The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-08-05
Gen. Grants Operations.
TIE JAMES RIVER FEINT.

On Saturday we had intelligence OF WHAT
then seemed to bc mysterious movement
across the James river. The special CORES.
pendent of the Boston Daily Advertiser gave
a good account Of this movement, which be-
Gan on Tuesday afternoon, July Goth, when
u considerable force Of infantry and cavalry
crossed the Appomatox river on pontooh
bridges. Thence our troops moved across
the neck of land formed by Turkey Bend to
James river, where part of Buffers COM
mand, MS is already known, has been intrench-
ed on the north bank of the two shores,
which are connected by pontoon bridge.
Gen. Lee had force in front Of Foster, COM
handing in Buffers Entertainments, and in
line from point opposite Drury's Blnil,
across Deep Bottom to Malvern Hill. The
liue was entrcnched and covered oil the roads
toward Richmond along the north bunk
The rebels had somewhat annoyed our fleet
upon the river with the fire Of light rifed
batteries, and had endeavored to prevent COM
muncation between the feet and City Point.
The heads Of the bridges were occupied by a
sufficient force, and Foster shelcd the enc.
my's line all day Tuesday to prevent any at
tempt against his position. The infantry
force crossed first and reached the north bank
about an hour after daybrcak on "Wednesday
morning. Astrong skrmsh line was thrown
out and the column at once advanced towards
the Newmarke. road. The rebels opened
with shell and grapcshot upon our skirmish-
ers, who steadily advanced and soon became
engaged with those Of the enemy. As our
main force moved up, q heavy musketry en-
sued for half an hour, when q charge by our
troops decided the brief conflict and the ene-
my precipitately retreated, leaving four TWEEN
ty-pounder PARROT guns and q hundred pris-
oners in our hands. The crossing of the cav
airy and the remainder Of the infantry was
effected by mid-afternoon of Wednesday, and
by night of that day tho infantry column
was in possession of the Newmarket road
about mile and half FROM tho river. Our
whole loss was about fifty killed and wound-
ed. Tho enemy showed considerable force on
Wednesday evening, as though inclined to
dispute our further advance.
On Thursday there was brilliant little
cavalry fight north OF the James river, in
which Grcgg's division was engaged. The
rebel onset was so sudden and fierce that our
line was at first forced so far back that we
lost one gun. Our men then rallied and the
enemy were soon driven from the field, leav-
ing i'm our hands about hundred prisoners,
one stan officer, and two regimental colors.
Tho above movement, it now appears, was
only feint to withdraw attention from Pc
tersburg, where active operations were about
10 commence. The leint was so far success
full that, under the evident suppostion that
an attack was to be made on Richmond, tho
rebels sent many loaded trains toward that
city with soldiers.
ADVANCE on PETERSBURG.
Most of our forces re-crossed tho river
Thursday night, some followed on Friday
night. On Thursday and Friday there was
only tho usual artillery duel in front OF Po-
tersburg. At half past four on Saturday
morning, tho grand mine in front of Potter's
division Of the ninth corps was exploded
with very destructive effect. twas four hum
drcd feet long and the charge was six tons OF
powder. Bushrod Johnson's division was in
this locality, and some two or three hundred
of his men wcrc buried. and We got three or
four hundred prisoners. This mine was I'M
der one of the enomy's principal forts, con-
tanning, according to some Of the accounts,
l6 guns. aud was rendered q mass of ruins.
Picket firing was kept up all night, and in
fact, ut tho time the match was applied, tho
skirlnisbers were still engaged on both sides.
Volumes of dirt wcrc thrown up resembling
an immense fountain Of Garth more than any.
thing else.
The 9th army corps ut once charged the
works, driving tho robels to their second limo
OF intrenchments. and taking o number oil
prisoners, somo of whom were dug out Of
the dirt badly bruised. These rebel prison.
crs state that only about dozen OF tho
regiment South Carolina 0ne-now re-
mains.
As soon as tho explosion took place, 100
guns Immediately opened on our front, while
musketry blazed in one continuous line OF
Gro along the front Of the 9th and 9th corps
The scene will long DO remembered by those
who witnessed IL.
The smoke from the guns soon obscurcd
the view, and tho FIRST particulars OF our sue
cess were cleaned from thoso who ca,ne in
with prisoners.
Prisoners say we completely surprised those
in their front. they being mostly asleep ut the
time. The prisoners also state that there
were four guns IN the Notifications which, OF
course, were buried far out Of sight. One
of the prisoners stated that they were busy
mining under our works, and that in two
DAYS moro they would have been ready tol
blow them up, but we got the start Of them.