The Placer herald. [volume] (Auburn, Placer County, Calif.) 1855-1991, 1864-08-06
EASTERN NEWS.

III iuteTesI tHe past "eek, dituouSu tueIe mas
been the accustomed obscurty in dispatches,
calculated to confuse the reader. This is
particularly true in relation to the recent
rebel invasion of Maryland and Pennsyva-
nia-and it is impossible to know how for,
mdabe the movement may be considered.
The rebels have been numbered all the way
from 500 to $4,000, and their command va
riou>ly assigned to McCausland, Moseby.
Early, breckenridge, Hill and Longstreet
1t is evident they are in some strength from
the fact Of defeating Gems. Crooks and Aver,
ILL., on the Oath uIt, near Winchester, and
causing them loss of over 1000 men,
Since that time the Federal troops have re-
treated to the upper side of the Potomac
On the 3Oth the rebel troops, in small force
entered Chambersburg. Pa, and burned the
principal portion Of the town. They re-
NAMED but few hours. Their whereabouts
at present is not given. 1t is reported that
Early declares his intention to hold the
Shenandoah Valley permanently, and that
he is now gathering the harvest in that re.
gion.
That the demonstrations Of the lebels arc
more Formidable than the dispatches indi-
cate, is evidenced from the fact that the
Governor of Pennsylvania has called an ex
ira session of the Legislature, to adopt mea-
sures to defend the State; that a demand is
made for the removal of Gen. Couch; aud
that the fords Of the Susquehanna are being
fortified. This news more than offsets the
statement that the authorities at Washing
ton and General Grant regard the rebel OPP
erations in tie Valley as Of little moment.
After comparative silence Of weeks, as
to the doings of the army before Petersburg,
we now have news Of a severe battle and
serious repulse to the Federal troops After
long preparation, mine was exploded under
a rebel fort, Zone of the outer defences Of
Petersburg) by Burnside's corps, on the
30th, of JuIy. The fort, with many soldiers,
was blown up. At the same time over 100
pieces Of heavy artillery opened upon the
rebel lines. Following this an assault was
made by Barnside's corps, supported by the
fifth corps on The left, and the eighteenth Oh
the right-the second corps (IIancock' 81 be-
inc held in reserve. The troops rushed for
ward and although under heavy fire, occu
pied portion Of the first line Of rebel
works. But an attempt to assault the sec
ond line, met with disastrous repulse, in
which the negro troops became completed
demoralized and Suffered enormous loss
Several brigades of white troops also lost ter
ribly. Many were taken prisoners Gen.
Bartlett and staff were captured. The Fed
eral loss is estimated at about 5000. The
Confedera;es are sal! TO acknowledge a loss
of 5000.
The assault was expected to result in the
capture of Petersburg And the explosion,
the cannonading, and the heavy massing of
troops, shows that every measure taken
to insure success. But it was serious fall
ure.
The assault developed the fact that tho
second line of rebe works were mora form
dabe than the first, and capable of gigantic
resistance.
Since the 3Oth no farther hostiites, at
Petersburg, are reported, the combatanis be-
inc engaged in burying the dead under flag
of truce.
Another battle was fought between Sher,
man and Hood. near Atlanta, July 2Sth.-
The latter attacked aud met with a severe
repuse. His loss is estimated at 5000
The Federal troops did not lose heavily, as
they were intrenched.
A recent raid by Federal cavalry, on the
Macon railroad, south Of Atlanta, has ended
disastrously. After destroying eighteen
miles of the road, and capturing large
wagon train, they were attacked by the
rebel General Ranes and routed. Bat 500
of the cavalry returned to Marietta, who re-
port that 5000 Of their number had surren.
dered. and their commander, Gen. Edward
McCook, was killed.
M~Miss c. A Twitchell, the first child born of
American parents in the vicinity of Sacramento,
in lS49, WAS married few days since at Santa
Cruz. She was Is years of age