New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-06-13
FROM GENERAL BUTLER.
THE ATTACK ON PETERSBURG.
KAHTZ'S CAVALRY AT WORK AGAIN.
AN ARTILLERY DEMONSTRATION.
Gilmore Ordered "to Engage the
Enemy"
WHAT KAU1z WAS EXPECTED TO DO.
AND HOW HE DID 1T.
The Cavalry Enter the Streets of Peters
burg.
But Gilmore Fab TO Co
operate.
Kautz Gets No Help, and Is Forced
to Retire.
Gen. Butler In Communication with
Gen. Grant.
But Gilmore Fab TO Co.
operate.
Kautz Gets No Help, and Is Forced
to Retire.
Gen. Butler In Communication with
Gen. Grant.
From Our Special COnsspondsnt.

From Our special Corsspondsnt
HEADQUARTERS GEH, BUTLER
Thursday. june g. 1854.
The peaceful monotony of camp Life has been
interrupted. The interruption commenced late Last
night by the chatter Of 4Oo horsemen across the pom
toon bridge over the Appomattot These were followed
by brigade Of infantry from Gen. Gillmores COM
mand and the trumping Of the infantry was acoonpa.
MED by the rumble Of artillery. On the othey side Of
the river the infantry Joined BY brigade Of COL
ored troops from Gen. Hinkss division. commanded BY
Gen. Kinks In person the whole, except the cavalry.
being I'm charge Of MAJ. Gen. Gilmore. Tho Loo
picked horsemen eere under the command Of Gen
Kaut2 What could the marshaing Of this force about
5000 In alp meant
Any one who Las ridden 10 the LEFT Of line during
the past week. and looked through tho telescope at the
signal station has the City Of Petersburg lying
about six miles distant waiting to be captured It's
spires and houses have looked imporingly northward
although its inhabitants are strongly Of the Southern
persuasion.
With the reduced force left at his disposal Gen. But
ler has not deemed IL prudent to assault place known
to be fortified and garsoned while any doubts a. to the
success Of such assault existed. All the information
lately received from various sources however made II
clear that but limited force left In and around
Petersburg Gen. Butler therefore deterwined TO mako
diversion upon the city. and at the same time to send
Gen. Kauts TO enter Petersburg from the opposite
side and also TO again cut the Petersburg and Weldon
Railroad 1t was intended to send Gen. Kinks with
sufficient number Of his troops to carry The place by
assault for the conduct Of which movement Gen. H. is
admirably adapted.
At this juncture Gen. Gilmore expressed desire 10
take brigade from his command. and 90 In charge Of
the expedition. The desire was made known to the
Commanding General. who thereupon assigned Gen.
Gilmore to the command.
Gen. Kauts, with his cavalry. moved about daylight
this morning for the SOUTH southwest side Of the CITY,
followed by Gen. Gilmore with TIP infantry force. As
the Rebel battery known as the Clifton Battery CON-
uands the river road detour was made so as to get
out Of its f&nge. breakfast was ordered early this
morning and horses immediately after. aud Gen. Butler
and staff left headquarters about O'Clock. riding to
commanding position the river above Point OF Rocks
To our right Capt Toilets battery wss IN position. and
soon commenced throwing percussion and fuse shell in
the direction Of the Rebel batteries opposite the center
of our lines. The firing to casual observer appeared
very curious, and quite the opposite Of warlike.
La front Of where the battery was in position forest
OF solemn pines lowered alof completely shutting out
oil view beyond Here battery OF six guns firing
ated intervals in tho most solemn sort Of way at
what apparently nothing You saw the fash. the
smoke heard the report and the peculiar whs Of tho
shell as IL sped over the trees, and then came
distant notes.-the explosion Of the shell 1t was diff
cult to tell what such seemingly random shooting could
amount to- but after a while it woke up tho Rebels,
who not having the emotest idea to where this bat
terry was situated vented their indignation upon the
batteries along the center and right Of our line This
afforded our artillersts renewed opportunity to pay
their respects and q usual to silence the Rebe guns
The firing from Capt. Foetts battery was. however
continued. From the position taken by the General
near tho new signal tower erected BY Gen. Weitze an
excellent view was obtained Of both sides Of the Apo
mattox. and In the distance was seen tho "Clifton
Battery"
In the inner channel Of the river hidden from view
ay tho gunboat Com. Perry, the army gunboats were
also within range Of the Rebel work. On the opposite
tide Of the Appomattox field battery was placed in
position. The firing had Just opened and
vas at first rather wild. This was excusable in the
yunboats as they could not sec the objective point al
hough all were good line shots But the land battery
lad not this excuse as from their position the Rebel bat
cry was in full sight, Shell after shell exploded nearer
nd nearer the work. when fash and q puff of white
moks came from the Rebel gum followed some seconds
fter by dull boom. telling that tho graybacks were
ot going to remain silent spectators Of the scene At
rst they directed their shot against tho land battery
nd over shot it. Then they tried the gunbosts and fell
hort BY this time the Com. Perry. firing by signals
rom the shore, had got the range and lodged shell
her lOOpound Parrot fairly In one Of the smbra.
ures. The shell exploded and an army wagon could
ave been driven through the opening thus made
But the Rebels were not idle, and between the dis.
hTges Of the Parrot gun were seen busily at work