American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-08-03
Latest from the Army.

!
Bedford Springs, where Governor Curtin
now is.
NEW YORK, July ga special to
the Post, dated Washington, July 29th,
saws: Advices from the Army of the
Potomac show that Grant has secured an
important strategic position above Bermu-
| da Hundred, as the result of Wednesdays
engagement, 1t gives him the command
of good base of supplies only ten miles
| from Richmond.
WAsHsNGToN, July pa letter from
the army of the Potomac, of the 2Sth,
saws: The arrival of some troops in the
vicinity of Bermuda Hundred day or
two ago, attracted the attention of the en-
envy, and caused them to believe that an
advance on Richmond byway of Malvern
Hill was intended A force, consisting
of Kershaw's division, of Iongstreet's
corps, and Wilcox division, ofHill's corps,
was Immediately withdrawn from the vi
cinity of Petersburg, and sent down to
check their advancement.
To counteract this vancouver Of the
enemy the second corps was detached and
sent across the James River; and at $50
yesterday morning our advance met the
rebel skirmishers in an open field oppo-
site Jones Neck with a battery in posi-
tior at the edge Of the woods.
On the further side Of the woods long
line of skirmishers was at once thrown
out, who soon drove the rebels to their
! Ebreastworks, where they were kept hotly
engaged, while brigade of the 1st divis-
ion moved around on the left of the ene-
my's line, and getting on to their flank
charged and drove them from their guns
into the woods, capturing so or go pris-
oners, four guns and quantity Of small
| arms.
The enemy fell back on their reinforce
ments, which occupied strong works built
there two years ago, and our troops follow
ed, taking positions on their front and
flank, and before this reaches you the en-
tire force may be captured or routed.
The guns taken we're four "a pound
ers, Parrotts, marked May 29th, 1864,
near Richmond, and are the same that
were captured from the 18th corps at Du-
wallis Bluff last May.
Oar loss is only about 6 wounded, none
seriously.
General Grant rode to the front this af-
ternoon in company with Gen. Hancock
and viewed the enemy's position. He
seemed well pleased with the mornings
operations
Gen Fosters command had quite a
lively time with the enemy yesterday at
this place, but his force being weak he fell
back half mile to a stronger position,
which he'held until the arrival of the I'd
corps. He lost forty or fifty wounded
during the day.
WASHINGTON, July 3l-Evening.
No news later than o'clock yesterday
morning has been received from Peters
burg Word came here that the widest
reports and rumors prevailed in the North
and West to-day. Those who jump at
once to the conclusion that Petersburg is
destroyed and Gen. Lees army oycrthrown
are likely, it may be said, to be downcast
on receipt OF the next news from the
scene of active conflict, while those who
remember that the rebels are stalking
everything on the result Of the contest,
aud who are content with what General
Grant meant when he said from Spott-
sylvania the advantage is on our side"
will, it is believed, have further cause for
admiration of the brave soldiers who leads
and the brave soldiers who fight and en-
dure.
BALTIMORE, fuly 31-We have the
glorious news from Grants army, by the
Old Point boat, that the siege of Peters
burg has had an auspicious commence
meut. The news received this morning
is as follows:
The siege of Petersburg opened in car
nest this morning, and at daylight we
blew up one of the principal rebel batter
les, consisting of ii guns, and had three
tiers of earthworks before the mail steam
er left City Point this morning.
BALTIMORE, July 81 All doubt as to
the good news from Grants army seems
seems to be removed. A later dispatch,
just received, says the assault commenced
at four O'Clock on Saturday morning by
terrible explosion, which completely de-
stroyed one of the enemy's principal forts
IN front Of Petersburg, containing sixteen
guBs. This was rendered a mass of ru-
ius. Upon this our rartillery opened with
one simultaneous and continuous roar
along our whole line. Up to the leaving
of the mail boat at ten o'clock, we had
captured two other earthworks, and also
the entire outer line of the rSel entrench-
ments The battle continues to progress
with the greatest fury.
HEADQUARTERS AsN- OF r,IE PoroM1c1
July 3d. $40 IN.
The great event so long anticipated,
namely the explosion of the mine under
the rebel fort in front of the 9th Army
Corps, came off this morning at 40 min
utes past o'clock. Picket firing was
kept up all night, and in fact all the time,
the match was applied to the mine, the
skirmishers were still engaged on both
sides The volume of dirt was immense,
and thrown up three hundred feet in the
air. The 9th Corps at once charged the
works, driving the rebels to their second
line of entrenchments, and taking num-
Der of prisoners, some of whom were dug
out of the dirt badly bruised These reb-
ell prisoners state that only about dozen
.arnoin of 4hair South faro