The New York herald., 1864-06-27
THE SECOND CORPS.

Mr.. Finley Andcrson's Despatch.
BATTLE EIEIp. NEAR PKTIRsauRc. June 2a-1Q e n


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Mr.. Finley Andcrson's Despatch.
BATTLE FIEp NEAR PKTERsguRo, June 23-10P u .
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General Wilson's and Kautzs cavalry having ont the
Weldon Railroad and proceeded to the destruction OF the
Danville Railroad also, infantry lines in front Of
Petersburg being gradually extended TO the le
tonvest the city. Tns proves TO be task OF considera
Bile difficulty, tho enemy stuboornly opposes evcry
forward movement OF this army. Wherever our lines
have been established parallel vita tho rebd fortidcs.
tons we havs thrown up earthworks for tho protection
Of the men. Several assaults by ths enemy have bean
handsomely repulsed In tle Of this campaign it
has been Clearly demonstrated that for either army
attempt to take tho others works by assault when thoy
are vigorously defended, is very serious business.
mE DISASTER. AND how IT OCCURRED.
The unfortunate affair Of yesterday Is the cause OF
great regret on the part Of those who are
most deeply interested the hitherto untarnishsd
name OF the Second CORPS aud most intimately oiatad
With its history. The disaster appears to have been
caused By the swinging Of two divisions OF Tho
Second corps without regard to its connection with tho
SIXTH for while the lines0f the Second corps well
In advance, Hls corps, Of the rebel army, marched
between these two corps OF and struck tho Second
on the 1anI and Had our faced to the rear
and fired the advantage might have been the other
the absence Of their old ocers who have led thom and
have fallen in former battles joined to the unfayorabs
nature of the ground, which covered nth thick
woods and tangled undcrbrush the consequence that
many OF those who formed the front lines OF each OF the
three divisions were easily captured The missing
bers more than st expected. one thousand was
named tho number OF prisoners taken by the enemy
but Is ascertaned 70 be than double that a,d that
tho casualties In the corps ncuding killed. wounded and
captured, viii Approximate three thousand. sa-s
= -. 80 A GEEHaAL, ,ADYAxo.. -
The corps has besa only sgntly engaged with tns
enemy to day Very early IN the morusog general ad.
varce was ordered totake place all along The lines
Sixth and sesoad corps. Soon after dayligh, heavy
skrmIsh line pushed forward and ascerainsd that the
enemy had Withdrawn from immediate frsns and
had either retired into ns works marched OF to meet
us al some other point. Our lines advanced appa
rently about the time that the eaenys withdrawn,
and consequently few or the rsbeis could not get
away fell prisoners hands We also regaiasd all
the ground which had lost Tho lines were then 70.
adjusted. Matters have rcmaued for the part In
saa quo all day, though the ssrmisners both sides
have been popping away each other at Intervals since
four O'Clock in the morning. rt
He coLoSEt RiAspxLr. M
About noon today Colonel Baisdel OF the Eleventh
Massachusetts, regiment, killed while supsru.ending
the ntrenchiny o. the line or the brigade COM
mandng BE was gallant aad patriotic o.Ilcer. Hs
term serycs had expired, but no chose remain 10
Of briyad for ne had desire 70 leave the
field until sithsr his lxe or The war was ended.
Leacnan; Colonel Baies, OF the Eighth heavy artillery,
was mortaIly wounded by bulst in the abdomen. He
was most efficient o1ncer
RssxL MOVEMENTS. -
This afternoon II was believed that the enemy vas
moving of down to left for the purpose
Of attacking tho Sixth corps. Bur.on's and Ricketts,
batteriesbpensd the column it was passing down;
but no demonsra,ion has been nado by the enemy 10
that direction. At bali past egM this evening dash
made by the enemy further 10 the right Of our line
but he quickly repalsed aud nothing more than 90
oasiona picket firing has been heard since that time i
this later hour this evening. Wa await anticipated
operations and their developments.
THE ATTACK uros iHE WORKS.
Twin now give you ncdest or the arst attack upon
Petersburg which think has not been Published When
General smiths troops advanced the enony opened
furious Are from all the batteries commanding that
portion Of the line. Tho firing was vo-y rapid
for time but as Smiths troops marched
boldly up, With colors flying, In front of the rebel
works, the enemy loft the. .rno pits which formed
the first line or dsences FOR main Gordon Of forts,
and when the heavy cloud OF skrshos rushed Forward
firing followed by the imposing lines OF battle the rebels
evidently became astonshed aud alarmed bodnoss
Of the movement, and after scble resistance, aed from
the works, leaving guns, casscns, horses equipments
aud ntrencAng tools behind them in their Eight
The forts taken for the most part by the troops
who formed the skirmish line, the lines 9. battle hav
Ing occasion to become engaged. A number clsrc
doubts were captured, in them prisoners aud guns
rr1rn;nuRG MIST r4rt
Ibis chain OF otacations gives the key 70 Peters
burg, which must ultimately fall into possession,
thtta andi IA
Ill 'orccmeuis from south Carolina, Lynchburg and
Rlchmg nd.
most OF which ia possession, extend In ono
iposlng chain completely round tho city. They conss,
Il carefully constructed Fashioned works all tho high,
command ng points, and generally connected with each
0har With parallel lines FOR infantry artillery, which
escr nigh, be moet aagaNagcousy used al tho threat
cacd point. The forts all regularly numbsred-bat
terry No. l. q 8, A. Scroand from tho righ. 10 the left
Or tho encys line. Many havo magazines, Rud all havo
wio and deep ditches Ia 'front.' Somo o The dches oro
nearly illcd With water, forming excellent moats and
rendering The works very difficult to capture they
v'gOroufy dee nded against grand assault. Some OF
tho works are finely finished, and demcnstra.s tho
fact that much time labor aud engineering skin must
have been devoted 10 their construction. Extensive
eds Of meadow and growing grain flourish In front Of
some Of tho redos and In front Of others where tbere
had formerly been forests the woods have been cut
down. anorarg tie most admirable range for artillery
and muskctry