New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-05-24
The Struggle to Retake the
Rine.Pits.
TIE GUNB0ATS SMELLING THE ENEMY.
ANOTHER BATTLE EXPECTED.
The ButtIe on Friday-A Contest for
Riac.Pifs-The Rebels (et Them.
From Our Special Correspondent


Friday evening, May 90 1864.
There has been to-day fierce and sanguina-
~ battle on the spot which mentioned my lastthe
front Of the Sd Division Of this corps under Gen Amos
H. as its officers are disposed to think and ~ is Of
course not impossible since the accurate observer
il liable to be msinformed) injustice has been done the
10th Corps in some Of your published correspondence
the corps has had to-day. and will have hereafter an
opportunity 10 prove their fighting qualities beyond all
cayI.
As has been before stated our line passes rrcgulary
from the AppomattvI on the let to the james the
Of the line In space o, about 500 yards in width and
the same in depth.
The Rebels had come up In front Of the clearing hav'
ing followed us down from Fort Darling. and had post
ed their fret guns in the yard Of the Hewlett House.
This house is behind fall In the ground. and at several
points along the line they have posted lig, bafte
ries The clearing il wholly our own WORK. and is
faulty only in not having been done to greater
tent. One strip Of woods which threatened us with
sharp shooters Thursday is happily down. but
those next the Hewlett House remain. and are now be-
yond our power 10 remove.
On Wednesday night our pckets dug rife pt IN
front Of the Rebel position and about FOO yards from
our line extending quarter Of "A mile into the woods
on our right which yet stand. IT was evident that
this pit is invaluable 10 its possessors and accordingly
the Rebels drove out OF il this morning. and the
struggle Of to-day has been attempt TO regain II.
which is so far unsuccessful although We have rcaken
the right Of Il which is in the woods.
Last night there was an alarm between II and 10,
and another between and g. caused by picket firing
Both times there diminishing and charging, but
our troops held their pit The moon shone. setting
Just after the second alarm and old enemy the fog
was 80 thick that could not be distinguished at
fifteen PAGES even In a camp where fires had been
burning all night. What mischief the Rebels might
prepare under its cover. no knew; but II was
thought they would try TO plant batteries in the woods
on the right ofthe Hewlett House the ground where
is section Of the rife-pit, and further alarm
was looked for later In the night but none came.
At nine, or theTeabout, the muskets began lively
cracke and the guns opened from the Rebel position
Hurrying Ia the scene. found the enemy had ad
yanced and been rcpulsed yet had the rfep In their
dctested possession The whole Of the 9th Maine, with
portions Of the 4th New Hampshire, 33th Pennsylvania
aud 9th NcwYork were occupying the rite-pit' the
regiment first named being nearly In the center The
Rebels charged upon them with their peculiar short
lived enthusiasm and their yen. and were met hrmiy
and the position might have been held without difficulty
had not the 9th Mime broken and fed 20 the woods
thus permitting the Rebels 10 enter the pit and hank
the remaining regiments, compelling them to retire
Two Licutenants Of the 9th Maine who retired their
without orders brought this afternoon before
Gen. Ames, and by him sent to Gen. Butler. who sum
marily dismissed Of them from the service. Both
deserve severe Punishment for this unfortunate affair
has cost hundreds Of lives today. and threatens with
severe battles the price of holding position
The Rebels in the pit and the woods which yet stand
next the Hewlett House the twin ofapprehen'
sion.
Our men once out Of the pit and 10 retreat the mpe
uous Rebels pursued recklessy charging into full view
In the clearing. Then our guns angry but silent while
they sheled away at us yesterday opened with sphcr
zeal case. and they tumbled back to their newly &C
CURED pit.
Now came momentary lull and then the Sd Regular
Battery in the left rodoubt the 9TH NewJerscy adoin
ing on the right both facing the pit and the LIST Con
nectcut In the elevated redoubt further TO the right
pointing diagonally and partly IL, oponed fire.
roaring without moments stop from 10! TO ls using
at first mostly spherical The practice was mainly
excellent under the personal direction Of Gen. Ames'
most Of the shell bursting the pit The Rebel guns
returned the fire but their shots counted hardly more
than fifth Of ours and only Insignificant number
were struck while fire not In the least re-
tarded Meanwhile the 18th Indiana. Col Dobbs. made
gallant and as seemed, imprudcnt charge upon the
pit on the right but repulsed when within about
hundred yards Of the work. During this charge we
took prisoners Major-Gen. Walker Of South Carolina
who was here temporarily in command Of brigade
He had his foot torn of by she'll and states that his
brigade ran of and left him on the field.
The firing being for the present, our men could
be seen huddled behind apple trees and others IN the
clearing. The Lieutenant Colonel Of the 18TH New
York rode airily out upon elegantly caparisoned
horse against warning, when down went the horse OH
went his rider on foot and after man was seen
% crawl carefully TO the animal and remove the trap