The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1864-10-06
From lhe ARMY OF the Polomnc

eluS they met the enemy, ana Sklrmsh
ed up the roads and across the fields ill
near the New Market road. This road
was occupied by the enemy, strongly
intrenchod on the heights. The advance
was obstinately contested, The posi-,
zion, in addition to it's strong natural
character, was rendered doubly formida'
BILE and almost impregnable, by the
slaShing that covered the slopes.
The colored troops under General
Paine were ordered to carry this posi-
ton. This charge was one ofthe grand
features of the operations Of the day. -
They never halted or faltered, though
their ranks were sadly thinned as they
advanced. The successful accomplish.
ment of their task put the enemy 10
confusion, and sent them rapidly down
the road toward Richmond Generals
Grant and Butler came on the field du.
ring this struggle and were enthusiast.
cally received by the troops When the
former rode along the line the shouts
and cheers of the men were beyond ex
ample,
Three miles above New Market the
enemy had very strong work, but Biz.
ney pressed his advantage and pursued
the retreating rebels SO closely that they
could not stop to reform in this work.
Two miles further on the rebels have
strong line redoubts, perfect in their
character, carrying heavy artillery, and
located al such brief intervals that il is
impossible 10 force column Of troops
through them. These works cross the
New Market road just beyond the Lau'
rel Hill church, aud their guns sweep
the roads in all directions. General
Birney at once determincdto carry such
OF these as lay in his front by a general
assault. Alter accommodating the
ground himself, amid storm Of shells
such as ! have never seen surpassed,
they were met with murlcrous FIRE Of
grape and canister, and incre asing vol,
leys Of musketry, that worked terrific
hovoc in their ranks.
Still they unhinchingly held their way
In crossing an intervening crest of open
land, they were exposed TO a frighful
enGIading fire Of artillery, and the casu.
aties were terrible. Sill the line
pressed forward. On approaching the
redoub,s they were found even more
formidable than at first supposed. A
perfect abaltis held them at bay, while
The rebel infantry literally moved them
down. The forts were surrounded by
broad ditch, eight feet deep, into which
some of the colo.ed troops leaped, only
to find themselves penned in with no
door OF retreat. These works Ind No
sally ports, and were accessible only by
draw bridges over the bitches. These
of course we're dawn up. The line was
Withdrawn to the further side ofthc crest
which position was held until night,
when a demon stration was made against
the works in the ditch, in which our
men were coopcd up, thus giving them
an opportunity to escape. Though an
advance up the road OF from half 10 three
quarters Of mile was accomplished, it
cos, us dearly. The corps lost over 500
men killed and wounded
At the same time that this was going
on Kauntzs cavalry dashed boldly up
to the yery gates of Richmond, which
fart he reported to Butler, who a; once
Iisno,chod y division of infantry to his
a ornnnrt This division marched unre.
s ois,aS TO within mnskel raoro Of the
o;," oMd nrobabIv MIGHT have m arcbed
i I,H' H., I -aboI co1;taI tbongh i, is clerr
%oy "or,d MT h1ye beld il On arti.
w vim, IN tho snbnrbs Of the city thew
ro"s S ~ ,bo, Konorz Id witbdraw3 for .
, wi.a r"rnoss Tbs division was then
or ,Io 70 rn,,rn hIIhonob onr ad.
u UauC''T ,,os rSecked ot laurel HiI, our
'-"N. '"S "