The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1864-06-01
The fight on Saturday Night.
Correspondence Of the New York Herald.
MAJOR GEN. BUFFERS HEADQUARrERs, !
IN THE FIELD, Nav -

IN THE FIELD, May -.
MIDNIGHT ASSAULT.
Shortly before midnight after nearly
every one worn out with the fati igue5 of a
hard days work, had gone to rest, vol
ley OF musketry, resembling the distant
rumhling of an earthquake, startled all
hands, and before the echo died away
the heavy booming OF cannon took its
place, and continued for full thirty min
utes.
Some time before ten o'clock General
! Butler received a message from the front
that the enemy was masslng on our cen
ter, and lie. in his cool manner replied.
Let them mass, but guard against sur
prise" This message somewhat pre-
pared us for what was to come and also
kept our valiant troops thus MANAGED on
the enemy he did mass his force for one
grand assault to pierce our lines, and had
we not discovered his intentions the at
tempt would probably have succeeded
As it was il resulted in most disastrous
defeat to the foe.
Our pickets in front of General Ames
line received the rebel fire with great
steadiness and never hinched. They
returned voliev foT volley, and gradually
retired on the reserve.
was received with most whitening fire,
and our men dropped to allow the artil-
lery to play on the enemy. The seige
guns and light batteries commenced their
work then The advance of the rebels
was moved down like grass; but, rs usu-
a. they came up to the breach like veter-
ans, filling up the gaps as the men fell.
: Another and another murdcrouS fire from
our batteries at last halted them. and the
confident foe at last halted in his mad
career.
Capt Langley's battery, the 1st United
States Artillery, played on the rebel
force with great effect About twenty
minutes after the fight had commenced
a 2o-pounder Parrot shell struck and
. exploded rebel caisson, scattering death
and destruction all around. At this
sight the most deafening cheers went up
, from our lines, to the great discontinue
of the rebels.
The gunboats on the James and Apo
mattox rivers also opened their batteries
and shclled the woods around, making it
decidedly uncomfortable for the rebel
reserves.
At last. when the enemy found that
we were well prepared for his advance,
and having already lost very heavily, he
thought it best to Withdraw, which he did,
after giving our metal Il fair and impair
tial test.
The fight lasted about thirty five min
utes, and rs soon as it was over our men
proceeded to bury the rebel killed left
on the field. l learn from good authority
that two hundred and sixty three were
Inferred 10y our forces.
Our loss will not be more than about
ten killed and about fifty wounded, rs we
had all the advantage on our side-con-
stantlv on the defensive and the enemy
marching boldly up to our intrenchments.
Our dcfenseS are almost imprcgnahle.
Constructed by such able engine eering
talent as Major General W. +. Smith,
General Godfrey " citzel and Captain L.
". Farouhar. [ uited States Army. they
cannot be otherwise. Shoald Lees en-
tire rebel horde pounce upon General
Butler, the latter could still hold his
own.
The fleet in the James and Appomat- I
tox rivers IS great auxiliary to our /
army.
Between the respective chief com
manders-Major General Butler and
Acting Rear Admiral 5 p. Lee,-the /
very best understanding exists, and the .
latter at all times heartily seconds every /
wish of the commanding general.
The sortic of the enemy on our lines .
last night is by no means the first instance
of the kind made by the willy rebel Gen.
Beauregard 1t Is his style of doing
business. but it has never yet succeeded.
Thus far. in every engagement he has
fought with our troops he has been wors-
ted. and will bc again,
Yesterday morning the rebels made
a movement on Fort Powhatan. to attack
and capture if possible some coiored
troops stationed there for its defense, and
also to keep the enemy from ohstructing
our navigation Of the james river Col
Baxter. in command notified Brigader-
General Hicks OF the rebel approach.
and asked for re endorsements General
Il, commanding the division of colored
troops, ut once despatched two regiments
to the relief of Fort Powhatan. who ar
rived there in due time to participate in
the engagement which At half
past eleven 0 clock last night General
Hincks telegra he'd to General Butler
that the rebels were badly repulsed at
Fort Powhatan, but stated no particu-
lars.
The rebel General William S Walker,
whose capture by our troops on the I9th
inst. has been already stated. was yes
terd5y removed 70 the general hospital
for medical taeatment. His wounds are
severe, but with great care he may re
cover On his person was found the
following order from Hoke. directing
him to make & movement on Newbern
at the beginning of this month, promis-
ing the assistance of the rebel ram Al
bemarle:
NAY 5.
General: / have just learned from
Captain Cooke, commanding the iron
clal Alhemarle, who writes that he feels
satisfied that the boat can stand the
Sound, and will be with us will move
At six O'Clock to morrow morning. and
will communicate with You at Pollocks-
vile. on the river bank. as soon rs /
reach that point. | desire you to move
at six o clock tomorrow morning. and
proceed TO PollocksviIle. and while YOUR
column Is resting there you will construct
a bridge over MiIlcreek You will have