Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1864-05-17

The following wSs prepared for our evening Issue
terdsy from the AuguEta oOasiifptioneIis, but was
/nittsd in consequence of an accident:
/Ihc Fight last Saturday scar Port RaIikGll
JHHetioH.
Ws.get SONS further and interesting particulars OF
the fight last Saturday near Port Wslthau junction,
on The railroad about three miles and half this side
Friday night closed in upon the opposng forces AZ
ter several hours of sharp skirmishing Saturday
morniug az snrise found armies drawn up ia
line OF battle, abss half mile apart and in full view
Of each other Our forces occupied the railroad 10 the
right and left Of Craigs residence, very near 70 the
junction, and the Yankees occupied position the
adjacent field.
About eleven O'Clock skirnishing commenced when
the Surty artillery, under Captain Hankns advanced
several hundred yards in front and opened on the
enemy with she'll This brought on sharp FIRE bs.
tween the infantry left Rnd the advance Of Tho
enemy's right But In thirty minutes the firing on
beth sides ceased, exeept here and there wild shot
from the enemyls artillery.
Our forces now made the railroad their line of bsse
and about half pAss two O'Clock tbs enemy opened on
them with their artillery In 'front.' and the same time
endszvored TO turn left. They finally succeeded
by overwhelming numbers in reaching the railroad but
Gen Hagood with three South Carolina regiments (bs
2lst 18th and 27 advanced and drove the enemy back
TO the'- Inns In great confusion
The Sghtng continued until about four O'clock and
for be greater portion Of ths time very severe
brave gallant men driving every thing before them
Our tro rs confronted by greatly superior num-
bers but they held their ground manfuly Their num-
her an gagged was twelve or fifteen thousand The ene
my advanced in overwhelming numbers, estimated at
one division and brgsdes upon that position Of our
ne held by General HsgcOd's brigade. They were in
such numbers a. to overlap line, which enabled
them 10 flank and turn extreme left This force
General Hsgood to chaugs his front, which he did
cessfuly but the movement necesitaed the exposure
OF our officers and men, and caused this heavy loss
which we sustained The enemy. however, were soon
driven back, when the brave South Carolinsns reoeeu
pied their original line and held it successfully agsins.
two more assaults Of the enemy.
Bsigader Gen Bushrod johnson the senior briss-
disT il command and said TO have behaved with much
coolness. LieutenantGen. d. Il. Hill was also the
II Is mentioned as a somewhat singular coincidence
that fhs troops engaged the part Of the enemy in
this fight the troops that the brave South
Carolinians had fought so long Morris and James
island, at ChSrestOn.
Our Osa in The sht Of Frldsy and Saturday, partieu
larly In that of Saturday very severe proving con-
elusivelY thst fought with the utmost dsspara
ti0n. The loss Of officers il very large In aeners
Hsgoods brigade, four out of seven field officers en-
gagged In the fight were killed. Among those killed and
wounded, we learn, the following: Lieutenant. Col
D4rgxn Of the 2st South Carolina volunteers kilsd in
the engagement OF Saturday, Col John @. Presley,
severely wounded in the left shoulder Col Grahau of
the 2lst South GsrOina, wounded in two places,
not severely Capt William 4. Stoney OF Gen. FIs-
goods Atsh, supposed to be mortay wounded Lieut..
colonel Of .hs 9Th South CarciinR (nane forgotten
was severely wounded In the head.
Occupation of Polohaian Jy The Kankses.
We mentioned yesierday that the Yankees. In com.
ing ap the river hsd landed four thousaBd negoes at
Fori Po~hasn At isfest aesoaRis this foFos st oc.
cuped this post aud greatly annoying the people
in that neighbofhood BY plferng aud dspredziiRg in
every direction
Fort Pewhatan Is about twenty miles below City
Point The river al that point IS very narrow. ths
channel hue cling the south shore closely and the bank
very high and PERCEPTIONS
BSrRizg Of Tie Bridge On ths Petersburg aad
Rel8Oa Road
From prudential reasons we refrHined FINN noijcie
the burning Of the bridge on the Petersburg and
don railroad by the enemy although we had nformaou
Of It al the time. But that It has been made Dub
e no harm esn eqH1e iron giving come laEtouiars Of
Il, which We have been able TO obtain.
On Friday night after the battle Of that afternoon.
tbe notorious Spears, With body OF cavalry started
out towards the Of the Blaekwatsr river snd
crossed At point where the atresm is easily fored
Here he met no opposition, and made dstolr which
brought him TO Wakefield depot, the Norfolk and
Petersburg railroad, where he stopped for the night
While there he did not bura tue depot nor interfere