Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1864-05-19
The James River Expedition.
HEADQUARTERS, IN THE FIELD,
Near Bermuda Landing, Va. May

|
Hon. E. ~ Stanton, Sec'g of Var:
With 100 cavalry we have advan-
ccd up the Peninsula, forced the Chick
ahominy. and have safely arrived at
our present position. These were col
ored cavalry. They are now holding
our advanced pickets towards Rich
mond. Gen. Kautz, with 5000 caval-
~ from Suffolk, on the same day with
our movement up james river, forced
the Blackwater, burned the railroad
bridge at Stony Creek, (twenty miles
below Petersburg cutting in two
Beau:egard's force at that point.
We have landed here, entrenched
ourselves, destroyed many miles of
railroad, and got a position which,
with proper supplies. we can hold
against the whole Of Lees army. l
have ordered up the supplies.
Beauregard, with large portion of
his command, was left south by the
cutting of the railroads by Kautz.
That portion which reached Peters
burg. under Hill, have whipped to-
day, killing and wounding many, and
taking many prisoners, after a severe
and well contested fight Gen. Grant
will not be troubled with any further
reGntorcements to Lee from Beanre.
CARDS forces. .t. .r.a..'.... f..
B. F. BuTLER, Maj Gen.
A despach. dated at Bermuda Hun
dreds, May 10th, says: ... ... go.
Fighting commenced yesterday at
noon and continued till night, between
Gen. Hickman's brigade and several
other brigades, under General Smith.
Beauregard commanded the rebel for
ces in person. During the fight our
troops drove the enemy back three
miles, nearly into Petersburg. We
hold the railroad between Richmond
and Petersburg. Gen. Kautzs caval-
ry succeeded in destroying some por-
ton of tho Petersburg and Weldon
railroad at Hicksford, and captured
many rebel prisoners. a".
A bearer of dispatches from Major
General Butler to the President says
that, on Saturday, Bcaurcgard, with
1000 men, made a surprise attack
upon Gen. Butler about ten miles from
Richmond. So sudden and unexpect.
ed was the encounter that Gen. Butler
himself narrowly escaped capture. In
deed, his own orderly was captured
within sixty yards of him. The COM
mand being in readiness, it quickly
passed from the defensive to the often
sive position and the enemy were sig
nally defeated. The bearer Of des.
patches gives it az his opinion that
Gen. Butler, having already cut off
Beauregard, will be in Richmond at
an early day, and before either, Lee
or Grant can reach there. " '-s" ....
There are four monitors and several
gunboats within four miles of Fort
Darling ready to cooperate with our
land forces. ''
A despatch from Fortress Monroe
says that all distinctions in the James
river have been removed, and that
our fleet Of ironclads is advancing on
Richmond
Three hundred rebel prisoners had
arrived at Fortress Monroe, from City
Point, in charge Of negro guard. -
1t is known that Buffers force is
within three miles of Petersburg, and
had passed the outer line of the rebel
defenccs. This is important, as it
more closely pens up Bcaurcgard's
command within the city. ...
The railroads leading to Petersburg
being all destroyed. we have forces
enough to keep Beauregard there un-
til he surrenders. We shall soon be-
gin siege of the place. A land and
water force will also advance on Fort
Darling soon, aud with the will and
determination existing among our
troops there is no doubt of success.
May 10th, Gen. Butler received a
| flag of truce from the enemy, signed
by Gen. Bushrod Johnson, containing
three propositions-First, asking per-
mission to come within our lines to re-
move their wounded and bury their
dead; Second, asking an exchange of
their wounded Third, asking for a
general exchange of prisoners on both
sides. To the first, Gen. Butler replied
that the work had already been done ;
to the second he announced himself
perfectly willing to assent and to the
third he replied that no exchange of
healthy and well prisoners could be eff
fected until the rebel authorities ac-
knowledge colored soldiers prisoners
of war. -...
On the 18th, Gen. Butler captured
rebel courier, with dispatch from
Beauregard to the officer in command
at Drury's Bluff, saying Hold your
position till ! reinforce you, at four
o'clock this afternoon" In two hours
the reenforcements came. Butler at
tackled them and drove them back.
A despatch dated at Bermuda Hun
dreds, May 18th, 8 p. m, says that, at
an early hour that morning, Gen. But
Ter renewed his advance towards Fort
Darling He reached Kingsland creek
at IL o'clock, and formed his line of
battle ON the southeast side of the
creek, with the right on James river.
The monitors and gunboats are near
the mouth Of the creek within three
miles Of Drury's Bluff. r- p.
f Ha OFFICIAL Ma 49,.
Half Way House, May l4th. e.
To Hon. Il. M Stanton sl7baG g
We are still before the base Of the
cncmy's works. at Drury's Bluffs. Fort
Darling. The enemy are here in force
Gen. Gilmore has assaulted and Ia.
ken the enemy's works on their right.
1t was gallantly done !; the troops be-
haved finely. We hold our lines, and
shall move this morning. .Iss q.r.-
f IT, R.-rvr n,