Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-06-21
OUR LOSS In Two DAYS 5000.
Reported Capture Of an Entire Division from
Burnside.

Reported Capture OF an Entire Division from
Burnside.
The Public. Debt and circu.
90 NG RES SION AL.
The Two Armies again in Front Of
Each Ofher-Heavy Fighting
Twenty-twO Guns Captured by
the Second COrps-OperatiOn of
burnside.
| [Tribune's Specal.l .
| HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE PoToMAc,
NEAR PETERSBURG Friday morning, June
| 1--we are again in front of the entire reb-
ell army, which has been engaged by our
advance of the I'd and 18th corps and i'm
portant captures of guns, prisoners and po-
sitions have been accomplished. The I'd,
9th, and 18th corps are in line of battle, and
on the arrival of the balance of the troops,
| dispositions will be made for the final as
| sault upon the enemy's works. Since Tues
day night, when the advance of the 18th
corps arrived in the vicinity of the town,
our lines have been pushed steadily for
| ward. several strong positions have been
! wrested by charges from the enemy, and
we have taken eighteen guns and several
hundred prisoners. Our advance is within
half mile of Petersburg, which is in full
| view of almost our entire line. 10.
Prisoners state that portions of Lees
army commenced arriving at Petersburg
on Wednesday night, only few hours af-
| ter the arrival of Hancock with the I'd
corps, and that Wises brigade, commanded
by Wise in person, held the town until that
time.
City Point railroad is now in our possess
sion, and the Norfolk and Petersburg line
is commanded by our troops.
The 18th corps, which landed at Bermuda
Hundred this day, now had the advance,
crossing the AppomattoX on pontoons laid
four miles above its mouth, and penetrating
to the south ward up to within about four
miles of the town before encountering any
opposition. Here skirmishing commenced,
and our advance steadily pushing forward
drove back the pickets of the enemy, who
took positionin their outer defences. These
defenses were Immediately charged by
Kinks negro division, with the most splen-
did gallantry. The enemy was put to flight
and two guns and a considerable number
of prisoners captured; the works were held
until the arrival of Hancock at 81 p. NJ,
on Wednesday. On the arrival of Hancock
In the evening Reconnaissance for the pur-
pose of ascertaining our exact position was
made, and considerable skirmishing ensued.
Only two divisions of the I'd, Birney's and
Gibbons, reached the field, Wednesday
night; Barlow, who pursued another road,
bringing up the rear and coming up at six
o'clock yesterday. On Thursday morning
the divisions of Birney and Gibbons de-
ployed in line OF battle, when their proXimi-
ty to the rebels was discovered and our
troops bivouacked on the field, Birney
occupying the left of the line and Gibbon
the right. On Barlow's arrival in the
morning, he was ordered into position, on
the left Of Birney. -.,..,
Between five and six o'clock yesterday
morning the enemy opened heavy artille-
ry fire on our line, entilading it with bate
ries posted on our left and rendering an ad-
vance or occupation of a position to the
rear Immediately necessary. Accordingly
an advance of the Second and Eighteenth
corps was ordered by Hancock, who, In the
absence of Meade, took command of both
corps. The result was highly successful,
several lines of rebel works being carried
at tho point of the bayonet and number
of redOubts of great strength were occupi-
ed. Sixteen guns were taken and turned
upon the enemy by the Eighteenth corps.
Col. Egan's brigade OF Birney's division fed
the charge of the Second corps, and gallant
ly drove the enemy from his works, cap
turing at the same time two formidable re-
doubts, and with Dwight's and ellis bat
teries completely silencing the rebel artil-
lery on our left. The works We're held un-
til about one p. NJ, when dispositions for
the final charge upon the enemy's last line
were made. 1t was at this time Col. Egan
was severely If not seriously wounded in
the spine, and the attack was temporarily
postponed till six o'clock last evening.
However, another charge was made by
the Second Corps, and an advanced position
assumed and maintained. The line thus
occupied was at once rendered secure by
the immediate construction of earthworks.
At this time it is impossible to ascertain the
extent of our losses but fifteen hundred
will probably cover the total casualties. 1t
is to be regretted that our advance was not
pushed forward Wednesday afternoon, as
prisoners concur. in the statement that
Wise's brigade alone held the town until
late In the evening, when Lees troops COM
menced arriving. Portions of his army
marched from Malvern Hill, crossing the
James on pontoon bridge above Fort Darl-
lug, while many were dispatched by the
Petersburg railroad. Our line as now form,
ed, faces the city from east to south, partial
ly encircling it, extends across the CITY
Point railroad southwark to the vicinity Uf
the Petersburg & Norfolk railroad. Burn
side holds the left of our line, Hancock the
center and Smith the right. The remain-
der of the troops will arrive to-day, and be
assigned their positions. No one doubts
that Lee will defend Petersburg, Our
troops, nevertheless, are confident of final
success. n es,.ii yG o'P
HEADQUARTERS, NEAR PETERSBURG, June
1S-Contrary to expectations, no general
engagement occurred yesterday, although
the fighting on our left at times was very
heavy. Early in the morning the 9th and
I'd corps, forming the left of our line, weie
considerably advanced; where, for a short
time, the fighting was exceedingly severe.
The results of the battle, though not decis-
i've, were favorable. -Four additional guns
were captured by the ID corps in their
charge, making total oftwenty-two guns.
The Whole line is materially advapced. al (.
ARMY OF THE PoToMAc, June 1873 Am.
The attack made on the enemy's lines
yesterday morning by Burnside, was more
successful than was at first reported. He
drove the rebels from two lines of rifle pits
with heavy loss, taking four guns and four
hundred prisoners, and holding the posi-
ton. During the afternoon he again push
ed the enemy still further, getting within
about a ,,,ila and a half of tha citv and fol-,