The Portland daily press., 1864-05-16
FROM BUFFERS COMMAND.


| Gen. Bmtler's Morenents-The Rebels Drire,,
aud Fort Darling Inresf@f-Meda3ght At
tack F.derat BafferU-Lepntse Of the
| Enemy-S0ufhera Items.
BERMUDA HUNDREDS, May Is, 0 A. NJ.
At an early hour this morning ten. Butler
renewed his advance towards Fort Darling
He reached Kingsand Creek at noon. and
formed in line of battle on the south west side
of the creek, with the right on James river
The monitors and gunboats are seen at the
mouth OF the creek, within three miles OF
Drury's Bluff.
3P. M.-Gen. Batter is experimenting the
concentration of his army. Yesterday after
noon his advanced force captured rebel eou-
rier, with dispatch from Beauregardat Dru-
RVS Bluff. The dispatch said" Hold your
position until reinforce YOU
4P. Mn two hours the rebel reinforce
ments came. Gen. Bntler has sent force to
turn the pike and drive the rebels back Our
loss was small. Gen. Ames is in position TO
keep Beauregard at Petersburg. The rebels
at Drury's Bluff are evidently not disposed to
fight without reinforcements.
y. MA rebel prisoner captured last
evening says Gen. Lee admits loss OF $4,000
men.
New York, May IA.
A letter from Bermuda Hundreds, May 10Th,
says the enemy did not permit us to pass last
night in peace. When darkness closed ia af-
ter the fearful and gallant fighting of the az
ternoon, the rebels found themselves driven
across Swift Creek, and an Immediate pursuit
was enectually cut OF by the burning of the
bridges as they retreated. After the enemy
had taken position on the other side Of the
creek and were forming their line of battle,
Hunts battery ID, 4th u. S. Artillery, opened
a rapid fire from position chosen by General
Smith, whence fulf view OF the rebels could
h. L4 atn AZ Ia
destructive.
About midnight the rebels attempted to re-
taliate and capture the guns. Silently cross
ing the river IN boat, they cautiously climbed
the banks, aud forming in line about one hun
dred yards in front OF the guns they sudden
ly dashed forward with terrible yell, dis
charging full volley OF musketry. The
sleeping artillerists were aroused by the noise
and in an instant were ready for the assault,
being supported by a heavy line of infantry.
The assaiIants were repulsed with heavy loss,
being bayoneted and pushed down the steep
bank Of the stream. At other points Of the
line there was also skirmishing.
FORTRESS MONROE, May IL.
The latest accounts rom Gen. Butler state
that there was no fighting on the Ilth and
18th. All is quiet and has been since the reb-
els fell back. During the llth the rebels kept
out of sight, and did not show themselves in
any force through the day.
Yesterday rebel battery stationed on the
James River opened fire on some of our gun
boats near Turkey Island. The gunboats
commenced shelling the enemy, and he retired
evidently in great haste.
Tie cavalry force of Gen. Kautz arrived
back on the 18th, with 400 prisoners. They
reported having destroyed several miles of the
track on the Norfolk & Petersburg and We'll
don Railroads. They also destroyed all the
railroad bridges over Nowanty and Strong
Creeks and the NottawayR liver.
1t is reported that Gen. Sheridan has made
detour in the rear OF Less army and Joined
Gen. Butler.
We expect to hear of lighting from General
Buffers army by the next dispatch boat. The
troops were under arms TO move early yester-
day morning
WILMINGTON. n. c., May o.
The iron-clad Albemarle engaged niue Fed
eral gunboats, sinking one of them.
The Yankee raiders have burned the bridge
on New River, on the Virginia & Tennessee
Railroad, aud destroyed the Dublin depot with
all the supplies, Sc. The Central Railroad is
destroyed.
Gen. jenkins, of S. C., is killed. 1t also
gives the names of eighty-flve captains and
lieutenants killed and wounded
Bushrod johnson has a command in Peters
burg.