, 1864-06-08

prisoners and lie ca1fy,ns Of 10 principal wos1s
ut e te e. 1os &c ~ o fG2; s eeae
Ricketts, having the honor OF the grand charge In
which The stated number OF prtsoaers was tAken.
On dnGhs ths S Con- s IT,
ENift Run, and unde. cover Of the remaining Corps
moved toward Coal Hatbor ria Old Church. Rick
et's Sd divtsou took the advance, followed BY the
lit and I'D, reaching Coal Harbor in the nfter-
noon, and relieving the cavalry divisions Of Gems:
Torbett and Gregg. VINO On the dAy psevtona had
engaged and driven the enemy from his position
On arriving ii the cross-roads At Coal Harbor,
the dtFtefou OF Geu. Ricketts, Was dcp!oJ Cd On the
right OF the Gaine'B Mill: road In line OF battle.
s9; % III o. iii matets IT, whe Neil soeE Up
position On the extreme left-
Batteries 4, 1et Massachuaetts. 3, 1st Ohio, tho
E, let Rhode isl1nd, commanded respectively By
Cspts. Mccarthy, Dorsey, Harm, Hexammer sud
Rhodes, were soon In position, aud 1t o'clock
veTo engaged IN rapid exchange Of solid shot
1t about o'clock an advance was ordered, and
the v hole line mored forward.
4 narrow belt Of woods tntervened between
HtEett'e division and the enemy, and On enercInS
from 1t into plowed deld, the position OF the
enemy was plainly visible on wooded crest
beyond. 4 heavy fire Of nusketzy and artillery
in tbe1r works but through thi. desdly storm our
men steadily advanced oTef the. ploHed field
through an inteETcalng Swamp. and With gallant
determination never before sxccIled In the htsto!I
enemy from his earth works, and held them during
the night aeolnet repeated and furious assaults.
nicktts. ' captusod 60 prisoners, tosetier viii
Of the men Of Ricketts, division in this Instance
cheney with which they were charxed ln the tastlo
Of the Wilderness, by certa:n correspondents, who
tailed to investigate tbs facts Ia the case.
The following letter speaks tor i's9.f: too.
MAY. GEN. wManr.c-Pleass give my thanks to
Brig. Gen. Ricketts, md his gallant command. for
ea & IL ses5
lowed up, WIN materially advanee our operations.
Respectfully 'oa1'' M, G3a! eao; GSn@sa9.;s 6; Maa9n;
By order Of Gen. Rcketts. tho men Of h.s divi.
sion Immediately eet to work to strengthen theI1
position, In which occupation they were, during
charges of the sneny, Who vas, IN every instance,
rcpulsed with fearful loss.
Meantime, Brig. Gen. Russell, commanding tht
iaDtiy leading tie charge At the head Of bis Old
brigade. a mile OF forest and cleared ground VA!
rapidly paeeed before the works Of the enemy west
discovered beyond field exposed to muEderoui
fire from the enemJ's guns, eornn1andins every up
proach. Under the circumstances, 1t was deemei
advisable By Gen. Russell to hslt Ills command
which WAS done on the crest OF hsll, where de
/ occupied rntil this morning.
Gen. Nell'. en- ths extreme left, also advanced
but, owing to the uutavorable character Of th,
ground, was unable to posseas the euemy-s works
On the right Of the 9Th corps. Bsldy Smith, will
tile 18th Army Corps, met with almost unexpected
snccees, carrying the entire line OF rebel works /,
hls trout, with the loss Of $40 men, and holdin:
shen until morning. In spite Of the eRorts Of th
/ enemy 10 regain them at intervals during th
! night "Baldy" has made q decided impression
among the .roops, and henesforth the soldiers Q
| With the mca Of the 18th Army Corps, who hay
fully demonstrated their wor:hiress to stand Wit
them side BY side in the great struggle for tn
| Union.
Tie opportune moment at which Gen, Smit
arrived and formed junction With Gen. Wnghi
and to cooperate with him in his attack on th
rebel works Of Coal Hsrbor, Is worthy Of speci.
mention, Tue Junction Which Was forme
/ rear Old Church, Etdwsy between HanoTt
Town and Coal Ha1bot. yesterday p. m, reveal
the fact that the army Of the Potomac Is under to
guidance Of minds POSSESSED Of ua=teriy abllit!
| The men ere 5ubilaEt over their success, and r
viewing the past are hopefal for the future.