Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1864-08-22
warren's Flank Movement on
the Weldon Railroad.
Heavy Fighting and Severe
Losses on Both Sides.
THE REBELS "Go ~" WHEN IT
RAINS,
OUR POsITIONF FIRMLY MAINTAINED

Correspondents Of the Associated PFess.l
Army OF THE Potomac, Aug. 2l.-Our losses
in the fight at the Weldon Railroad on Friday
afternoon were greater than heretofore report
ed In this correspondence-th number we lost
In prisoners being now put down at 1900.
It seems our troops were surprised, many Of
them being In their shelter tents at the time,
trying TO escape the heavy rain which had been
falling for several hours previously. The
enemy first appeared about noon, on the right
of the road, In front of the Sd division, 5th
corps; but this was evidently feint, or for the
purpose of feeling our lines.
About 3 p. m. they charged In heavy force
between the 9Th and Och corps, and succeeded
In turning the flank Of the former, capturing
large number OF prisoners. This part Of the
line was forced back come distance, when the
9th corps, which had been relieved the night
previous by part Of the %, came on to the
held, and opened fire, checking the enemy's
advance and taking few prisoners.
heavy column at the same time charged
on the left OF our line west of the railroad
held by the Cd division, Gen. Ayres, which
they broke; and here also they took ave or six
hundred prisoners of the regular brigade. This
brigade Is commanded by Colonel (or General) }
Hays, who Is believed 10 be a prisoner, as he
cannot be found.
Our whole line was thus forced back with
heavy loes In killed and wounded. The enemy
suffered worse than we did, however, In this
particular, his men lying thick all over the
held. Before dark our men were reformed,
and being reinforced, desperate charge was
made to recover the lost ground, which was
successfully accomplished, so that we held the
line which had been taken from us in the after
noon.
Col. Earle is reported a prisoner, as is also
Col. Hartshorne.
Gen. Crawford was shot through the vest and
} shirt, and narrowly escaped capture. Lieut.
, Clark, of his staff was shot in the arm. while
, Capt. Monteeth, Lleuts. Meade and Merrineld
and Capt. Smith, also of Gen. Crawford's stat
had their horses shot while carrying orders anc
Q raj. ying the men Of the various commanders
e The last named was prisoner for a while, bu
seeing favorable chance, made his escape.
Captain Doolittle, Of Colonel Wheeiock't
staff, was ordered to surrender, when he, getting
!. angry at an epithet applied to him, seized
# musket and bayoneted the rebel against a tree
Colonel Wheelock's brigade, of the 81 divi
sion, was fanked, when they faced to the rear
charged, and drove the rebels and took mum
Der of prisoners. The entire number captured
was about 230, with some stands OF colOrs.
Our loss Is estimated at over 5000, including
prisoners.
Nothing but diminishing took place along
the line yesterday, both parties being busy en-
trenching themselves.
= battle is looked for at any hour, as th,
A enemy seem determined to regain possession
OF the road, while we are as determined to hole
II.
= The prisoners we took belong principally to
0 Beauregard's and HIS corps, and are a fnt
looking lot Of men, although clad in the usua
style.
Considerable artillery firing has been going
on, on our left, since four O'Clock this morning
and is at times quite brsk. No musketry car
=, be heard, the distance from headquarters being
= too great.