Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-07-01

four miles directly in the teeth of Lees
veteran army, whom it succeeded in cut
ting in two by destroying for distance
of three miles or more the railroad over
which the troops were passing as fast as
trains could be run. Reaching the rail.
road, large part of our men were de-
tailed to the work of destruction of the
track, which they accomplished very tho
roughly for a distance of between three
and four miles, by tearing up the rails
and ties, piing them in heaps and burn
ing them, and leveling the embanknents
upon the roadway. Meanwhile the fight
ing part of the expedition was becoming
hardly pressed by Pickett, who had form
ed iu line of battle, and was preparing to
make an attack, having been reinforced
heavily. This was about 4 o'clock T.
NJ, and Gen. Terry, feeling that it would
be great folly, with his three or four thou
sand men, to engage Lees entire army
gave the order to withdraw. This was
successfully done, and our casualties were
comparatively few. The rebels have
since re-occupied the works in Buffers
front.
CALAMITY OF NEGRO TROOPS.
After making due allowance for the
determination of some of the army cor
respondents to pet and glorifY the negro
troops, it is very evident that they bave
done themselves great credit in the as
saults upon the defenses of Petersburg
The testimony to the fact is UNIVERSAL
A Tribune correspondent writes from
Bermuda Hundred that Brig Gen. Welt
eel remarked to a group of officers,
"Gentlemen, this war is ended. The ne
groes fight, and Gen. Smith says so."-
It should be understood that Gen. Smith,
while not positively disbelieving in negrl
troops, still entertained the belief that no
reliance could be placed upon them
Their gallant conduct under bis own eyes
at the storming of the redoubts at Pc
tersburg, has removed the scales from bis
eyes, and he is believer now in negro
muscle, dash and endurance. "Well,
said Gen. Buffers chief of staff to tall
sergeant, 'you had pretty tough fight
there on the left" "Yes, sir, and we lost
good many officers and men." "How
many prisoners did you take, sergeant I?
"Not any alive, sir" was the significant
response. Gen. Smith says, "Ihey don't
give my provost marshal the least trou-
BILE, and l don't believe they contribute
toward filling any Of the hospitals with
rebel wounded"
l saw these troops as they advanced in
line of battle, and it was the genera
comment that there was less struggling
than was ever seen. In truth there was
none. Gen. Grant visited the front yes
terday, and while there one of his aids
who wore no distinguishing mark of office
was arrested by one of the colored SOL
diers on guard. They would not believe
his story, but took him to Gen. Grant to
corroborate his story. "Well, general, |
have been arrested by this soldier, who
won't believe my story" The comman-
der-in-chief identified and released his
aid, telling the soldier he had done his
duty. lie then remarked to bis aid,
"Served you right, sir; / am glad of it,
as it shows the negroes are vlgiIant'-
The next time you had better wear someN
thing to indicate your rank and profess
sion, or else keep out OF their way
Let me add that Gen. Grant and staff
have become quite enthusiastic over the
performances of the colored division.--
Officers on Gen. Hancock's staff, as they
rode by the redoubt surrounded by a moat
with water in it, over which these me-
grces charged, admitted that Its capture
was a most gallant affair. The negroes
bear their wounds quite as pluckily as the
white soldiers, as visit to the hospital
made apparent.
GEN. HUNTERS PRoGREss-R E B E L
ACCOUNTS.
The Richmond Sentinel of the 10Th
gives these reports from Hunters corps: {:
"a body of cavalry was thrown into Mel
son on Monday to destroy the Charlottes-
vile railroad. The party was small and
did little damage. The same party, on
Tuesday crossed the James below Lynch
burg, and struck the railroad to Peters
burg, near Concord depot, cutting the
They also appeared at Camp
bell Court House, and we're expected to
reach the Tennessee and Virginia rail
road. Sheridan had, doubtless, part to
play in this combined movement on
Lynchburg. His pontoons were for cross
.Lo Iop,ac TvnchhurO was IN he