The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-05-17
HrApQuARrnRs, TxrH ARMY CoBrs, |


AsoyE CHESTER JcScIIos, Va. May ID, 1864.
The operations the left Of our line yesterday were OF
a brilliant and highly successful character. Gen. Gill
more with the greater portion Of Gen. Terrys division
OF Tenth army corps moved from the position he had
held the Richmond pike and marched to Chester juno
ton where he reached the railroad and advanced up 10
wards Richmond, while Gen. Smith, with the Eighteenth
and division OF the Tenth army corps, moved up the
pike IN the direction, towards Drury Bluff While
Gen. Smith was making heavy demonstration the
centre Of The enemys line Gen. Gilmore pushed forward
with the real operating column, and, without meeting
any resistance reached Chesterfield Court House. the
enemys right Still continuing his progress but dvers
.ng 10 his right, he came across formidable
earthwork stretching from the Of the railroad
70 the river strongly constructed well supplied With
ombrasnres for artillery. Tho heavy force displayed by
General Smith the pike and The massiog Of troops as
advance together with artillery drins at that
point, betooled the enemy. and induced them
ira,e position opposite him, that General Gill
column did hnd very heavy force before him.
Afer careful reconnaissance by General Gilmore and
Major Brooks OF his stan and from info nation received
from contraband who had worked on the ntreDchmen,s
and familiar with the topography q the counry, II
was determined 10 flank the work the right. The
Twenty fourth Massachusetts and the Tenth Connecticut
OF Colonel Paisted brigade thrown forward Skin
misbers and number OF sharpshooters IaDsdon Is
Il
enemy and divert bis attention from the real point OF at
i tack Then col Hlwey's brigade marched through
the woods ard 70 the surprise OF the enemy, entered
the right tank 81 the ID its The enemy made
sharp resistance and finally piled the superior
slope Of the psrapet aud fought from the outside our
troops the excitement Of the moment bongbt the Ia
trenchment closed work, and advanced cautiously.
| Meanwhile Col Whites brigade, Of Amcs' division,
advanced under fire and occupied the line the enemy
/ neeng 10 the rear. BY this brilliant maueuvre, We
gained before morning the line Of the enemy
works the enemy evacuated his left during the night
and fell back to the second lire Of intrencbmeu,s. NJ
| guns we're found in the works all had been withdrawn
when il became evident that troops had turned ID,
position.
| GILMORE TEMPORARILY
General Ginores little force bivouackod for the nigh
on hl behind the works, which they fortined an'
awaited dayligb, and scge from the rebels, Communi
cation with the and With right had been
by body o. rebel cavalry which had been thrown on
rear o., q supplies and out Of ammunition brav
soldiers bvouscked without OF revers and perfect
~ confident that al would be well on the morrow,
that they bad accomplished grand result There
little picket firing during The night but no serious demon
straion made position
ooxnuSchrioS AGAIN orESxp
At daylight communication was opened nv Turner,
division aud some Of General smiths force, aud supple
snd ANN nitior reached the isolated I'd from tb
right, and preparations we're made for early move
TO DAYS OPERATIONS
PRISONERS ana dctertcfs bad ceen Drought With
our lines the fact that beyond the frs
line second one, equally as strong as the 6rs bu
not 30 long and extensive. Its right extended Ia
railroad aud its eft reached TO the river. Against hi
our forces put In motion on the entire line,
| they soon encountered the enemy. Again the Twenty
fourth Massachusetts, Colonel Osborn, ana IL
, Tenth Connecticut, Colonel OTIS, were osployo
as skirmishers, ard engaged the enemy's line III
enemy driven back with the aid of artillery, an
heavy diminishing continued the greater part Of n
| day, with considerable loes on both sides.
THy SECOND LINE o. DssTscts
/ finally approached after a hard days vcrR, an
line put 10 position for an advance upon II
works The enemy bad fallen back into their ntTencf
ments and prepared for vigorous resistance 70 81 a
| sauit.
The second line wac very strong, with pararet ne
lees feet 10 thickness, with innurDerabe en-
brasures for light or heavy artillery, many Of whic
| we're hIled with guns deep ditch frone
| the line and everything about II seemed TO ind
| cate great strength After careful recounossaoc'
under hot nre. IN which MAJOR u. Brooks, ABIDE
Camp 10 General Gilmore, received flesh wound IN IN
arm, the artillery brought sp, and opened ~
% the rebels. Our skrmisbers and sharpshootcf
aso advanced and from open hed extending al eas
seven hundred yards 10 the woods front OF the works
maintained hot and effective FIRE. The enemy rcplie
brssiy from their srlsrv and ANAL arms. and sho u