Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-05-10
AFFAIRS ON THE SOUTH SIDE-INTERESTING
PARTICULARS OF THE ENEMY'S MOVEMEN rs
lErom az Petersb,rq Erpress Of Saturdnu

(From the Petersburg Express of Saturday,
Yesterday was anO her day of rumon-yili, extra
VACANT and numerous-5u. net OF excitement, for the
people had recovered from the shock which came 50
| suddenly upon them Thursday. They had seen the
preparations which efficient and gallant General
commanding this department had made, aud felt con-
sciOua that uuder his sleepess vigilance and skillfu
management Petersburg would never fall INFO the hands
of the foe.
There we're evident signs at an early hour that the
enemy were largely reinforcing at Bermuda HUNDREDS,
transport after transport could be seen ascending the
river from the heights in the vicinity OF City Point
gentleman connected With Home Guard CiyalrJ ar
rived about ii O'clock and informed that the traLs-
pcr.s commenced arriving Mt early dawn and up to
o'clock one hundred aud twenty one, including the
rival Of Thursday afternoon. had been counted At
first thought this number appears to be one of great
magnitude, and capable OF Transporting an army OF
forty thousand men. But when IL is recoected that all
of the vessels do not carry troop' but that many Of
them necessarily filed with horses artillery amnu-
nition pontoon boats quafsermaster and commssary
stOes it may be safely concluded that the enemy 8
| forces row at Bermuda Hundreds do not tIoeed if
| they number as many as 10000. All accounts from
the river represent the scene at the junction of the
James and Appomattox rivers as of and
| sual interest So large aotla of steamers bargee
sailing vessels and gunboats before wit
messed in that section. As ole who saw it expressed
himself US the wide expsnse of waters there is liter
ally covered with floating craft.
The principal rumor yesterday, and the one which
seemed to excite most interest in our community was
that the enemy had greatly increased his force City
Point during Thursday night and was marching towards
Petersburg by the county road, slowly but steadily
This soon ascertaned ID be incorrect. gentle.
who left his farm three miles this side OF City
Point at o'clock yesterday afternoon Informs u, that
the enemy had made no advances OF any consequence
10 that hour and that his pickos and vdettes then
extended only two miles from the Point Our inform
ant is gentleman Of mos. excellent judgment,
and no little experiences, and his opinion is,
after closely observing the movements OF the ele-
my, that they have no intention of moving upon
Petersburg from the Point It is evident that they
only occupied that locality to prevent from placing
battery there and also to veil there movements at Ber
muda Hundred. The main operations are on the Cbes-
ter6ed side of the river el4
SHARP FIGHT AT PORT wALrHALL JUNCTION.
sharp fight occurred at Port wathall Junction,
yesterday AFTERNOON, commencing at aud concluding
at O'clock which resulted in a decided repule of the
enemy Port Wathall Junction ia on the failroaj Eve
miles from Petersburg aud two from Swift Greek Bridge
At o'clock, two brigades Of the enemy, which moved
out from Bermuda Hundreds, some time during Thurs
day night and were slowly and cautiously advancing
during tho day yesterday attempted to cross the field
of hrs. Howlets farm, Immediately at the junction.
but met with deadly FIRE from six hundred of the
2lst and 26th South Carolina Volunteers commanded
by Colonel Graham. Three times the enemy essayed 10
reach the railroad coming with YELL but our men I'M.
awed by such music and uuintimidaed by such appar
ent ferocily, met them with steady fire. causing them
to recoi aud stagger from tAe bloody reception Tney
finally rereate in some confusion and rered about
mile and half distant, in the direction Of Port Wal
thai landing The disparity OF numbers was too great
for us to pursue, but gentleman present inform, US
that be never Witnessed more gallant conduct on the
part of any troops then displayed by the intrepid
South Uaroinians $500 IS ~, sd
Tie enemy had artillery but used it with poor effect.
Our casualties were 20 two killed and twenty-three
wounded. We had no artillery. fisa
The objsc! Of the enemy in this movement was evil