The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1864-07-23

report our Smelling Of Petersburg as very disastrous.
They also say that the rebel army is constantly
marching and cou%ntermarching 10 guard against ex-
pected attacks
A Fortress Monroe telegram says, in the attack on
the First Division of the Eighteenth Corps, the rebels
were defeated with great loss. About 400 deserters
came in during the action. General Sheridan. with
his command. left White House on Friday.
The UOrid'S special dispatch of the Goth, after
noon, SAYS Our correspondent writes under date Of
yesterday morning. that We now permanently bold
the Petersburg and Weldon railroad south of Peters
burg. The Eighteenth corps had a severe fight with
Hills corps, and drove them back several miles, and
we now hold the road. We are now in an entrenched
position, and another important movement is IL pro-
gress.
The Herald's correspondent says it is reported that
the force lately under command of Polk, arrived at
Petersburg on Saturday a week. Under date Of mid
night, the 22i. the correspondent says that during
last night the Sixth Corps moved TO the lett aud
massed this morning mt Williams House. Wilson's
and kautz's cavalry having cut the Weldon Railroad,
orders were given to suspend operations in that di-
rection, and swing the left of the Second Corps
around, so as to develop the enemy's works in front
of Petersburg without regard TO any connection with
the Sixth Corps on the left. The principal portion
of the troops were soon moving to the front. Glib
bCns was already in position and entrenohed. having
advanced as near the enemy's entertainments as he
could without hazardiug n battle. Mott and Barlow
pushed forward their line of battle with q heavy
skirmish line. Mott was partly in position, and
Barlow approaching the crest in front of the rebel
works, when they encountered a heavy force of the
snemy marching down in column by ~brigades, with
the intention of piercing our position at the opening
between the left of the Second and right of the Sixth
Corps.
The Second. Third and Fourth Brigades of Bar
lows Division formed his front line, the First Brig
ade being held in reserve. In the assault by the
enemy the rebel General Wilcox led the advance Of
Hills veteran corps. 1t was early in the afternoon
when the head of the rebel column struck the right
of the Sixth and left of the Second Corps. The posi-
ton occupied by these corps rendered it necessary
they should Immediately withdraw their TANKS thus
exposed, and fill the existing gap by making a con-
nection with each other along the line of entrench-
ments in the rear. While this was being done the
enemy inflicted considerable damage on our men by
their murderous FIRE and captured several hundred
prisoners. From the assaulting column Barlow and
Mott were compelled to retire, and the enemy swept
on over the ground lately occupied by them, and
soon came TO Gibbons line, the left of which had
also suffered somewhat in the shock. The right held
its position with determined courage and poured q
murderous fire into the advancing foe. The musket.
~ fire was terrific on both sides, as the enemy swept
over the angle which marked the lett OF the line and
epveloped a battery of four guns, which occupied an
advanced position, and almost before the officers were
aware of the situation of affairs, the battery was
practically in the hands OF the enemy. Our men
held on some time firing several rounds of canister
at the enemy after the rebel flag had been planted
over the battery. In the meantime Captain Clark's
battery which was posted in front of the works. fur
Their to the right, opened on the enemy and contri-
buted considerably to check a further advance. The
rebels soon turned the captured guns upon US. at the
same time concentrated a FIRE of twenty other pieces
on Capt. Clark's battery. While this active work
was going on at the right of the corps a part OF the
rebel attacking column, which had been ~deployed in
line Of battle. was still pressing down upon the left.
The interval between the right of the Sixth and the
left of the Second was gradually growing greater,
from the fact that the iDperilled flank expo, Led TO the
enemy was slowly melting away, when Miles brig
ade, of Barlow's division, which was held in reserve,
came up on a double quick. One regiment was sent
forward through the woods to check the enemy's
advance, while the remainder of the brigade formed
behind breastworks to fill the interval in question at
the same time Rady's battery opened. and the artil-
lery and infantry soon checked the further progress
of the enemy at that point. Scarcely had these posi-
tions been effected when the rebels made another at
tempt to press the lines a little TO the right, but the
attack was successfully repulsed. About seven in
the evening, an effort was made by Gibbons with one
of his brigade supported by one from the Fifth Corps.
to attempt to retake the lost ground The attack
was very sharp and spirited. but failed to accomplish
the object.
The Commercials army letter of the 18th says
Fosters Tenth Corps has probably ere this attacked
Chapin's Bluff, the capture of which will permit the
erection OF strong counter works to operate against
Fort Darling. A heavy line of entertainments, con-
centrating n sweeping fire on Drury's Bluff, is evil
IDENTIFY the design of Grant.
The bank statement shows an increase of loans OF
one million tn, ee hundred thousand dollars; a de-
crease in specie Of nine hundred and fifteen thousand
dollars and a decrease of deposits of ten millions
six hundred and seventy thousand dollars.
A dispatch from Charleston. the 10th, says IL ID
reported by scouts and refugees that the rebel Gen.
McCouslaud, whom Hunter outhanked and defeated,
q few days since, is now at Lewisburg, with oO,OOO
men. 1t is likewise reported that some $4,000 of
Morgan's command reached Logan Courthouse, in
retreat from Kentucky.