The New York herald., 1864-06-07
TIE BATTLE ON WEDNESDAY.
OPERATIONS OF THE NINTH CORPS.

Rrs j. G. Fitzpatrick's Dispatches.
NINTH ARMY CoRrs,
TEN MILES RICHMOND, June l-P. n.
Ne lu along our line this afternoon only the calm
hssore the storm. night corps in conjunction
Nth that Of General Hancock became warmly engaged.
me enemy had deceived us in the morning. when the
hdcatons that they had retired and had left only
\ tnin skrmsh line to maintain the sembance Of their
presence.
Tho Sixth corps had already started TO the .exreme
IN. The corps to follow this evening In pur
puaace OF the programme Of another flank movement
and our corps hold the extreme right In the a
bernoon division OF General Gibbon OF the Second
Derps which joined corps on the right, was ordered
swad with the double purpose OF feeling the enemy
ma driving back their skirmsh ns in order to conceal
~ withdrawal of the corps. II was about four O'Clock
= shs afternoon when the division became engaged, and
srs heavy skirmishng for few hours, the rebels
sessipatsly con.es,ing their ground.
ADVANCES OF rorrHx's DIVISION,
cooperation with General Gibbon, the division OF
osassal Potter holding the right OF corps, was or.
nssd 10 advance 1t pushed out fro the intrenchments
% right at the Of the angle formed by the
function OF the two corps. Gbbon found the rebels
N considerable force and towards evening fell back Tho
rebels sheed our advance quite vigorously and their
missiles came flying thick and fast though with wild
ain. Most OF them went beyond or burst in the air.
OUR HosrnAL sHxtLED.
Several struck In the vicinity Of the hospital or Dr.
anldpgou OF tho First division. which mperfcctly
shsltered in a ravne Immediately behind our breast
works. One shell fell In very close proximity to theient
q Dr. l. aud his operating staff where your correspond
ent happened 10 be at the time. Another fell tho
wagons OF the Christian Commission and shrspnel burst
ever our heads tho bullets wnistng through tho trees
oaoueside OF us-one IN particuls passing through the
cook tent much 70 the disgust Of "Jot, our efficient
s.serer who was preparing evening repast No one
vas injured however, and the doctors continued their
bors with the utmost ccouess. The hospitals OF Drs.
Webster and oCopne escaped without any such inter.
sstine episodes, they established in more shell
bsred positions.
DESPERATE RxByt cHsRcK
The movement OF tho afternoon provoked attack
Prom the rebels later tho day. Perhaps their suspi
ecns were aroused that sorte OF Giobou aud Potter
severed withdrawal OF forces, and hence recon
nossance from their side. General wilcox held the
ssntre OF line with Third division lapp,ng ove
sAe First division, which on his les, and bending
back TO the rear.
just dusk the rebels made their appearance in tv
ssrcpg lines. They drove back skirmshers OF IN
First division General Crttenden who was up with
sAs front line, ordered 70 fall back breast
works, which had besn thrown up during the night snt
a6brdcd . defence The rebels came a. double
gasck In most mpotuous charge, and halted only whet
tAs arst voeys from our breastworks tore through hs
ranks, their line was . very long one, and cam,
saasnt 10 ths general contour OF our works
1heir right wing was the nrst 70 approach ou
ppsson, the len and centre still being some distance
behnd whether through ofshe direction
IN which our works from some other reason W,
can only surmise. The rebels on batsg brought thei
~ssss 70 bear, and delivered Are along the srteut
shsir nc The scene Illuminated At once by erant
Cash light Our boys from the breastworr where shcy
vsre standing three and four deep, owing 10 the doubling
ehe two divisions returned the nre and poured In tbei
DnAisys - rapidy ~ tbV could load and aim, Thsio