The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-05-10
srtHssry better position could have been seSscsed
for sturdy seienoe than thai CHOSEN by the rebels


for sturdy 'seenoe than tba. suosen by the rebels.
ran BATTLE ooxsKScEs.
Our administers were soon engaged With them along
their entire line, and main force into action
the rebels opened Ore from ak eight pieces vgor
ously shslIed lines and the woods In which
serves forming our frs quickly became rapid
from the infantry and the engagement assumed
character Of battle The woods rang with the rafting
ere Of tho administers and the regular voeys the
tie line, and above all the din the rapid reports
OF the enemy's guns and the bursting shells.
The mpedmenw which the enemy had thrown In he
way Of our advance by successfully
come, and the line steadily advanced. driving the enemy
slowly before IL. Our right strengthened by fresh
brigades and the enemy gave way for while before IT.
but regiment after reg nent Of rebels were sent In
against IT, and the brunt Of the battle shifted from the
centre TO the right and ragged with intense fury Pioneers
sent forward 10 clear . place for artillery and
finally Lieut. Hunt, general OF artillery, succeeded In
putting two Of his rifle pieces 10 position near
our left, and opened upon the rebel batteries,
which were annoying considerably. They were
compelled SHIFT their positions repeatedly by art
lery fire. and times almost s,lenced. The ground In
front OF the enemy most unavorabls for attack
ing party. IL billy and traversed irregulariy by
ravines and every advantageous position was naturally
seized and tenacously held by the rebels, who were
almost completely hidden by the dense growth Of young
pines, red cedars, dogwood and underbrush Still
pushed forward, lighting sharply Al every step,
though falling in their tracks hero and there
along the surging line, and Wrestling from the rebels
every strong point after another until At about five
O'Clock rebels driven from their strongest posi-
ton behind the railroad embankment which they held for
long Time The railroad gained and lost by us two
three times-once on account OF the ammunition
giving and again because the enemy had massed al
that point pressed by their OF numbers
The last time grasped the prize. We held u long
enough to accomplish the object OF the movement.
The railroad bridge crossing one OF the tribu-
taries Of the Appomattox river, within about
miles OF Peter sburg set fire and totally
sumed and the railroad track torn up and destroyed
for distance this side Of the BRIDGE and the read
rendered useless long enough for forces TO carry out
other and important operations. Our
not gained without Fomo ioss but precisely how great
cannot yet be ascertaned. Many OF the killed and
wounded necessarily left the ned, the rail-
road the enemy, mass,ng themselves, able to
finally drive away before could get oil the disabled
10 the rear
are estimated about two hundred and ty perhaps
moro, in killed and wounded Among the casualties
Captain John A. Smith, Of the Forty-seventh New
York probably MORALLY wounded and In the rebel hands,
Lieutenant sohloeudorf. New York yolun
seers killed. and Captain Kirby slightly wounded Lieu
tenant Kettle, Of the One Hundred and Fifteenth New
York was wounded Colonel Dandy, OF the One Hundrsdh
New York, also slightly wounded. Other field and
line officers were killed wounded, but could NOT at
the late hour left the neld obtain their names. win
forward full list by the earliest opportunity.
II IL impossible to give minute details OF the battlA
from the nature OF the ground It impossible to
but very small portion Of the field apd the frequent
changes in the disposition and movements OF the force
rendered 1t equally dfcult to detail them In proper
order There repeated charges made by the rebels
accompanied by their peculiar YELL but they were all
pulsed with Armness and well directed yolcys Of mus
kerry. Ono or two charges made by men
caused the enemy 10 retire some distance, and the
ground was occupied and doggedy held by troops.
The behavior OF our troops most excellent Tho SOL
diers Of the Tenth army fought bravey by the aide
OF those from the Eighteenth and all additional
laurcls by the days work.
GENERAL HEoKMAN's OPERATIONS.
A. the time General Brooks main column started
from camp . brigade under General Hickman, with
Be,ger's Rhode Island battery, moved out another
road and fought the enemy with success, driving him
back upon the railroad. When engagement
going section Of Begers rihed guns maintained fro
at long upon the eDemys artillery and position,
and made the enemy's right wing very uncomfortable,
besides retardiDg degree the arrival OF their
Endorsements which they poured In from Petersburg
after the fight began. have particulars OF General
HecKman's operations further than tho above.
MIDNIGHT RKcoSNoIseAScg AND FIGHT.
Last night ne made oissance towards Peters
burg and encountered strong force OF the enemy with
whom be had lively brush He fought the rebels for
some time the dark but finding him force, he retired
with inconsidera bic loss.
FUTURE OPERATIONS.
have desire TO any OF the plans OF future
operations they be OF any except
the rebels and they wait their development. can
only say shall not remain idle.
TIE sHAwsHKES EXPLOSION.
The shawsheen, old ferry boat altered into naval
gunboat, while engaging rebel fed battery to-day.
above this point received rife bolt 10 her boiler which
exploded and killed and scalded number OF Her
commander aud number Of her officers and crcw-pre.
cIsely how many is not yet known-were lost by this
catastrophe Both the shawsheen and Commodore Jones
old ferry boats and had rendered valuable services
In their day They well armed and Of light draught
and peculiarly e,cent In the small rivers Of yr.
gina, they have sog been stationed they be
easily replaced.
The following is list Of tie officers OF The United states
gunboat shawshccn:-
letting Ndacr ComnoDdiEc--H. A. phelon.
Acting Ension--Charlcs RInpo
Icfilg Masferss Mifs-Wn FuShmorc.
Enginesrs-Acting Second Assistant, Richard Ander-
son: Acting Third Assistant, John Wall.
ADMIRAL
Is 10 command 10 person Of the naval forces In the
river and enters heartily into all the plans OF General
The naval squadron these waters powerful Mont.
and the best class Of value