Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-08-23

inc t100 IN IIOut Oh the veteran RRRervaw~A
brisk skirmish ensued, whlch lasted about haif
IN hour, and then died out. Il was noon. Cen.
Wilcoxs division OF the 9th corps had taken
mp position near the woods, upon the extreme
4th division was slightly advanced as skir-
mishers. Then came Crawford's division;
Wheelocks brigade tn the center, Lyle and
Hartshorn, with their respective brig gades, on
either side. At this point ran the railroad.
Upon the other side was Ayers division and
the I'd brigade Of Cutters division, 9rifhn's
Between aud O'Clock the enemy came
upon wilcox with q fearful force, Eoliey
succeeded volley, but failed TO destroy the irr-
Petus Wnlch the rebels had acquired in their
run; daauann on the right, and Humphrey
on the left, had their brigades closely united.
and successfully resisted and foiled every ef-
lot OF .ne assanants to penstrate their front
fiict. A simultaneous attack was mada On onr
entire front. Every battery in position roared
forth its dreadful, direful notes Great darh-
threatening clouds began to gather. ana ~,
white smoke OF the battle deld gently ascendsd
in soft pillOw.shaped wreaths TO plead and
Rropitiate: Soon the rain began to drop upon
of mems cannon WED with the rambling of
heavens artillery. Fifty sharpshooters, be.
longing to the 7th Indiana, were swept from
sight in less time than 1t takes me to write this
The rebels had forced their way through, the
skirmish lire, and were depioyfng right aud
left, to come down upon CrawfOrd's right and
Wilcox's left Here the fight thickened; men
grew desperate, and drew strength from the
FRENZY which the battle created. ..4. .
General Bragg's brigade was forced back,
10 "PSa
were swept from sight, after doing fearful exc
cuticn with their new Spencer rifles. Colonel
HHartshorn, commanding brigade. was captursdi
Colonel Carle wounded and captured, and near
two hundred men from his brigade are mis-
sing 49,. 1..s .1E = -,
corps, upon the right Of Wilcox Genr White
soon took position still further to the right.
This was early In the engagement. These
troops had Just performed wearsome march
over soft roads, yet they entered the fight i'm
mediately with cheerfulness and courage, hold
ing their place upon the right with great stub
veteran volunteers captured stand OF eolors
from the 18th Virginia. Emblazoned upon its
red, white, and red folds were inscriptions OF
thirteen engagements, in which the regiment
had fought-from Bull Run to Mine Run.
About this time Major Beicher, commanding
the 9Th Michigan, was killed, and Major Hart,
commanding the 51st Pennsylvania, wounded.
A short distance to the left the 104th New York
captured stand Of colors and some prisoners
The rebels penetrated our front, and poured
In upon the fianks of the different commands.
in their hands. Gen. Hayes, who connected
with Crawford at the railroad, was roughly
handled He was lately dubbed brigadier gem
eral, and commanded the regular brigade In
Ayres' division. Hayes was carried OF, and
number Of his troops. We receded from the
clay banks, hastily thrown up in night. II
The battle assumed the appearance Of a melee.
Every one seemed to fight to kill.
DARKNESS was stealing over the field Of bat
tie. The rebels strewed the ground. Here and
there they lay as when killed, their long hair
drabbled In mud, their gray clothes dripping
with blood: Being the assailants, they suffered
severely; !;, we los. most in prisoners; they had
Lad concentrated with Hills corps. They de-
signed annihilating, with powerful force, a
single corps de armee, which they imagined de-
faPhah a m IN hndx To too tk,a
road track. Unfortunately for the success of
their plan, three divisions of the 9th CORDS were
at hand, and the salvation OF Warren's COM
mand was sure. Lee has generally been sue
cessful when he comes with tremendous power
upon an isolated body Of troops. This time he
failed. We lost near 1000 men taken prison.
ers, and about 500 killed and wounded. Over
100 rebel slain were found in front Of one bril-
gade this morning. They were inferred
short time before dark our line was re-
dressed and strengthened 1t was too long and
attenuated before the fight. 1t was now our
turn to advance. Forward rushed our soldiers,
and back went the rebels. We recaptured the
No doubt Lee desires us to leave here. IL fs
very onvenient for us to remain In this soft,
glutinous mud, but fear we cannot accom-
modate the ssgreat Virginian." What thena
He will force us Oh twice he tried that and
failed. Would he risk a general engagement
at this time and place2 Verify, no. Then we
clam tne road to be ours by right Of .squatter
sovereignty" for we are now camped around
and about 1t. Lee is thus forced to lengthen
his line, which necessarily weakens it. He.
must forgo all supplies by this route, and re.
linquish this line Of egress. He has remaining
one other road. We are tonight, nearer that
than ever. He may well tremble for it, Gen.
Meade will there camp his men next When
the Danville road is as completely in our pos
session as the orfolk and Weldon roads, who,
ASK VIII SuccOr nICnmUuu :
r. II. McBRIDR.
Another Fight for the Weldon Railroad.
FORTRESS MONROE, August 2I.-The mail
steamer Dictator arrived from City Point at
M with few additional rebel prisoners. 20.
Heavy cannonading commenced at II O'Clock
last night on our extreme left with the 5th
corps, which continued until 4 O'Clock this
morning, when 1t ceased. Heavy musketry
firing continued, however, until the mail boat
eft-10 am.
The fighting is described as Of the most
spirited nature, and was the result of an attack
rom the enemy, for the express purpose OF re.
aking the Weldon railroad. This had not
been accomplished at last accounts. The 5th
corps, with reinforcements, still hold it, and no
1oubt are able to maintain their position.