Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1864-08-26


rapidly fortifying AN effort we learn, was made
to turn their flank and disIodge them, which did
not prove successful The outer works were car
fied but the inner were found to be Of such great
strength, and heavily armed with artillery as to
render their capture q matter of doubt without
great loss Of life. Some advantages were gaines,
we learn, at considerable cost in killed wounded
and missing which were subsequently, yielded
The loss at this poins will probably reach several
hundred. t-'-=.e' 49,. 4. .
The brave Geu John c. C. Saunders, of ofAlabama,
was killed here while leading his men in charge.
He was one of the most promising officers of the ar
my, and has been conspicuous for his gallantry on
mahy fields
The position of the enemy, as nearly as we are
able to judge, is about this Their centre rests up
on the Weldon railroad about three miles from the
city, their right extending across the wooded conn.,
try to the Jerusalem Plank Road on the east, and
their left to the Vaughan Road on the west Along
this whole line they have strongly fortified them
selves and works Of great strength have sprung up
like magic In their rear, on the line Of the rail-.
road and on both sides, they have thrown up heavy
works to provide against flank movements. At the
Yellow Tavern, and the .Gurley House, heavy bat
teries of guns planted. At every point open to
attack, they are strongly fortified
Warrens corps, which first occupied the railroad,
have been heavily reinforced within the last two
nights. Hancocks (secondD and BGrnside's (ulnth)
corps have reached the road and now confront our
troops. numbering in the aggregate full thirty thou
sand men.
The Yankees have been busy in destroying the
railroad and reports say that the track is torn up
to and beyond Ream's Station-a distance of ten
miles from the city Parties from the rear, who
arrived in town yesterday, state that the Yankee
cavalry under the notorious Speer, were engaged
in destroying the track one mile beyond Ream's
yesterday morning. -
We learn that in addition to the strong character
of the fortihcations on the enemys left which
assaulted by our 1ankipg column, one of the main
causes of the repulse was the giving way at a very
critical moment of one of our brgades which caused
considerable confusion and gave the enemy great
advantage Our troops were compelled to retire
after capturing line of the enemy's skirmishers
and reaching their strongest works. Col. Lamar,
of Florida, was mortaly wounded
Demonstration the Left.
About II o'clock yesterday morning the enemy
made strong demonstration on our lett, on the
City Point road with view to ascertain the strength
of our forces at that point The fring of artillery
and musketry was very rapid for half an hour. At
the same time heavy shellipg was opened by the
enemy all along the lines in Prince George, but
nothing was accomplished.
Sabbath Sounds.
There was strange commingIing of sounds in
our City on yesterday. The music of the Church
bells at 10 O'clock was nearly drowned by the
verberations of the heavy artillery and field batteries
Thus three sides Of Petersburg north, east and
south, the deep-tnned cannon laundering,
when in striking contrast with these fierce warlike
demonstrations were the solemn scenes being en-
acted in the churches. The melodous organs, the
hymns of praise the prayers for the safety Of our
defenders and the preached word were at times rem
dered almost insudible by the Of cannon, the
fire Of musketry, anu the rambling of the ordnance
wagons and ambuiances without But nevertheless
both exercises proceeded. The clash of contending
arms and the groans of the wounded and dying,
were removed scarcely mile and half from the
peals of the organ and the iptons Of praise
These were strange sounds and such IS few Of our
| people had heard before.
| Prisoners.
| Many blue-coats were brought into the city some
| in squads, some in regiments. But the people arc
growing familiar with the sight of Yankee prisoners
and feel but little interest in the matter, the
thrill of that pride which cheers the heart Of the
| patriot
| From the Dispatch of Monday
Below Richmond.
| Nothing Of Importance has occurred on The north
side Of James River, below Richmond, since the
| reconnaissance on Thursday. The two corps sent
over by Grant it is ascertained, have recrossed to
the South Side, leaving only the division command
| ed by Foster, which has been at Deep Bottom for
some time past The firing heard on Friday even
! ing was the enemy's gunboats Smelling HowIett's
field position in which they supposed the rebels
had erected battery. 1t was without effect, save
an useless expenditure of Yankee ammunition.
Northern papers OF the 18th assert that the ob-
| ject Of the movement on the North side of the
James was to destroy the rebel pontoon bridges
above Fort Darling, called Drewry's Bluff; while
papers of the 18th are quite as positive that it
only a reconnaissance to ascertain the strength of
the OOnfederates in that quarter We d. not be-
leve either of these stories 1t much more likely
that it was feint to draw Gen. Lees troops from
the front of Petersburg Blu: whatever it was, it
proved a miserable failure and adds one more to the
| Isl Nhrl pfcp Inyar
the letl in this campaign.
| One day last week, the Yankee picketS in the
neighbOrhoOd of Dutch Gap opened fire upon our
picket line when two Of our gunboats being in the
vicinity concluded to take hand. OIL. Consequently,
they commenced throwing shell promiscuously in
the direction of the Yankees. One Of the missiles
struck the enemy's pontoon bridge near Dutch Gap
and set it fire, burning several Of the boats of
which it is composed. This Confederate salute
seemed to cause considerable CONSERVATION among
| the Yankees.
The enemy is still engaged in digging the canal
across the neck of land known as Dutch Gap. To
those who acquainted with it's topography, this
| will appear q work of small magnitude but
unless some plan can be devised to put stop to
their operations, it will be accomplished
e.. From the Valley.
At length we have some definite information from
General BarIys command, in the Valley of Virginia
An official dispateh, received at the War Depart
ment, states that portion Of our forces in the
Valley crossed the Shenandoah, at Front Royal on
the 18th, and drove the enemy's cavalry, which
retreated towards Winchester burning the hay and
wheat stacks in their route. OG the l7th Sheridan
began to retire from his position was pursued, aud
two divisions Of the Sixth corps, with large force
of cavalry, were oyertaken at Winchester and
driven through the town, losing over two hundred
prisoners. The enemy fell back towards Harper's
Ferry.
1t is stated (not officially thai Sherdan's entire
fotee in the Valley amounts to 41,0O0 men. His
retirement from our front to Harpers Ferry may
| he rerardad o nzndsntial nne on his