Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-08-23

[ Acting General Gerardey Killed.
OorsspOadsHss Of the NsU York Herald
On New AARKKT Road,
North Side James River, Aug. l6-EV'g.
The operations of our forces under Nsjor General
HANCOCK ON the north side of the James river to-day,
have been of very interesting and important oharsc-
ter The troops both edes have been very skiluy
handled They have had hard fighting and heavy losses
The hardest fighting took place in front of the enemye
works n,ar Flussiers hilpcnd, between the Central
and Charles City roads, but fpirited skirmshng also
occurred up the Charles City road where it is crossed
by Deep Bottom Greek and near Whites Tavern, aput
seven miles from Richmond.
From Strawberry Plains where the troops were
marsnAled, they had already moved out in column and
deployed in such q 10 command the three
principal thoroughfares from this city into Richmond
Ii ia obvious that the policy oil the enemy under tbeee
circumstances, would be 10 mai avre his forces so az
to these dispositions. And the result has been
/ that movements and counter NOV ments have boon
made on both sides with alternate and temporary ad-
vantages and reverses.
At an early hour Reconnaissance in considerable
force was made up the Charles City road for the purpose
of developing the enemys strength and post on, with
view TO vigorous assault whenever sn opportunity might
be afforded. General Gregg, In executing the orders
for this movement marched hs cavalry command along
the Charles City road as far as Deep Bottom creek,
where it was joined by brigade of infantry under
General Miles, OF BJrloNs division, and then, both
cavalry and infantry operating in conjunction, moved
Il
the creek and continued falling back with an occasional
i halt, and show Of resistance,
While our cavalry thus following up the retiring
enemy, there was one point where q stand was at
tempted. The enemy's cavalry was being disDo,ed to
meet u.s. when the l6.h Penney vania in Col. Greggs
BRIGADE charged down the Dad. No eooner had they
heard our buges sound the charge than the Rebels
hastily departed. They we've part Of Gen. W. II. +.
Lees cavalry division, the brigade Immediately con-
fronting Gregg, being commandediby Gen. Cbamb'iss.
,hal Gav a,ds al IN aliu frnO
but without avail for when the head of charging
column close upon the rear Of the flying fugitive,
| he almost alone upon the field, where bis
men had deserted him while he striving to rally
them. IL exciting scene-tbe column of our
cavalry dashir ward the isd, the Rebels re-
treating and tneir General at the post of dApg at
tempting 10 in:pire them with his own courage and
high sense of military honor But bullet coon killed
his heFse and another pierced the breast OF youth
full General Hs died almost Instantly, and his body is
nov in our possession. He was graduate of the Nil
tay Academy at West Point In the class Of 1852 but,
anxious 10 substitute the joys of domestic lite for tbs
vVissitudes OF the service, he resigned his commission
in The Mounted has ths 4th OF March, 1854, sew.
eal years before ths civil broke Cut aud retired
private life. After the rebellion had begun, and the
South had made strong appeal to her chiVslric
TO unshsath the sword In hos defence, controlling
| seose of duty to hs native ate-which is Vr-
i gnia-much more than a desire to wage war with
Il our Government, induced him to take 40 i've
part IN the present contest. He was of su-
per OF education warm domestic and social sffec-
tions, e1quists manners, temperament and tas:ey,
/ and through hs whole career h manifested hg
sense OF honor, moral rectiIuie and Christian oblga
tons. Il is sad bat suggestive contemplation that 80
elegant gentleman and good Christian fell fighting
for cause whose defence he must have entered not
| without resistance Upon the body was found vau
able military map and pocket Testament appearo
to be clearly manifest that he must have had some
strange orebodngs of bis unhappy fate for the fly
II of thia ct he
name Rnd rank, ~. B. Ohamblsi, Brissder General,
P. A. @. s, March, 1864" and, in addition to few
striking passages Of Scripture this prophetic prediction
may be called, and polite request: III am kiid
in this struggle will kind friend deliver this book 10
my dear ui;eS J O. Jf., jane s, 1854" These are
| the passages of Scripture, in his Esnd-wrtns:-
TO teach 10 number our days that we may apply
Il our hearts IN wisdom" "He that loYeth his lie
shall lose it. aud lie hat hsteth his life in this world
shall keep It unto life etenll" 1t my be passing
r, ction 10 his relatives and friends especially his
wife, whom he loved tenderly, to know that his re
mains have fallen into the hands Of those Who ust afer
he had been stricken dCwI recoguz ID in the face OF
the dying General the features OF who had been
their companion long ago; that in obe3e to the
deIs Of Gen. Hancock, while the body carried to
the rear so that it could be recovered as trophy
l of war; It. hiss been buried decently at the "POi-
teries the NeWm rket and Malvern Hill road, near
BIle)'s creek, and mead boa,d placed above tie
eravP with the ard rank of the deceased 30 that
his ing place may be remembered in it should
af Tsr1s be deemed desirable by hs friends to have
his remains removed And this incident illustrates the
fact that bear 10 individual malice against our com
| mon kindred who have biDdy made themselves eue
mics in arms, but that afford to be msguanimous
towards those who attempt to destroy the Union
as we cor6de It in the justice and final triumph OF
our cause.
Auer the death OF the Rebel General Cbamblis, our
forces, uuder Grcgg and Nil pu their rec0nnois.
sance along the Charles Cy road to within nearly half
l.. rfW v~ki f,a
Richmond strong liae OF intrenchments with az.
leTy was ascertaned to be not far beyond aud il was
deemed prudent to attack. TAs Of jec, of the re
coDnoissance had been fulfilled. Conseq ientiy 10 ODE.
dence to ORDERS Ger era Mi es withdrew from that adj
yanced position and, returning by the came route by
which be had marched out in The morning, he took up
position TO project tie right flank of the troops Ehic
w,re in line of battle, under the more immediate com
mend of General Bifney.
DuIiJg the afternoon, however, while Miles was re-
turning 10 his old position, the enemy, who had been
massiDg troops near Whites Tavern, came sweeping
dOWO TIE Charles City road with ciValry aud infantry
and forced General Gregg TO withdraw his cavalry 70
he north tide Of Deep Bottom Run, distance Of near
y two miies from the point 10 which be had advanced
this morning. He holds the came petition that Re
teld before he went out the reconnaissance Among
The loses in Niles brigade, which will pIobAbly be one
hundred and afiy, are several who ciptured by
the enemy in the dense jungle which his troops
we're compelled to pass
COL GRKGs WOUNDED.
Amorg the wounded in the cavalry, which will be
one huocred, IL COL Gregg, Of oh Pcnn commanding
the advance brigade,
MAJ GEN. BIRSIYs MOvIMENr,
In the meantime, while these operations wer tram
spring the right of our lne Gen. Birney was con-
Quoting sl more active operations towards the centre
VII la Barlow and Mott per oIming the functions
assigned them on the left. Having previously placed
most OF bis fore in pc ition he the Central aud
0haIl City roads, tho lett ofhs line resting utar Fus-
ter's milpOni, Gan BrreJ made a very vigorous at
tsck. General R, Fo tsrs brigade, OF Teiry's
Vision, led the advance, supported on the right
flank by O1lone Crais's, and in the centre BY
Colonel Ponds and HsvleI's. These troops adS
vapced in gallant style, and STRIKING the enemys
jrmish line, which was longer than ours, and in
trepcbed Ponl's and HaNeys braadea Wefa denlovfd