The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-06-25

days work. The Cd and 9th corps had
driven in the centre Of the rebel de-
lenses, while the 18th corps. had been
most successful in securing tho key TO
their position upon the right Further
to our left, however, the rebels still held
indisputed possession Of the railroad
running between Petersburg and Snf-
folk and Norfolk. Against this portion
Of their line the operations of our corps
were directed in particular to-day. BY
/ the left flank wss the order which
brought the corps into position Bar
/ low ) division of the ID corps, maintain
ed the defense of our right flank in
preservation of the fruits of yesterdays
victory.
Wilcox's division was assigned the
execution OF this duty, and was sup
ported by Col Curtin's brigade, of Pot
ter's division The division of General
Ledlie remained in reserve. In fact,
owing to the narrow line assigned US
| between the I'd and 5th corps, it is
| doubtful if another division could be
put in line of battle Gen Wilcox
1 formed his division with the brigade Of
] Gen. Hartranft on the right, and that
4 of Col Christ on the left There was
no column in support of theimmediate
/ flank, where the soldier Is so tlmld OF
! danger, and hence the success of the
day is all the more nAttering to the
/ courage Of the division. l say Colonel
/ Christs brigade In doing so / use the
name by which it IS Familiarity known
4 in the corps It should more appro-
/ priately be called Col. RalstoIs brig
ade, as that officer succeeded Colonel
! Christ after he was wounded.
CHARGE ox the RAILROAD
Again, some may call me to account
for the use of terms. The movement
OF the division was not so much a
! charge with which we are so accustOm-
( ed to associate the idea of dash at u
| charge bayonet, with shout and a
| cheer; and the other accomplishments,
so stereotyped in the victory of battle,
as a deliberate, solid advance, in which
| every obstacle was overcome by cool
/ perseverance. In fact, the fight for the
railroad was conducted in this manner
! entirely, and cannot help thinking
| that the gallantGen Hartrantt sou yht TO
redeem the misfortune of yesterday by
| fully forcing the powers of his gallant
/ command on this occasion. Whether
/ or not. the achievement Of his brigade
was eminently victorious. The rebels
were steadily driven, and the object of
/ the attack was gained cannot but
divide the fight into three epochs: this
| side the railroad, on the railroad and
/ beyond the railrosd-each found a par
| tieular work
The advance was ordered at three o.
clock The different regiments had
been skirmishing throughout the day,
aud II was after four o'clock when the
line got into shape, owing to some de-
/ lay in adjusting the division line. Oar
I line Of slSirmishers was Tesolutely met
by the rebels, and held at bay The
main line came up and the rebels slow
/ " gave way, contending every inch of
| ground. The disadvantages were en-
/ tirely on our side The nature Of the
ground presented many obstacles in the
way Of rayines, uneven surfaces and
gullies, all of which had to be overcome
by steady fighting. However, the reb-
els were driven back, and our boys .
gained position near the railroad The
rebels falling back and taking position
beyond on the railroad, there was still
/ no rest for our boys.
On gaining this position the rebels
upon the side seemed reluctant to leave
locality to which the artificial defen-
ces of the railroad lent additional Sc
curity. The track at this point runs
through a cut some twenty feet in
depth, with very steep sides, sffording
sort of trench to their line. The diYi-
sion pushed forward, tumbling head
long down the decliyity, and then clam
bered up the opposite bank The as
cent was a most arduous one. The side
of the bank was precipitous, and our
boys gained the top only by planting
their fingers and toes firmly IN the
giaVel, and so climbing hand oyer hand
and foot over foot Gaining the level
ground, they found their victory was
not yet complete. Beyond the railroad
in advance the rebels had a lire of rife
pits, to which they now finally retreat
ed, and kept up CALLING fire. 1t had
50 far been a tight with musketry en-
tirely, but a rebel battery on our right
opened a severe thanking fire. This
battery was in the chain of rebel in
trenchments.
Once more the column formed and
advanced, and need / say that darkness /
found them in possession Of the rebel I
line No artillery fell into our hands,
as on previous occasions, for the expe- I
rience Of the past few days had taught /
the rebels TO Withdraw their artillery |
whenever any indication was exhibited +
OF our intention to charge
Negroes who have escaped from the 7
city say that we have their last line of
entertainments, unless they throw up
new works tonight, in the brief stretch +.
of ground which lies between our adj T
vance and the city.
CUR loss in tho affairs has been large
.---...I - Eli LII -,c.llnnt