Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-06-27


AnnihiIated-GeneraI Wright Destroys
Five Miles Of the w eldon Railroad.
tCorrespondence Of the Phila- Inquirer.1
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE PoToMAC,
NEAR PETERSBURG, June 2i. p. m.-This
morning opened with one Of the heaviest can
nonades of tho whole campaign, and the i'm.
preston was produced on people at distance
from the scene that q terrible battle was in
progress. It transpired soon, however, that
the enemy had merely been wasting ammunl-
ton In concentrated and tremendous bat
harmless fire upon the troops and batteries of
the 18th corps, from his batteries beyond the
Appomattox Terrible as was the storm Of
shot, shell, grape and canister that rained
along onr lines on the right, the damage done
was utterly ins ignif1cant
The bail opened at about 80 M, and closed
at about 9. Our own batteries during this time
Were not silent, but replied in spirited style.
While this artillery fire was raging, a charge
division Of the 18th corps, by Hoke's brigade of
rebels. About four hundred of them succeeded
in entering the front line OF our rife -pits-a
mere picket line, our skirmishers retiring to
main breastwork of the front line of battle.
While these were coming in our troops did not
hre from the fear that they might hit our own
men, a.
The rebels, encouraged by this, advanced
boldly towards our intrenchments, but the
moment our skirmishers had all got in a volley
was Immediately fred into the ranks OF the
enemy that moved them down fearfuily. Their
progress " as all at once stopped, ana to retreat
was as much out OF the question as to advance.
tinued firing rapidly upon them. They made
signs OF q desire TO surrender, which was not
at first perceived, bat as soon as their wish
was ascertained firing was discontinued and
they received cordial In vitatiOn to come in
The number OF prisoners taken was one hun
dred and sixty six, and thirty six wounded
were brought off the ground. The remainder
OF the four hundred must have been either
killed or too badly wounded to get away, as
the men captured say none went back.
Yesterday afternoon, General Wright, with
the Sixth Corps, made movement to the left
and reached the Weldon Railroad, of which he
destroyed some five miles. Fires were made
along it which destroyed the ties and at the
same time warped the iron SO as to be unfit tor
future use. Having accomplished his object
he returned to his former position.
ASSOCIATED PRESS ACCoUNrl
Rebel Attack on Burnside-A Desperate
Conflict-They are RepHlsed with Great
Loss-Uur Loss Small-The Engagement
with the Sixth Corps on w ednesday-
Condition of Our Army.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
June 25, A. M, Saturday.-The only fighting
by the enemy on Burnside but whether in.
tended as feint to cover some more important
move, or an attempt TO break through his lines,
1t was failure.
They opened with heavy fire Of artillery,
which was returned by our batteries, and the
rebels, making charge, were driven back In
confusion, upwards Of one hundred OF them
being captured
This occurred about 8 a. m, and the artillery
firing was kept up for an hour, when all be-
came quiet at that point.
About the same time battery opened in
front of hospital on the left Of the Fifth Corps
which the rebels seemed desirous Of cleaning
cut, but they were deferred by our guns before
any damage resulted to us.
Picket firing is still kept up along nearly the
entire line. and in almost every hospital are q
few victims OF this species OF warfare.
1t is almost impossible for change to be
made in the skirmish line without some loss
from the enemy's sharpshooters, and these
lines have 10 be relieved al ways after dark ON
that account.
the enemy for the possession Of the railroad,
on Wednesday was quite severe, particularly
in front Of the Second Division, commanded by
Only a short distance of the railroad had
been destroyed, when the party were attacked
by heavy force Of the enemy under General
Andrews, supported by Wilcox's division.
charge OF the party that re ached the road, and
he fell back slowly, while the sklrmish line
held the enemy in check; but q body Of the en-
smy en- IN made & f1ank movement, expecting TO turn
ever, did not penetrate far enough, although
they succeeded in taking large number OF the
skirmishers prisoners, principally OF the Atm
brigade.
The enemy afterwards advanced and at.
tempted to break through the line at several
points, but were met with such heavy hre
from our forces that they were driven back
every time with heavy loss.
They finally, at dark, gave up the effort,
and returned across the railroad embank.
ment, where they took mp an advantageous
Our loss was very light In killed and wound
ed, while that OF the enemy, 1t is supposed,
We lost quite number Of prisoners; but the
figures cannot be correctly given. /
Supplies arrive at the front regularly, and
the troops lack nothing in this respect, but they
cuffe