Nebraska advertiser., 1864-03-17

HlltCg 0ah 4ONAE -"
MARYLAND rebel battalion Of infantry,
who had two pieces Of artillery. This
command was absent some time on i'm
porlant service, and did not rejoin the
main column until the following day in
front of Richmond. Not returning al
the time expected. a detachment under
Captain Hall Of the New York Second
was sent out on a mission and 10 find cut
the whereabouls of Major Halls party.
Hall ran across q superior force and had
a brisk skirmish. in which be lost five
men aud was forced 70 retire. Another
party under Captain Plumb and Lieuten-
ant Lord was also sent off and returned
in safety. The main command, just at
night crossed the South Anna River
Here the advance had q skirmish with
an infantry picker ne IT Taylorsville, and
dispersed them. The men crossed, a
brief halt was made TO feed, when the
column at daylight ''moved on to Rich
mond,1' before which, and within the
second line of delences, a position was
taken at ten and half O'Clock the same
morning. On the way Kirby station on
the Fredericksburg road was. destroyed,
and Lieutenant Whitaker, of General,
Kilpatrick's staff, blew up a stone bridge
near Kirby Station, and the track and
culverts were destroyed all along in that
vicinity. Lieutenant Boyce, of the 9Th
New York cavalry, with twelve men, cut
the track and destroyed the telegraph at
Guinea Station.
Tuesday. at half past ten o'clock found
the command passing the outer earth
works on the Brook turnpike within three
miles of Richmond. The arrival Of the
Yankee troops was entirely unexpected.
The advance captured several men upon
picket duty belonging to the citizen sol
diery of Richmond, without firing a shot.
and while waiting for the main column to
corBe up citizens were stopped and ask
ed questions with the utmost freedom.
Moving forward to within the second
line Of defences going towards Rich
mond, the skirmisherS encountered the
first shots .from near the third line, or
what is known as The Battery No g.
Guns were opened On both sides, and a
strong line of skirmishers was thrown
out. Captain Bacon. and others, Charg
ed the Jonneys, and drove them within
their works. and a desulIOry firing was
continued until between four and five in
the evening, when for some reason then
unknown, the command Of Colonel Dahl
green not appearing, Gen. Fitzpatrick
decided TO fall back. The enemy had
burned the bridge across Brook Greek
in rear of the command, and the column
turned off upon the Meadows road, eros
in lhe railroad and destroying everything
within their reach. At night the COM
mand went into camp at a place six
miles from Richmond and two miles
from The Chicahominy bridge. There
was a slight fall of rain and sleet, and
the men built fires, cooked their chick
ems and bacon aud turned in to sleep a
few hours. AT about half pasrten, just
as the command vas fairly asleep the
rebels opened a two gun battery upon
the camp Of Gen Davis and immediate
ly after charged the camp of the 9TH
Michigan. The men although taken
entirely BY surprise, seized their caf-
bines, and under Col Litch6eld, supper
led by the lst Vermont, Colonel Preston
handsomely repulsed the enemy.
After forcing the enemy back, the
commanding general decided to move
his command again, so as to be ready
for any emergency at daylight. In the
morning the enemy did not seem dispos-
ed to follow the rear guard, and the sol
diers moved forward without Interrupt
ton toward the Pamunky river. The enc
emv had burned all the the boats III the
river, so that to cross, was entirely i'm
practicable. The Commanding General
therefore decided to move across to the
White House railroad, and down the
Peninsula. During the day Capt. Nit
chell, of the Second New York, with
the bulk of Col. Dahlgreen's command,
reioined the main column, and great was
the rejoicing thereat, for nothing had
been heard of it since the previous Sun
day night. The enemy Tuesday night
and all day Wednesday and Wednesday
night lowered around the command, and
picket skirmishing was almost constant
ly going on ia different directions. On
Wednesday morning at about nine o'clock
a large force of cavalry came upon US.
The General was not u%nprepared for this
and decided to give them battle. The
1st Vermont under Lieut. Colonel Pres
ton, ably assisted by Captains Grant and
Cummings, and the LIST Maine, bore the
brunt Of this fight, which lasted some.
thing over an hour, while the 5th Mich
igan and other regiments under Gener-
al Davis. were in position to render all
the assistance that might be necessary.
Only one charge was made, and that was
By Company A first Maine. led on by
Captain Estes, and Capt. Cole, when S
of the enemy were captured. The enc
my, satisfied DO doubt that they could not
scare the command away. sullenly retir-
ed: but when the command moved for
ward, harrassed the rear and tanks
Several times an offer was T ade, but
they refused to accept the offer Of battle
On this day several refugees from Rich
mond zane into camp. Wednesday, also
Lieut. Whitaker was sent to destroy Tuu-
stalls Station. on the While House rail-
road, but upon arFining there, much to
bis astonishmenl be found the place In
| flames From narroos IN the vicin;tv Ia