The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-11-04

strongly EntreMehe0esGen. Grant
Orders our Troops Ia Fall
Haek-..Builer Pals aud Falls
Back.
HRADquARrAEs ARMY or TIE POrO,IAC,
Oct. 20 The late movements of this army have
resulted in extending our lines rs far rs Hatch
er's RIM on the Duncan Road-an advance of
about three miles beyond our former position
on our Left.
The discovery of the exact position Of the
enemy's lines and the works erected for their
defensive operations, ia we'll rs more COM
plete knowledge of the country between US
and the South Side Railroad, are among the
results
1t was not believed the enemy had 10y very
strong works in this direction, and t II by TAX
ing them by surprise they could be easily driv-
en- into the inner lines of Petersburg. but to the
surprise OF all not only were the enemy found
entrenched on both sides of the Boynton
Road, but that they had strong works on both
sides of the Run extending several miles.
The I'd Corps in the charge on the plank
ROAD drove the rebels from their works on the
south side of the run and across the bridge of
which they held possession until ordered to
withdraw.
On III zee of the 9th Corps, they
march I'll side Of the run, and the
road be-, crooked in this vicinity, by
keeping ciu, 3 there was gap between its
LETT and the rign. Il the I'd Corps.
The enemy took advantage of this and mass
sault on the right of the I'd Division Of the I'd
Corps evidently with the intention of captur-
ing the entire force on the right
Their charge for o very short time was q sue
cess. but our men rallied, charged in turn and
drove the rebels back cutting off the greatest
part of Anderson's brigade Of Hills corps.
The number of prisoners thus taken here
VIVA ahout 400 iDrluNintr MANY Ofirors Moon
time the 9Th Corps had reached the epemy's
works on the front and became wholly en-
gage. The loss here was not SO heavy as In
the "a Corps.
Darkness approaching and it being deemed
unsafe to occupy so extended line with
lacks from cavalry, orders were Issued to with
draw about two miles, which was done without
lose
During the engagement the enemy drove our
men from two guns, but before they could be
removed our men charged and re-toOk them.
The loss of the enemy cannot be stated but
it is thought to be about as heavy as our own
larger than ours. We took about 500 alto
getAer during the day.
Gen. Grant and staff we're present during the
entire day, and In company with Gen. Meade
watched the various movements.
Daring Thursday night the rebels made "a
sobAult OU OuI WOIkS eOuLu VI WueIc t!ic III -
was sprung, but were driven back witt, cons: :
cradle loss. Near the same place a party fro
the LIST division of the I'd corps made dasE IN
a rebel fort and captured Il taking colonr q
major, captain, q lieutenant and twenty men
prisoners. Our picket line was advanced here
for some distance, and our men still hold their
new ground.
(signed3 W. D. McGREGoR
The TrituIse's dispatch from the army of The
James, 18th. says OF the demonstration made
by Buffers forces.
Gen. Terry moved the 10th corps out in adj
vance Of our extreme right and began occupy
ing the country along the scene of the fight OF
the 14th inst, and from that point on the OAR
Uptown road nOrthwesterly to the Charles CITY
road. Considerable desultary firing occurred
here during the day, without further effect
than to show the enemy's strength.
The 9Th corps meanwhile. accompanied by
kautz cavalry, moved out towards the VIII
liamsburg road, and there engaged the enemy
late in the afternoon with varying success
Hoiman's brigade of colored troops sue
ceeded in carrying one Of the enemy's redouts
and capturing the guns, while Fairchld's and
Hull's brigades were roughly handled ia en-.
enemy directly on the Williamsburg road in
the neighoOrhoOd of Seven Pines
Darkness came on too soon to permit us to
avail ourselves of the advantage gained by the
capture OF the redoubt on eneIny's left and our
troops We're ordered to retire which they did ut
daylight, and fair start next morning.
The result on the other side of the James led
Gen. Grant to direct the withdrawal of our
troops to their original position.
Matters have resumed their usual quiet here
The losses in the 10th corps will amount to
some 800 men or Whereabouts, and of the 18th,
probably double that amount half of them
however, were captured by the enemy.
r. ATsNg
Oct 3O.-Since the army returned to its old
quarters on Friday nothing has been DONE
As our troops returned the rebel cavalry fol-
lowed us closely but did not do much damage
They made repeated attempts to charge but
were repulsed with loss.
As far as ascertaincd our losses reach about
1900.
The I'd corps, which did the most fighting
lost ten officers killed and thirty-Onc wounded
The cavalry divisions it is thought lost about
200.
The losses of the enemy are severe-some
greater than ours. We have S2S prisoners and
four battle flags.
New York, Oct. 3l.-The Times correspon-
dent with Buffers army, details how two of
our brigades fell into rebel trap on Thursday
last
When General Weitzel reached the Williams
burg road he found wide open space and dis.
connected redoubts on either side of the high
y.
mOnstration, and the works seemed only feebly
manned, the enemy using but one gun in the
redoubts to the right Of the road.
Gen. Weitzel deemed it advisable to essay
the capture of these works, and sent into the
assault Cullums and Fairchilds brigades. The
troops advanced gallantly with Il cheer to within
few hundred yards of the work on the right,
when suddenly the other work opened deadly
f1re OF grape and schrapnel, and our troops
We're IN a trap from which there was little
chance OF escaping. The majority of both
orlgades were made prisoners. I'D .,.f ~.
NEW YORK, Oct 31.-On the 10th inst. Gen.
Lee wrote to Gen. Grant complaining of Gen.
Buffers placing rebel prisoners under fire in
retaliation for the rebels putting cOlored SOL
diers captured by them in like position, and
proceeded at much length to show that owners
Of slaves were entitled to their slaves when re-
captured. 1t was so under the u. 8. Constitu-
ton, so even after the war of 1912. England
paying indemnity for slaves captured When
colored soldiers were captured their owners
could claim them. and they had been mt at
work on Notifications. -
He (Gen. Leg has, however, ordered them
to be Withdrawn from their exposed position
and sent to the rear.
Gen. Grant in reply informed Gen. Lee that
these prisoners Of war having been removed
from their exposed position the rebel prisoners