The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-10-04
THE LATEST NEWS.
RY LAST NIGHTS Ms1G.

p. NJ on the 2Sth, and, by rapil
march reached and crossed the Jane
at daylight on the 10Th immediately
on advancing, they met the enemy and
skirmished up the roads ard across the
fields till near New Market This road
was occupied by the enemy, strongly
entrenehed on the heights, and the adj,
vance was obstinately contested. This
position, in addition 10 the strong nat
ural character was reRdered doublv
formidable, almost. impenetrable, by
the trees which covered the slopes.
General Paine was ordered to carry
this position The charge was one of
the grand features of the operations of
the day. They never quailed or fall
tered, though their ranks were sadly
thinoed as they advanced TO the sue
4 cessfm accomplishment Of their task.
They threw the enemy into confusion,
and sent them rapidly down the road
toward Richmond.
Gen. Grant and Butler were on the
field during this struggle, and were en-
I Enthusiastically received by the trOops-
When the former rode along the lines
/ the shouts and cheers of the men were
beyond example
Three miles above New Market was a
4 very strong work He pressed the re-
treating rebels so closely that they
/ could not stop to reform in this work.
/ Two miles further on the rebels have
! stronger line of redoubts, perfect IN
I their character carrying heavy artille-
1 ry, and located at such brief intervals
no 70 !. Il 30,
/ of troops through them These works
crossed the New Market read just be-
/ yond the Laurel Hill Church, and their
guns swept the roads in all directions.
Gen. Birney at once determined carry
such Of these works as he could on his
front by general assault, accommodating
the ground himself amid a storm of
shells have never seen surpassed.
They were met with q murderous
fire Of grape and canister, and an I'M
ceaing volley of muslletry, that worked
terrible destruction in their ranks.
Still unfinching they held their way
In crossing the intervening crest Of
open ground they were exposed TO
frightful fire of4rtillery, and the casu-
alities were terrible. Still the line
pressed on. Approaching redoubts,
they we're found even more formidable
than at first supposed a perfect abatis
held them at bay, while the rebel in
fantry literally moved them down.
The forts were surrounded by broad
ditch eight feet deep into which some
of the colored troops leaped only to
find themselves penned in, with no
door of retreat These works had no
sally ports, and We're accessible only by
draw bridges over tho bitches. These,
of course, were thrown up, and the line
was Withdrawn to the farther side of
the creek, which position was held
until night, when a demonstration was
against the works in the ditch of which
our men we're utterly cooped up, thus
giving them an opportunity To escape,
through an advance up the road from
half to three quarters OF mile was &C
eompI II ID 1t cost us dearly.
The corps lost over 500 men killed.
Al the same time these were going on
Kautz cavalry dashed boldly up to the
very gates of Richmond, which fact he
reported to Butler, who at once dea-
patched a division of infantry to his
support This division marched unre-
sisted to within musket range OF the
city, and probably might have marched
into the rebel capital, though it is clear
they conld not have held il. On arriv-
ing in the suburbs Of the city, they
found Kautz had withdrawn for a wise
pupose Although our advance was
checked at Laurel Hill our expedition
is by no means terminated.
The HerAlds correspondent with the
18th corps gives the following account of /
the part taken 10y that corps in the
movement:
Hickmans and Stannards divisions,
Of the Sth corps, crossed the James at |
Atkins Landing, and a mile was
marched before they came in contact |
with the enemy. They showed no de- |
sire TO fight and fell back rapidly. |
Four lines of rifle pits were thus aban- |
doned When they reached the main |
line, however, they showed some resis-
lance, and opened with vigor Com
manding the road was large fort
mounting eleven guns Preparations
to storm were made, and, when ready
General Ord gave the signal Our men
rushed across the field in the face of
artillery and musketry, and captured
the fort, guns, and a ndmber of prison
ers
Gen Ord was wounded Just as he en-
tered the fort, and Gen Burnham was
killed Just as he was about to enter.
Capt Berry, Lieut.. Ladd, and Capt
Converse, of STANDARDS staff, were
I - a L. -, n
was badly ruised by his horse being
killed and falling on him Cen lick
man took command of The corps after
Gen. Ord was disabled, and made sever
ii desperate charges to capture the en-
envy s second line; but owing to the !
fact that Powers division Of the 18th
corps did not Join us till noon, no
further success was met with. The mum
Der of guns captured was -
The Herald's correspondent at Gen.
Buffers headquarters, under date of
he Both, writes that early yesterday
morning Butler had captured all the
save one, Immediately
opposite Fort Darling and be eth held
hem, Notwithstanding = vigorous she'll
ng by the rebels.
The fact that one OF our hospitals
vas located within three miles OF the
lily throughout yesterday is significant
Gen. Grant last evening expressed
himself TO an Old army officer as being
satisfied WITH the operations of
he army, and added that more had
,een accomplished at the then present
tage of the undertaking than he had
Grant had an interview with Butler
t o'clock.
II is reported that the rebels are Sc
ewing reinforcements to their lett by
rain loads of from fifteen to seventeen /,
ars each. I"
We have captured 20 guns in all
Refugees from Richmond report great
there, and JEFF Davis was
zen in the streets exceedingly affected
nd worn down in his appearance. 6
itizens are leaving the city by hun
reds. They say Lee was caught nap
ing this time, as our movements were {
OF dreamed of
Sr. LOUIS, Oct "A train from
rankin to-day reports that al IS quiet =
leTe pi
II is reported that the rebels have
~,