Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-06-30
ANOTHER FLANK MOVEMENT.
BATTLE FIELD, NEAR PETERSBURG, !

June ELL p. M.
considerable portion OF the army has been the
march to-day to execute another flank movement. The
grand object in view 10 be to operate against the
enemys communications from he Of Petersburg and
Richmond Should gain possession of all the railroads
running northward into Petersburg would inct meal
cuabe injury the enemy and perhaps necessate his
immediate abandonment OF Richmond
OF the four railroads converging at Petersburg, and
thence branching off in different directions southwark, the
City Point ard the Norfolk roads already hands
Only these two railroads have been Included in the line
army has hitherto held front of Petersburg and for
time pas they have been Of but little consequence to the
enemy. Two others still open and are of greater
vice 10 him, namely, the Weldon AMI the Danvie rail-
roads If the present operatiops-desgaed to give up
permanent Of those roads Tx entirely
successful the effect will be prevent supplies from reach
ing Richmond.
The Second Corps has led the advance in this important
movement Last shit Burnsides corps relieved it from
its former position in the ne and this morning General
Brney commenced moving towards the Jerusalem plank
road and the Weldon railroad The movement is partci
psed By other portions of the army The troops have
been marching all day 10 the scochDg sum- aud this even
ing the Second Corps 10 line of battle in the posi-
tion to which Gen Meade assigned it.
The general impression is that the main body Of the
rebel army Of Virginia ia opposing In Immediate
'front.' Large bodies Of rebel troops have been moving to
left the result of made to-day in
this direction demonstrates the fact that tina. portion Of
the line of the Petersburg deences not in pos
session has recently been streng thened and firmly
held by the enemy From the stubborn resistance shown
this afternoon to the advance of skrmisbers bloody
battle this immediate ground is not at all improbable,
and might be momentarily expected
Toward evening tbs lines 10 front OF new position
formed by Major Gen Blrney, and the skrmsbers Of
Gen Gibbons division Of the Second Corps connect
ed with those of General Griins If the Fifth which had
marched from its former position extending to the left Of
the Fifth Corps line and which moved into position about
the time Gen Gibbons Gen Grifia's division is
formed the right Of tue Jerusalem plank road and the
whole OF the Second Corps, temporarily commanded by
Major Gen. Birney, is in position on the left. Gibbons
division holds the right Of the Second Corps line, Aots
the centre aud B4ruws the LETT While the dispositions
were beng made Barlow's line somewhat shortened
10 order to leave for the Sixth Corps to 10 be-
tween his left and the Weldon railroad Ricketts, division
OF the Sixth Corps taking it's position the left
OF Barlows, aud the remainder OF the sixth Corps will
probably have extended the line still further at early
hour 10 Thus while line has been prolonged
to the lett, the right Of the army will be protected BY
Smiths corps and other troops which taking the places
OF hse tht have just assumed the post OF honor In
this latest flank ofons movement
The rebel works iirectly front extend along the
crest from Gegorys 20 Rves residence and form par
Of that semcrcuar of Notifications that appear 10
front Of Petersburg from the Appomattox the right
to the AppomattoI on the left This section of the country
Is varied with wool and meadow and fine fields OF grain
but there not macy ct in other portions OF
Virginia. We can distinctly the rebel works from
some points, although st present lines formed for
the most part IN thick and heavy timber As general rule
the works constr ucted commanding places where
extensive open fields spread out 10 front them, aud
which an fttackg f0rce must necessarily advance Sew
era hundred yards in front OF the main defensive line the
rebels have skrmshers and shsrpshooers concealed in
r6e.pits.
When the lines Of the different divisions OF the Second
Corps were formed this Afternoon skIrmh hers were
thrown forward TO within few hundred yards Of the
mys skrmish ne outside his works and since that time
for several hours the krmshers both sides have been
exchanging shots. Gen. Barlow met with considerable
resistance from dsmounted rebel cavalry in advancing his
line He in contact with the infantry Artil
eTy and mu'ketry were used on both des and the skr
tuot dad Il
line had struck the enemys infantry his further advance
was checked. Subsequently the enemy made attack
en- that portion of front and handsomely repued
The entmys oss was considerable hat in the Second
Corps will probably not amount to than hundred
killed and wounded. few prisoners were captured
The position Of affairs at this time comp lied Gen Birney
to resume the line he had occupied in the morning aud
throw bis left little to the rear in order TO protect the
flank Ricketts, division Of the Sixth Corps, ard Crown
ioshieds squsdrons Of cavalry, the same time
placed ia position to still further cover the left flank
aud until the other divisions Of the Sixth Corps
have taken their positions in the extending line This was
the position Of the Second Corps when the operations
closed for the night.