The New York herald., 1864-05-14

THE DEMossrRAnls rrrERsarR0
Our demonstration against Petersburg his besn success
full It held back large rebel orcc en- roue TO Lee a.
time when they might be very valuable TO their cause
Lhsy could have effected Junction with tho rebel army
at the same tims gave oppotnny to destroy
with more competoness the railroad from Petersburg to
Richmond the great line communication between tho
rebel capital and the south Tho work OF this morning
has eectuay dashed that road for some time to oome
RnIEL MIDNIGHT ATTACK.
Last night the rebels made midnight attack on our
front ON tho Petersburg turnpike either with view Of
taking section OF the Fifth New Jersey artillery OF
feeling the strength Of pckets, and whether had
withdrawn main column and let tho fold only
with a small thin veil Of skirmishers to cover
departure from their notice. Whatever the
may have boen fof the charge made and in way
that spoke strongly for their sraacy and bodness
than for their eo,d Judgment However, experience may
teach them something OF these days.
Tho rebels formed their brigades In cou,an by div
scEs, and at about O'Clock advanced boldly aud
rapidly up the broad turnpike charge straight for
the section OF the battery In position IN the middle OF the
road. Oar pickets discovered them when they had a
preached within short distance and fell back before
them until they had reached pon: within ton fifteen
rods OF our front line Of battle, where they laid
down and opened their 1re. Our men were
vigant and prepared for any the kind and
tremendous witherius voey Of musketry was poured
into the head Of the column which went down like
before the mowers scythe. Pushing the bodies Of
their fallen comrades tho rebels rushed forward with
yell. Of their game The mistake fatal Another
scathing voley went crashing through their dense column
and tho dead and wounded began to crowd the pike and
check In measure the rapid advance Of the living The
Forteth Massachusetts,, Colonel Henry, opened
terrific nre from their Spencer rifles. aud our
lines cleaned with the flames from Thousand mug
zles. and storm OF bullets swept down the pike
pling man man. until the rebes wavered halted.
and then fell back, bloodiy repulsrl. The line
formed, and second charge made with deatening
yes but the fearful fire cut down the head OF tho
column, and again. spite Of all efforts Of their officers
tho rebel column rolled back their lnes and then
the third me again formed and started up the CORY lane
to make one final an reckless effort TO bronx nes
and capture the Three regiments poured in voey
after voley into their thinned ranks but they pushed
ste adly and confidently forward But It useless
The FIRE hot and deadly for mortal to stand
against and for the third and time the charge
repused and the rebels sent back their lines terribly
cut to pieces and thoroughly demoraiized.
No further attempt made to obtain the guns to
break lines that night, and all that lett Tor tho
rebels contemplate the skeleton column and their
costly failure Sixty dead rebels which were seen ut
daylight within space OF hundred feet the pike
give idea Of the destructive nature of nre
How many laid dead below, or how many wounded
meD had crawl ed from the road into the woods ehcr
side. we had no means Of determining, as the ground
between the opposing pckets could not be resched by
either SIDE Probably not less than 1--WE hundred rebes
werc placed hors du con,ba by that midnight hours
work. Not single on our side was injured so far
could learn. 80 complete and decisive repulse has
never before been chroniced. To-day, forces
dr,ur oR dead law fhevr rau
under the torrld rays OF the sun.
The rebels were fearfuy rspulses during tho eight
OF yesterday, when three South Carolina regiments
charged Heckmans brigade OF Weitzes division, Eigh-
teenth army corps, which bed the advance They ud-
vanccd In the reckless aud confident manner, and
thrice bloody repulsed by three Massachusetts regi
meuts, which met their advance with . magnificent
seadness and cool and effective nre that nothing human
could Withstand. About three hundred rebels were
killed and wounded in the Affair." In company the
Eleventh South Carolina Volunteers thirty and all
four Of It's officers tell in space no arger than ordi
sized drawing These two attempts to crush
by charge sgusly failed and third has been at
tempted at that point.
ENEMY DEMONSTRATES ouR RIGHT FLANK
This morning at daybreak a rebel force appeared
on emo Of tho roads leading from Richmond, and
attempted to bronx right flank and get into the
Of forces the Petersburg road, and cut c from
It's base Colonel Howell, commanding brigade in Gen.
oral rerrys DIVISION promptly met the attack and
cessfn,ly checked tho cnemy's advance. Heavy skir
mshng continued throughout tho forenoon, and tina
my forces to crowd line heavily they bad
becn reinforced from Richmond Efforts were made by
the enemy Off the Eighty fsth Pennsylvania which
held approach three miles towards Richmond The
unsuccessful, .he reoeis beng checked in
attcmpt Fighting continued for several hours hcre
and finally the enemy having becn greatly strengthened
moved up pike and attacked another force TO the et
OF the One Hundred and Sixty ninth New York;
Thirteenth Indiana, and Ohio under Colo
Voorhees, Of the latter regiment section two OF
woodbury,s New Jersey battery stationed with
the brigade This stationed at the junction Of
the Petersburg and Richmond pike. and the Bermuda
Hundred aud Chester Our no of battle extended
across the pike with front looking each road to
The enemy attacked ths line In strong
force and snked the left capturing portion Of
of the companies OF tns Thirteenth Indiana and crowd
ing left back. The enemy quickly rcpcsd tho
ground regained and the line established Repeated
charges made upon the hDs but In cvcry instance
they eectua'y rcpuscd. Tho hght went on rather
stinly during the entro NON, while the rebciss
massing left 10 completely cut OF force
In that quarter Observing tho nature Of the affair,
dangers 70 be opprshesdsd in case Of their
GENERAL rsRaY's BATTLE Win PICKETT.
Con. Tcrry's division. which engaged two or three
miles 70 the left In finishing the work OF tearing mp
and destroying the railroad track, was Immediately
ordered forward assistance Of Colonel Voorhees,
a. hs received the report. The brigade, consist
ing Of tho Seventh New Hampshire and Sixth
and Seventh Connecticut, under command Of Colonel
Abbott tbs Seventh New Hampshire, hurried up the
road and took sp position supporting Voorhees, brigade
Rockwss First Connecticut battery sent 70 the LETT,
and took position open ncId and sharp
iy engaged with great effect. Tho Seventh Now Hamp
shire deployed the Ie Of the battery and the right
the Sixth Connecticut Colonel Duryea was placed the
Seventh Connecticut Lieutenant Colonel Rooman having
the left flank. After several vain aitsmpts TO break
line the righs flank In which tho rebeis were badly
handled by tho Thirteenth IndAua Colonel DoSbs and
tho Ono Hundred and sixty ninth New York, Colonel
McConhs, they massed On tho iet flank, and charged