Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-08-25
From the Petersburg Express, 18th inst.
FROM TIRE FRONT.


ro several days past it has been noticed that the
- after having contracted bis lines temporarily
t EFT (onr rightly was engaged in extending them
aT object was not distinctly understood-at least in
oHfcial crclls-unt yesterday mo. hing, when the
nv in strong force rapidly pushed forward around
- right and struck the Southern railroad, at the Old
Yellow Tavern, four miles from the city.
about O'Clock, m, the enemy in heavy force oil
fntry and cavalry appeared at Guriey's farm, about
r miles south east of the city and three miles east OF
he railroad, ard throwing forward strong line OF
krm;sbers advanced at towards the road at the
Yellow Tavern. They soon encountered the pickets of
en- Dea.iue's cavalry brigade, who fought them as
v retired ia the direction CT the aveTn, where Gen
Ds reserves were eDcamped. Gen. bearing deployed
his men in the most sklul manner, aud cbecked Inc
7yance of the Yankee troops but finding himself op-
coed to very large Odds compelled to give back
rrsduay. HIS troops behaved in the most gallant
manner. and fought IN style ngLy ceoi'aoie, rom
o'clock until D. NJ, he engaged the enemy, fighting
.n It, D by step al way the from the Tavern to Da.
MS f,rfl-twc miles nearer The city.
l. Uas during this period that portion of his COM
r,ard naaa gallant and successful charge upon the
ankles ard brought off nearly two hundred prisoners
arlong hem one Lieutenant Colonel and eight CON-
r,sloLed Ctfc9rs.
about two o'clcck, the enemy in their advance to-
wards The city, had reached point just hey ond Davis
7se q, threw their skirmshers rward through the
m L Il, about hundred yards beyond they we're
.i ia check here by Dearing cavalry until reinforce
rf,s arrived The enemy here occupied both sides OF
Ioadthe LETT extending several hundred yards TO
H right CT il, and their right resting away eff to the
# amidst the Thick woods and underground.
Oar .ua WIS formed sOme four i've hundred yards
- fC0t q the field occupied by the Yankees, and in
-, fest CT spirits, and with steps elastic and vii
..ga though they we're marching to a least cur
sr.0'C forward to the contest. The Cnem5's ek.Lnsh
rs were met and quickly driven back, which il turn
VS. hurled IN confusion upon TIER secori4ne and that
upon heir third. Pressing stln forward amidst the
m. b OF and the OF Inuskttry, this third
,re was quickly broken and aimCst routed, aDd the
Rtoa YalSCe 1Crce-Gonsstipg OF four divisions, COM
r5lafd hy Gen Warren (of the Fifth corps il per
H. vas driven back tor thIee-quarters Of mile.
Or success would Lave been greater, and the an
TT, immediately on the railroad would have been
yessd back much further, but possessing such large
Ice the enemy ankle Us the LETT, and our troops
we're compelled to retire short distance.
t. has engagement, which lasted tO h1ur more,
ct Toop5 GctEd with The most conspicuous brave y
iEeY fought IS veterans only hght-Wth power IRE
=tiDia even against immense odds. Their GOODNESS 10
ht hyug # trial may probably be best aesed by the
sa1 my, who lie thckly scattered through
tad anu woods fox The space OF half t9le. Officers of
Cgh rank norm thdt The loss OF the enemy 10 killed
wounded very large, AID prisoners themselves ad
III that .iIey lost terribly.
q eva loss IN this afflir js not incoEsiderabie-I
u, ,eIy t-w killed. Three hundred wounded have been
81 {. 10 the hospitals ana more yet behind. -Four
OF i've hundred at the most i'll the aggregate
10 prisoners the enemy lost about two khlndred
ana cur commands about thirty.
Abort ; O'Clock, a brisk artillery fte was opened
upon the enemy by our batteries at DaVss farm, which
VS. vigorously replied 10. The enemy's shells cut
several Mr. Davis fine grove heCs down. ana lnjur
I'd his residence considerably. This Smelling was but
tie reude TO charge On cur part, IN order to dis
Igo the enemy from position 10 the lett OF the road
constituted important to The work Was entrusted
- Que best fighting brigades and executed in
lat NEST brilliant manner. subsequently the enemy
Charged back, but were repEsed.
SkIrn.ishing which q, times broke out quite lively
continued uu seven O'Clock, Whan it subsided into
DC2otcuouS picket firing.
DAMAGE TO THE ROAD.
From the best information we are enabled to gain,
The etnY torn up from and half TO two miles
Ct The Weldon read, commencing at the Yellow 1av-
erl aid coming this way. " hat they have done or
may beyond that pant, it is impossible to say. 1t
Il feared il they not touched the track there, up
dark that they inflicted heavy damage last night. We
Shall PROBABLY learn to-day the fu extent of injury
ui:cled Oh this line OF our communication.
REPORTED RAID THROUGH DINWIDDIE.
Ii is reported that while the eneny's Infantry was
engaged in operating AID fighting on the Southern
I0aG b00y OF cavalry crossed OVER through DlnWldde
county on d raid towards the Southside road. We
could not ascertain positively that this the case,
but TO be the impression that some such move
meut has Deen put on foot by tie enemy.
PRESENT POSITION OF TIE ENEMY
ther batteries planted along the lines lar down as
tue Yellow Tavern. Their lines extend either side,
bal on the lett reach across 10 the Plank road They
were engaged Yesterday afternoon in throwing up
breastWorzs as O matter of protection against the
rebels. The battle will probably be renewed this
morning unlss the Yankees disappeared last night.
OBJECT CT THIS MOVEMENT.
The object of lie enemy in this flank movement is
twC-iod. From Cff1er who captured yester-
day, ard wh0, by the way, is most intelligent man,
we undelstaod The first be, the destruction of the
Southern read and the second TO weaken our forces
in the trerc1es TO such extent by the withdrawal
of reinorcements, to enable the emmy by deter
mined attack Orce q breach in llnes.-
Meefing with early and unexpected opposition the
expedition outs failure IN the most important
point.
CASUALTIES.
We arc enabled to give but few casualties in tie bat
lie Of yesterday.
Col Blair, Of Mississippi, leg broken.
Col Lyle 47th Virginia, arm broken.
A. Itunt Laird, Ct the MaryaDd Battalion, killed.
Capt Crane, commanding Maryland Battalion, Sc
yerely wounded.
Tie Maryund Battalion was in the tnickest Of the
maDd lost heavily. Adj1tant Laird was buried in Mr
Davis yard.
Privste Geo. Lufsey, Of Graham's (Petersbugl bat
tery, was killed.
TIE FIRING YESTERDAY.
About one O'Clock yesterday morning, our batteries
all along the lines opened upon the ankees, aud kept
up CONTINUED fire ior two hours. The Yankees res
ponded but taebiy.
QUE TROOPS ENGAGED.
For prudential reasons we withhold the namss Of tbs
&,5ades engaged in the fight of yesterday. At al
ey Gay hope to give them that credit they so fully
deserve.