The daily Chattanooga rebel. [volume] (Griffin, Ga.) 1864-1865, 1864-06-29
TIE OPERATIONS BEFORE PETERSBURG
ARMY vorTifEuS S-sEt=T~r~T-
pefcrshifrtr. Y ii..rinin juno 18Th.

Petersburg, Virginia, June l"th
/ reached This place this fnrcrnon-too late {,
enter much into detail in regard to the operations
ia this vicinity for the last few days. From NIL
counts there has been more less fighting day
and night since, We'lnc day the l5th inst. Il
was durin:, the night Of that day the enemy made
his first scrinuS assault and carried large section
OF our outer lines, extending from the AnpOmattoA
far around to the right. Oar forcc very weak
consisting chiefly OF Nises brigade, and u few
comparatively worthless citizens that had been
dragged the lines and pat in position for the
Iuilita. The remainder of BcaurcCard'a troops not
many most at that time were holding the line in
front Of Bermuda Hundreds between the james and
APPROXIMATION.
Had the enemy pressed bis advantage at the
Tune he might easily have occupied Petersburg.
The figh ing continued az intervals on Thursday
and Thusduy night, By which time Bushrod John
sons division had arrived. and soon thereafter
Hoke's division appeared on the field. With these
two divisions, part Of Gracics brigade and the Six
~ -f5urih Georgia regiment which not then at
iachud to any brigade. but has to-day been added
II Colquitts. Beaurpgarl maintained his ground
until o lock yesterday Saturday, mov'n against
the greater part of Grants army. What greater
praise can be bestowed upon any commander than
this simple statement procfaims.
About half-past three o'clock Friday morning,
lust after the moon had snak below tho western
horizon, the enemy crypt through the thick under
growth in front of battery No. Is ON the Baxter
road, which is right. and got within n few
pnceg Of that work before they wers discovered
Phcy were in heavy force-two heavy 60 bo resist
~. Nnttcry
rcioubtg and drove the Confctcrntcs away. Indeed
the wonder is ihat they did carry all parts of
the line, 40 great the disparity between the
forces tlc respective armies. Oar lines extended
from n point fhc Appoma:tox three miles below
tho town, around to the efst aud southeast, a
assistance OF Ave miles and 10 defend them We had
only two divisions aud Fraction. Col. Powhnttan
Il. Page OF the 18th Virginia, commanding wises
brigade MT the time, received mortal wound dur
ing TIC assault, and Led soor thereafter The bat
terry OF the Macon, ga, II light Artillery consisting
of four IL FOUNDER Napoco1is, was lost in spite OF
the gallan;ry of the oficrrsand mon. Tssenty-one
of their horses were killed, and thrr infantry sup
ports having been forced back IL was found mpos-
sible TO bring OF the guns.
Skirmishing luc,lthroughont The day along
the greater part Of The lines. ~ three o'clock the
enemy assaulted Battery No ~, m important no.
sitien next to Battery No 10. but they scro driven
back with considerable loss. An h.slr later they
charged oar works ON the hill near New Market
Race Course, aud were again repulsea, but with
heavier los~- At o'clock the assault was renewed
in front OF Batteries Nos IL, Is, 10 and 90 and as
night approached tho ennnonade became general
along the whole line from No 90 aruuod to tho APP
pomattox on the left. Aware OF the comparative
weakness of Bcaurcg CARDS force, ard stimulated by
the desire to get possession Of Petersburg, Grant
made desperate effort 10 btar dowu nil opposition
and enter the town. He massed his forces as he
di at Spottsly vanin Court House aud Cold ITar-
her, and rushed them against position as il he
believed that numbers and brse force could accom-
piish everything. His heaviest assault was made
t's fsiiott kHtt IsNan- bElSattes, OF
Johnson's division.
We AT length gave way, ard one regiment Of FL
hots and tho enemy poured in thro es tho gap in
stream that can be pared only the Missssip-
p river when il breaks through the cvee and sub
mergcs the adinstnt Plantations Fortunately
Ransom Of the same division and Graeic were neRr
nj hand; Coiqiitt and Ciin r1nan.'"i Hokes divis-
lou, rushed forward also o. close the gap which
grew wider aud wider every moment. The shock
was terrible Night had now vet in Int the lets of
fro from the rusketry and the torigues of fame
from the artillery lit up the earth and the sky and
pointed the way To the warning hosts. If the enc
my successful Petersburg sBust fall and with
It's fal wbat other OWLS wouabehll mead notnow
pause 10 cnumerate;if, Notwithstanding their late
success, they rcs repnlsed ali might be saved.
Both parties UNDERWOOD tho importance OF tho stake
they IN aged Gael other in ni combat. The
sovcrcss the grnun.l with their swelling masses;
The ether was ontT handfuE and yel the latter,
gathering itsef up, and binding itself tsgethaF like
bali, vas hurlsa against tse Subdivisions foe with
q skill sHd fofes which nothing hpmai, ccaid stand
b.fore and five.
The enemy driycE hne< ard out Of the
works with great loss, md the guns heio.sring "a
Biount's ftieoreiat) battery, which had behaved
With so mach gaslantry, bun which was lost whes