Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-06-17
WAR DEPARTMENT., WASHINGTON CRY,
June II, 1S6i-9.3O 8. m.

June IL, 1s6i-9.30 q. m. {
To Major General Dir, Nep York:
The following dispatches have been received
by this Department:
"C1rY POINT, June 18th, (via JAMBsTowN
ISLAND, S 30 O. M, June 10th, 1854. y" Smith,
with 5000 men, attacked Petersburg this
morning. Gen. Butler reports from his obser.
vatory, near Bermuda Hundred, that there has
been sharp fighting, and troops and trains Of
the enemy were, rs he writes, moving from the
city across Appomattox, as If retreating. Han
cock is not near enough to render Gen. Smith
any aid.
"The Richmond papers have nothing to in.
dictate a suspicion Of our crossing the James
River. They expect to be attacked from the
direction Of Malvern HILL"
"CIrY POINT, VA 80 p. m, June Is, 1861
Our latest report from Smith was at 4.V p. M
He had carried q line of entertainments at
Beatty's House, the colored troops assailing
and carrying the rifle pits with great gallantry
bat he had not yet carried the main line. He
describes the rebel artillery fire as very heavy.
He expects to assault this line just before dark.
Hancock is within three miles Of Smith,"
"CITY POINT, Va, 7 a. M, June Is, 1854, (via
jamestown Island, HAS a. m. AT go p. m.
yesterday Smith assaulted ana carried the
principal line of the enemy before Petersburg,
taking thirteen cannon, several stands Of
colors, and betweenithree and four hundred
prisoners. This line is two miles from Peters.
burg. Hancock got up and took position on
Smiths left, at 3 a. m. to-day. There was
heavy firing in that direction from to 6. No
report yet"
"DoNT HARD LANDING, VA, P. NJ, June
16, 1e64.-After sending my dispatch Of this
morning from the heights southeast Of Peters
L ha lipoc
General Grant and the engineer officers. The
works are OF the very strongest kind, more
difficult even to take than was Missionary
Ridge at Chattanooga. The hardest fighting
was done by the black troops. The forts they
stormed were, think, the worst of all.
sAfter the affair was over, Gen. Smith went
10 thank them, and tell them he was proud of
their courage and dash. He says they cannot
be exceeded as soldiers, and that hereafter he
will send them in difficult place as readily
as the best white troops. They captured SIX
out Of the sixteen cannon which he took. The
prisoners he took were from Beauregard's
command. Some OF them said they had Just
crossed the James above Drury's Bluff
81 do not think any Of Lees army had
reached Petersburg when Smith stormsd it,
They seem to be there this morning, however,
and to be making arrangements TO hold the
Wess oAoo VI INC hPpoAoItOX Inc tOWu LQ0y
cannot think Of holding, for 1t lies directly
under our guns. The weather continues splsn-
did"
'sCITT POINT, VA, AIS p. M, J une, 16, 1864,
(vis JAMBsrowN, las p. m.)-Gen. Butler re.
ports from Bermuda Hundred that the enemy
have abandoned the works in front Of that
place. His troops are now engaged in tearing
up the railroad between Petersburg and Rich.
mond."
The following despatch does not designate
the hour, but it is supposed to be later than the
preceding ones:
Jamestown, VA, June 16, 1S64.-I came
down from the pontoon above Fort Powhattan
with dispatches for Secretary Stanton. Just
as left Captain Pitkin reported to me that
Petersburg was in our possession
Nothing of recent date has been heard from
General Sheridan, but the Richmond Wing of
the 18th contains a dispatch from General Lee
stating that Sheridan had been routed in an
engagement with Fitz Lee and Hampton
losing five hundred prisoners and leaving his
dead and wounded on the field.
From Gen. Sherman q dispatch dated last
night at Q o'clo OK, has been received. 1t only
states the relative position Of the forces No
serious engagement had yet occurred.
EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary Of War.