The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-08-18
THURSDAY, MORNING.. AUGUST Is, 1904
THE WAR NEWS.

THE WAR NEWS.
An official dispatch received at the War Depart
ment states that the enemy did not renew the at
tack lipes after four O'Clock on Tuesday His
force the Charles City road, after advancing
10 within two miles of Whites tavern, was driven
back across White Oak swamp. Our loss was small.
We regret to announce the death of that brave
and dashing young officer, Brigadier-General Victor
J. Il. Girardey. lie was killed by shot i'll the
forehead while leading his command in a charge to
re-ocoupy the works from which our troops had at
first been driven by the enemy Tuesday evening.
At early period of the ne entered the service
Of his country. and lett New Orleans first lieu
tenant OF company G, Eouisiana Guard. lie sub
sequently appointed Adjutant- General Of Wright's
brigade, and afterwards, during a temporary
unftness ior field service assigned to the command
of local defence battalion at Augusta, Georgia,
and, we believe, was for time in command of the
arsenal ut that place. AT recent period he
was appointed Adlutant-tieneral- on General Ma
hone's staff, with the rank OF oaptaih and after the
battle of the 3Oth July, in front of Petersburg,
promoted 10 the temporary rank Of BIgadier-Cien-
citl. At the time Of his death he was in command
OF Wrights brigade. General Girardey has shown
remarkable degree OF capacity and intelligence
during the war. He distinguished himself in the
battles around Richmond in 1862, and acted with
conspicuous gallantry at Sharpsburg, Gettysburg
and Charlottesville. His remains are now in this
cty, and funeral services will take place at the ST
Charles Hotel this morning ut nine o'clock previous
TO their transportation to Augusta where he leaves
young wife.
So far able to ascertain there was no
resumption Of active hostilities below Richmond
yesterday. The Yankees doubtless got enough of il
III The fight Tuesday when the slaughter is rep-
resented to have been very heavy and are glad of
opportunity to rccuperate on the borders of the
salubuous White Oak swamp. As one of the fruits
OF our victory that day, We may mention the
capture of four hundred prisoners including twelve
commissioned officers, who arrived i'll the city yea-
terday and Were quartered at the Libby
vague report is in circulation that the enemy
has taken possession of Signal Ill., point used by
our Signal Corps for purposes of observation three
miles below Chatin's Bluff The report lacks con-
frmation.
FROM PETERSBURG.
We have repetition of the same old story from
Petersburg-''all quiet i'll 'front.' The enemy
seems now to be acting solely on the defensive A
considerable portion Of his force has been sen
away; at least twO corps to the north side of The
James, and probably more 10 Washington. Our
batteries the right have made repeated efforts to
elicit reply from the Yankee altllerists but iii
vain; occasional shell or two may be sent to-
wards our works, but this is Of rare occurrence-
The Pfaetice OF guintrs is 90 perfect that shot
and shell are sent through the very elnbrts,ircsspf
the Yankee forts bat they fail to arouse the inmates
to action. 1t is believed that disease is making
heavy infoads upon the enemy's numbers. Hos
pital accommodations have been largely increased,
'rnbcr tor the purpose being procured from publ,
and private buildings. We stse informed that the
Masonic Lodge at Prince George Courthouse, and
other houses, have been pulled to pieces and the
timber used III the construction Of Yankee hos
lrtals. Only let the blue abioIncns remain there
until September, and bilious diseases will play
greater havoc in their ranks than did cholera
or yellow Jack i'll Il crowded and stricken city
FROM THE VALLEY
A gentleman vino left General Eary's command
on Thursday last makes glowing report Of the
condition of the troops; says that they are in fine
health and the best spirits. The horses, which
were somewhat tagged by the long and continued
marches, We're replenshed i'll Maryland. The SOL
dieTs procured clothing and shoes i'll the State,
and getting abundance of good food in therpre
sent quarters. Hctthcr states that ourloss in the
surprise nj Moolfell will not exceed two hundred
men, and viii probably fall under that number
We lost four pieces of artillery, two belonging to
the Baltimore Light Artillery, to Jackson's Ar
tillefy and one TO McLanahan.
1t is stated that General Ransom has applied TO be
relieved Of the command Of the cavalry iii the VAL
Icy. Bfieadier-Gencral 6n Pegram is in COM
mand of the division of General Ramseur, who has
been ordered to Richmond. This young officer is
Of General James " Pegiam, deceased, formerly
citizen Of Richmond.
THE SITUATION IN GEORGIA
The enemy in front OF Atlanta was less demon
strative than usual Tuesday Tie artillery
firing almost entirely suspended, which con-
lecture attributes to scarcity of ammunition, caused
by an interruptions of Sherman's communications
TeIe certainty of this, however, and the next
news may announce resumption of the shelng in
full vigor. The enemy's rading parties again
at work. One of them struck the Atlanta and West
Point railroad at Fairburn, burned the depot, and
tore up the track in several places. Fairburn is
nineteen miles from Atlanta III a southwestcrly di
rection 1t is to be hoped that cavalry will
check ana scatter this gang, they did Stoneman's
and McCooks.
We are permitted to make the fol lowing extracts
from private letter mot intended for publication
from officer IN Hoods army to gentleman IN
this city 1t is dated August 9Th, and gives the
first connected account have Of the engage
ment on the 9Th.
81 have been intending to write you for some
time but various circumstances have eonspired y
prevent my doing 80, and at present am not very
comfortably situated for writing. 1t is raining to-
day pretty heavily, and the enemy are sheiling us
occasionally. They have cut Oft the tops OF two
trees within forty steps Of my quarters i'll the last
hour or two Their Mimic balls are falling pretty
regularly in camp, coming from the skirmsh
line, about five six hundred yards in our front
where the skirmishng continues almost all the time
1--WE have done an immense deal of hard service,
the hardest have seen, and certainly have M
ficted very heavy losses upon the enemy. We We're
engaged iii the handsomest thing / have ever wit
messed on last Saturday, the 9th instant. General
Batess division thrown out at almost right an
giles with main line OF works-the line thus
thrown out leaving the main line of works nearly
opposite East Point, and running westwardly to-
wards the river. This line succession OF rifle
pits placed about ten feet apart and capable OF ho-
ing eight men each. They were then brushed and
concealed TO present to the view from the mont
saly the appearance of an ordinary skirmish hne
NY regiment tThirfy-seyenth Georgia. happened to
be PLACED at very prominent part of ths>h line. AT
about eleven o'clock A. NJ, after considerable
fha assaulted with