New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-08-18
Prom THE POTOMAC ARMY.
Operations North of the James-Birney
within Six Miles Of Richmond-Cour-
age of the CoIOrcd Troops-A Fresn
WINTER Freshet and Salt Water JOKE


Wnier Freshe, and Salt Water Joke.
Our Correspondent at Con. Buffers head-quar'
ters sends the following:
Gen. BUFFERS HEADQUARTERS,
Aug. t. 1861 p. M:
The operations of to-day on the north bank of the
James reouire but few paragraphs During tho
night Birney with the Tenth Corps left his line OF
the day befofe and assumed lIankock's, from which
he advanced line early in the morning without
opposition, Hancock taking the reserves and left
flank Fosters old position at Deep Bottom was
left with a few negro troops. Nearly all day was
occupied in skirnishing and learning the ground
Grecg's cavalry, on the extreme right, rested its
right on the Charles City Road, seven miles from
Richmond. One brigade of the Second Corps con-
nected it with Gen. VIM. Birney's provisional divi'
sion of the Tenth Corps, consisting of the eoored
brigade lately from Florida, and two brgadeS OF
Turner'S division of the Tenth Corps.
General Burnside was left in command of But
ler's line from the Appomattox to the James
Tcrry's Division was next TO the LETT, and barlow
Second Corps on the refused flank. Tbs line e4'
tended from tho Charles City Road to t,a New
Market Road, tho Central Road being midway, at
which point we were but six miles from Richmond
The line mot nearly faces the river than 1t does
Richmond attending at an obtuse angle from the
right of the line the day before.
The country is very thckly wooded; all woods
save narrow cleared patches. The day was by the
thermometer the warmest known this summer and
no air was stirring, hence little could be done in
the middle of the day.
About noon the Rebels attacked Gregg's cavalry
and bore it back, whereupon Birney sent Brigade
square ont to his right in charge eff Capt. Brscoe of
els Staff which struck tho Rebel force on its right
flank and forced it to slide out from between this
br cade and Gregg. This however, measured By
the losses, was little more than skirmishing.
At five O'Clock Gen. VIM. Birney's and part Of
Gen. -5errys Divisions advanced the line, in order
to prcserAo itself for the final charge, pushed
through the dense growth but slowly, and it was
after six before il became actively engaged. The
negro troops, Seventh, Eighth and Ninth L. y,
and Twentv-Ninth Conn, heroes of Olustee, went
in magnifcently with the hearticst cheer have
heard since the earlier battles Of the campaigd by
dark considerable distance had been gained and
work for the day ceased.
The losses are very small, between orc ana two
hundred, and perhaps as many more sick from The
excessive heat.
At one time in the day, Gen. Brneys Head
quarters were under very bitter fire of case Shot
and nuskesry. The chair upon which the General
was sitting was struck.
There was Just little sprinkle of rain near night,
and there was the same ct these Headquarters and
at CITY Point, while in the trenches in front of
Petersburgh, tremendous freshet fell in ono half
hour from one great cloud. The rsvne in front Of
the Eighteenth Corps rose so rapidly outside It's
banks as TO wash away hundreds Of tents Four
teen soldiers who were asleep are known TO have
been drowned. The water in the valley was ten
feet deep and more and ris I'd ike ocean surf One
man. noted as a wit, was rescued when nearly
drowned. At last hcaving a groan, he Opened his
eyes and easped out, word at time, "I-am-Capt.
Scnmes-where-is- the-GTeyhound !"