Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-08-24
WAR NEWS.
From Mobile.

From Mobile.
MOBILE, Aug: 17-M.jor General Frank Gardner
assumed command CT the District of the Gulf to-
day. The people are pleased with him.
Yesterday evening the snemy landed at Montrose
in 6Ve launches Our cavalry fred on them and
killed two and wounded several The enemy re-
tired last night
Major Carroll, agent of exchange, returned from
the Federal fleet after sending off letters and pack
ages to Dauphin island prisoners. Hopes are en-
tertained of their early exchange. ..
A force of the enemy from Pensacola, estimated
at two thousand, crossed the Perdido river yester
day, advancing towards Mobile bay.
All quiet in the bay.
The Forts of Mobile Bay.
The mystery of the surrender of Fort Gaines is
not yet explained. Some persons ask why did not
Gen. Page remain at the fort and prevent its sur
render Military authorities say he did not be-,
cause Fort Morgan which he commanded IN per.
son, was more important defence than Gaines
the latter being of so little value protection
to Mobile that the wonder now is that it was ever
built. Fort Morgan is only half mile from the
channel, while Fort Gaines is three miles from it
the two foi IS being three and half miles apart
Uneasy because of the appearance of things at.
Fort Gaines and unable to get answer to his sig
nails, General Page went over to it in an open boat
not without peril and was forced to return to his
own fort during the night The orders he left have
already been stated. They were not obeyed and
at hatfpsst O'clock next dHys to his great sur
prise, the Yankee flag was hosted over Fort Gaines.
.-Richmond Dispatch.
From Petersburg.
PETERSBURG, Aug. 18-About two o'clock this
morning our batteries along the whole lines in front
Of this place opened fire OF, the enemy The enc
my replied fesbly, the firing being kept up for an
hour and half when all suhsided into the usual
q:.iet On our SIDE no casualties reported Tie
enemy's cavalry are making some demonstration ca
Oar right this morning.
SECOND DISPATCH
PETERSBURG, Ang. 18-A force from the 9th corps
Of the enemy, assisted by cavalry, broke throu,,
our cavalry lines right this lnoI ring aud
ceeded in reaching the Weldon Railroad Just above
tie six mile Station, tearing up part Of the rail
road, some say as much as two miles. r. S. Walk
er's Virginia and Davis Mississippi brigadcs com.
ing upon the raiders sharp fight ensued, the re
suit of which is not fully ascertained One hun
dred and fifty eight prisoners, including eight off.
GERS, captured in the fight have arrived here. The
enemy were in full retreat by latest advices Pri-
soners say the object was to draw troops from our
'front.' in order, if possible, to charge our works and
break the railroad
THIRD DISPATCH :.
PETERSBURG, Aug lS-The enemy S force engaged
to day consists of three bri ades of the 9Th CORPS
with ten sections of artillery, and force of cava
ry commanded by Gen. Warren. The enemy en-
gagged our cavalry about nine o'clock about four
miles southwest of town, driving them in some four
miles, when our infantry came into action at two
o'clock, driving the enemy back some three quar-
tiers of mile. Night ended the engagement with
the enemy holding the Weldon railroad at point
abDut three miles below the city. A force of the
enemy's cavalry are reported and believed to have
gone to raid the direction of Southside railroad
The enemy's loss today unascertaiued. Ours not
heavy. Among the wounded are Colonies Lyle Of
Virginia and Blair of Mississippi. About two hun
died prisoners were captured
The Express of Saturday says:
"This occupation Of one of on: main lines of com.
munication with the South was of course not to
be permitted without effort to dislodge the enc.
my. Accordingly, all arrangements having been
completed, Gen. A. P. Hill, commanding Mahone's
and Heths divisions, attacked them on Friday be-
tween the hours Of three and four o'clock. Gen.
railroad, and Gen. Heth those to the right The at
tack was opened by Malone, and was speedily re-
| sponded to by Heth on the right and the battle
| ragged furiously.
On the right, Gen. Heth, with the gallant brig
AIDES of his divisions-Davis, Walkers and Archer's
struck the enemys picket line in the corr, field
short distance beyond Davis residence These
were quickly forced back upon the first line o
breast-works, held by formidable force With
1
swept over the obstruction pressing the Yankees
back with severe loss into their second line, ant
| charging onward forced them thence with an equa
| lack of ceremony. Bea.en from their works ani
defeated in every effort to retain Them the Yankees
retreated to their main line Of Entertainments, int
which they had been driven on the previous even
ing. This line having been greatly strengthened
proved too strong to be stormed and our troop
were checked in the face of the slaughter whlci
| threatened a further advance,
In the meantime, Gen. Mahone with Clingman's
Colquitts and his own former brigade, had slrucl
the right OF the Yankee lines and captured cigh
hundred prisoners. Pressing forward with hl
usual energy he drove the enemy before him, sue
cessfully charging them wherever they made
stand Finding them strongly entrenched, however
the thick wcods opposite Davis farm, it wa
determined to dislcdgc them by flank movement
CGngman's and Mahcne's old brigade engaged then
in front, while by a circu'tons route Colquitt'
(Georgia) brigade was thrown on their flank. Tn
movement proved brilliant success, and cause
scarcely any loss to our troops.
Colqu;tfs men were upon the Yankees almost be
fore ther we're Of such close proximity of Il,
rebels, and surrender fighting under fearful dis
advantage was the alternative Crawfnrds craa
division. Werress (5iH) corps, here fell bel l-s
victim to rebel Strategy, and the greater part OF ta
| 5rigadcs -numbering over too t&ousahG n,ens
>turcw down their arms and surrendered II
prisoners We're quickly placed under guard s1i Sew
to the rear, where they were formed into iins or
march to Gen. Hills headquarters. !:
The battle still progressed successfully until tn
enemy was driven back Is the position fioh, vine
he advanced in the morning. At dark our line
were close up to his works, and occasional volIey
of musketry showed still farther fighting
Among the prisoners taken, is Brig. zen. Hay.
of Massachusetts,, several Colonies and their fel
officers Of less grade. Gen. Hays was brought int
the town last night r.
We regret to state, however, that General Cling
man was painfully, though not seriously, wounded
The battle for the possession Of the railroad wi
probably be resumed this morning, and it is belle,
ed the enemy will not only be djslodged, but dsa
trcusly defeated. This expedition will turn out
the end, to be the greatest disaster that has "
happened to Grant in this department
1t is also stated that several hundred more pris
ners have been taken, thus running the numbt
above $1,000"
! From Richmond.
RICHMOND, Aug 1s.-Between five and six tn
evening heavy cannonadng was heard east by sout
of the city in the direction of the battlefield of Tue
dav distant apparently ten or twelve miles. eau: