Loss
Estimated Over 5000.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE PoToMAC,
Aug. 21.-Our losses at the Weldon rail-
road on Friday afternoon were greater than
heretofore reported. The number of pris-
oners taken by the rebels is now put down
at 1,500. 1t seems that our troops were sur
prised, many of them being in their tents at
the time, trying to escape the heavy rain
that had been falling for several hours pre-
vious. The rebels appeared about noon on
the right of the road in front of the Third
division, Fifth CORPS, but this was evident
ly teint. or for the purpose of feeling our
lines. About O'Clock in the afternoon
they charged in heavy force between the
Fifth and Sixth corps, succeeding in turn
ing the flank OF the former and capturing
large number Of prisoners. This part of
our line was forced back some distance,
when the Ninth corps, which had been re-
lieved the night previous by part of the
Second corps, come on to the field and
opened fire, checking the advance of the
rebels and taken few prisoners. A heavy
column OF the rebels at the same time
charged on the left of our line west of
the railroad, held by the Second division,
Gen. Ayres, Which they broke; and here
they also took five hundred or six hundred
prisoners of the regular brigade, which
was commanded by Gen. Hayes, who is be-
lieved to be prisoner as he can't be found.
Our whole line was thus forced back with
heavy loss in killed and wounded. The en-
emy, however, suffered worse than we in
this particular, his men lying thick all over
the field
Before dark our men were reformed, and
being reinforced a desperate charge was
made to recover our lost ground, which
was successfully accomplished; so that we
held at night the line which had been taken
from us in the afternoon. Col. Earle is re-
ported a prisoner, also Col. Hartshorne.
Gen. Crawford was shot through the vest
and shirt, and narrowly escaped capture.
Lieut.. Clark, of his staff, was shot in the
arm. Lieutenants Meade and Merrill, and
Capt. Smith, of Gen. Crawford's staff, had
and rallying men of the various commands.
The last named was prisoner, but seeing
a favorable chance, made his escape. Capt.
Doolittle, of Col Wheeler's staff, was or
dered to surrender, when he, getting furi-
GUS at an epithet applied to him, seized
musket and bayonetted the rebel against q
tree.
Col. Wheelock's brigade, third division,
was flanked, when they faced to the rear,
charged, and drove the rebels and took
number of prisoners. The entire number
of prisoners captured by us is about two
hundred and thirty, and some stands Of
colors. Our loss is estimated at about three
thousand.
Nothing but skirmishing took place along
the line to-day, both parties being busy en-
trenching themselves. A battle Is looked
Tor at any moment, as the enemy seems de-
termined to gain possession of the road,
while we are as determined to hold it.
Prisoners taken belong principally to
Beauregard's and Hills corps, and healthy,
although clad as usual.
August 2l-6 A. M.-Considerable artil-
lery firing has been going on on our left
since four o'clock, and is at times quite
brisk. No musketry can be heard, the dis
tance from headquarters being too great.