The Portland daily press., 1864-05-13
Friday Morning, May I3, 1864.
Buffers Operations against Richmond

Buuef's OpefatsOnS against hichmOnd.
The ~ Y. Heratd's correspondent thus de-
scribes the cutting of the railroad between
Petersburg and Richmond:
"Ona of the main objects Of Gen. Buffers
movement TO this point was gained on the 7ih
by our forces. The preliminary operations
had already been most brilliantly and success
fully carried out by the seizure OF Bermuda
Hundred, and the occupation OF the Pennsu-
la lying between the James and the Appoto-
max rivers. Its occupation, and the speedy
and effective manner in which it has been for
titled and rendered safe against all comers,
have given our forces base from which it
threatens both the rebel capital and Peters
burg-a place no less important in many
points OF view.
''One of the important objects of the move
Inent was the destruction OF the Petersburg
and Richmond Railroad, one ofthe main trunk
lines of communication between Richmond
and the southern portion of the so-called Con-
federacy The other line is that~from Rich
mond TO Danvie, on the southern boundary
of Virginia, from whence road long projec-
ed, was TO connect IL with one of the North
Carolina roads, leading through the heart of
the Atlantic-seaboard states. The tapping OF
these Richmond roads sewers all communiea-
tion by rail between Virginia and the South.
So much for the Importance of the achieve
"The first plan TO strike and destroy the
railroad last night was relinquished for vari
Gus good reasons, and new one formed, which
seems to have in ii, TO a greater degree, the
elements of success. Five brigades were de-
tailed TO push forward and seize the road at
the proper point, to be under the command of
Brigader-G General Brooks, and the division
was TO move forward at an early hour this
morning. From the Tenth Corps the Second
Brigade, First Division, Col. Plaisted, of the
Eleventh Maine, commanding; the Second
brigade, Second division, Col Barton, Forty
eighth New York, commanding, and Colonel
brakes brigade, Third division, were detailed,
and Gen. Bnrnham's and Gen. Marston's brig
AIDES, from the Eighteenth army corps. Hunts
battery, of the Fourth artillery, was attached
to Gen. Brooks's command. The column left
the fortifcatons about ten o'clock, Gen. Burn
hams brigade having the infantry advance,
Onderdonk's New York mounted rifles lead
ing.
after the command had been united by
Gen. Brooks, just without our works, Onder-
donk's regiment was sent ahead TO feel the
way and deyelope the enemy's position, if it
should be on our line of march. II took the
wrong road, and had advanced some distance,
when it came across a rebel picket, which it
captured without firing shot. Soon after dis
covering It's mistake the regiment was brought
back TO the right road, and the column start
ed on in The direction OF the proper point
Gen. Burnham's brigade followed closely after.
"Our skirmishers again met the rebels and
this time in strength, this side of the railroad,
with their front mostly protected by swamp
and their line well strengthened by artillery.
No better position could have been selected
for a sturdy defence than that chosen by the
rebels.
sour skirmishers were soon engaged with
them along their entire line and as our main
force came into action the rebels opened fire
from six or eight pieces, and vigorously she'll
ed our lines and the woods in which our re-
serves were forming Our fire quickly became
rapid from the infantry, and the engagement
soon assumed the character OF battle.
AT about five o'clock the rebels were driy-
en- from their strongest position behind the
railroad embankment, which they held for a
long time. The railroad was gained and lost
by us two or three times-once on account of
the ammunition giving out, and again because
The enemy had massed at that point and press
ed us back by the force of numbers The last
time we grasped the prize. We held it long
enough TO accomplish the object of the move
ment. The railroad bridge crossing one of
the tributaries Of The Appomdttor rioer.,ciM-
in about seeen miles Of Petersburg, icds set
on fire and totally consumed, and the rail
road track ,cds torn up and destroyed fer
some distance this side Of the bridge, and the
road rendered useless long enough ior our
forces TO carry out other and more important
operations. Our success was not gained with
out some loss, but precisely how great cannot
as yet be ascertained. Many ofthe killed and
wounded were necessarily left on the field
near the railroad,as the enemy, massing them
selves, were able TO finally drive US away be-
fore we could get all the disabled to the rear
"At the same time Gen. Brooks command
started from camp, brigade under General
Hickman with Belger's Rhode Island battery
moved out on another road and fought the
enemy with success, driving him back upon
the railroad. When our engagement was go-
ing on a section of Belger's rifle guns main
tanned fire at long range upon the enemy's
artillery position, and made the enemy's right
wing very uncomfortable, besides retarding in
some degree the arrival of their reinforce
ments, which they poured In from Petersburg
after the fight began. have no particulars of
Gen. Heckman's operations fsrther than the
above"