Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-08-22
TELEGRAPHlO NEWS.


GRANT. .g
Advance on the W eIdon Railroad-Enemy
Taken by Snrprise-Effortsf to R esain the
Rsad Rsas KRsspnlssS.Pesi.lon Rep Of eur Fsress
BiTney-SatisfactoryA Advlces from Gen,l
Sherman-Sheridan W atchful and Wary
The Situation Highly Cheerins--Enemy's
Loss in Late Movements, 4,OO0-Lee's
Lines Manifestly Weak. -.....
OFFICIAL WAR BULLETIN.
GRANT.
WASHINGTON, $40 p. m Aug 20.
To MAJOR General Dir, Ncuo Fork: .-
The operations of General Grants forces are
detailed In the following official des patches
ceived by this department: vage..
"CITY POINT, p. m. Aug. 1S.-Gen1 War.
rem moved with his corps this morning to and
across the Weldon road, about one mile south
OF the lead works, at which point he met moth
ing but the enemY's pickets. He advanced
from there toward Petersburg, meeting the enc.
my nearly in his advance. He had considera
BILE fighting during the day, suffering some loss.
and infiicting loss upen the enemy. have no
report showing the extent Of our losses, but
Judge them to be light from the dispatches
Some Of the enemy's wounded fell into our
hands, and lew other prisoners" ga
GETTY POINT, VA, 7.30 p. M, Aug. 1O.-Our
troops are firmly fixed across the Weldon road.
IQcT0 udS De6I IJt10 CT no ugQtlQG TO- Qays
either south Of Petersburg or north Of the
James. Warren reports that the enemy's dead,
in considerable numbers, were found in his
"Gen. Birney telegraphs Gen Butler as fol-
lows:
".HEADoUARrERs 10TH CoRps, Aug 10
The enemy attacked my line in heavy force
last night, and were repulsed with great loss.
In front of our colored regiment eighty-two
dead bodies of the enemy were counted. The
colored troops behaved handsomely, and are in
1 fine spirits. The assault was in column,
division strong, and would have carried the
works had they not been so well defended. The
enemy's loss was at least 1,000.
"sD. B. BIaNEY, Major General
1--WE have had a great deal of rain about
Petersburg thus week, and very grateful
change in the temperature.
"CITY POINT, Aug. 19, 9 p. m.-The enemy
came out this evening to Warren's right, driving
left of our old line On the Jerusalem plank
road, and forcing back the two right divisions
of,Warren's corps. A heavy fight took place,
resulting in the re-establishing of our
lines and the capture OF good many pris-
oners.
"The prisoners were from Heath's, Mahone's,
ave also lost considerable in prisoners"
The last foregoing dispatch was received this
afternoon, and is the latest information received
by the Department. 1t is estimated that the
loss Of the enemy during this week, in killed,
wounded, and captured, cannot fall much short
Of four thousa nd, If it does not exceed that
number.
The Department has satisfactory intelligence
from General Sherman to half past eight o'clock
last evening.
Reports at five o'clock this morning from
that time, and that Giimor, with forty or fifty
men, entered Martinsburg last evening.
EDwIE M. STANTON, Secretary Of War
Weldon Railroad Cut.
Correspondence OF the Associated Press.]
August 1s, p. M.-This morning, at O'Clock,
the 5th corps started on expedition to cut the
!, Weldon railroad at Reams' Station, taking
Withdrawn from the left front some days ago,
and nave been in reserve ever since They
lst division, being in the advance, had skir-
mish with a force Of the enemy stationed there
to protect the road They fell back rapidly,
however, and the loss on each side was hight.
After placing the troops in line to meet any
attack which might be made, the work Of
tearing up the track was commenced, and
prosecuted with great vigor for several hours.
But about neon they were interrupted at their
labor by the appearance of the enemy, who
were advancing along the railroad from Pc
tersburg in line of battle. They proved to be
HIPS corps, which had been lying in reserve
for the past few days, and who were advanced
at double. quick as soon as they became aware
Of our intentions and movements.
The division. Gen. Ayres commanding, held
the advance on the railroad, the Sd and ith sup.
porting on the right, while the 1st was placed
to cover the lett and prevent any surprise from
The attack on the 2d division was very de-
termined, but our men met it In gallant style,
driving the enemy back handsomely. and
force our line, they finally, after about two
hours' hard fighting, gave up the idea, and
fell back some distance, keeping up fire all
the afternoon from their batteries and skir-
The 18th New York heavy artillery particu.
larly distinguished itself in the engagement
fy-leT ,<l-Sat, SxH pln- Il,
wounded across the back. The movement was
a complete surprise to the enemy, the pickets
stationed in the vicinity being so astonished
that they had barely time to escape. Some
few prisoners were taken, several Of whom
were wounded.
The track is torn up over a mile, our troops
to- morrow they will completely destroy the
ties and rails, unless the rebels visit the neigh
borhood in too strong numbers.
The Fight at Yellow House-Hill's Corps
Ensaged--Rebel Onset upon Ayres' Divi-
sien-A Disastrous Repulse-Our Earth.
works cross the w eldon r Road-The track
Destroyed-Another Battle Expected.
Correspondence of the Chronicle.l
YELLOW HOUSE, August 10, a. m About S
miles from Petersburg stands the yellow
House, The building, composed Of common
brick, is large and square. AT one time the
it is faded; rain and sun have given the wall a
diogy appearance, and caused the paint to fall
mates fed to town for safety. Gen. Warren
uses the place for headquarters. Not twenty
yards distant is the Weldon railroad. It enters
Petersburg from the Sonth. At one time we
thought this main artery Of the Confederacy
had been completely destroyed, and again it
was reported to have been covered BY the 9th
corps. One thing is sure, the rebels did not
lose the use Of this valuable line OF internal
communication for greater period than one
week.
Here is a beautiful clearing. From the mar.
row woodland road we emerge into a circular |
glade. The Yellow House is the center; tall |
pines, mingled with stately cedars and noun |
tain oaks, form the periphery. The Weldon |
Railroad, running directly north and south, |
divides into two semi. circles this beautiful |
farm. Our earthworks extend along the road |
q short distance, and meeting the rebel bate. |
ries, turn Off to the right, mutilating magnif- |
icent field Of corn, destroying the symmetry OF |