Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-05-28
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
Late Operations Of Interest.

Late operations OIL Interest.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
my last dispatch was written a considerable
force OF the enem y was disputing our passage
OF the N orth Anna. Gen. Laws division of
Longstreet's corps was posted in strong earth.
works between Long Greek and the river, and
they seemed disposed to hold Taylor's bridge
at all hazards; and they poured storm OF shot
and shell from their batteries when Gen. Bir
ney. with his division, advanced. Colonels
Pierce and Egan, with their brigades-the 1st
and 2d-made an assault on the enemy's works
at six o'clock on the afternoon Of the 22d inst.
The rifiemen of the enemy poured deadly
fire INTO their ranks, and they charged on the
batteries on the high ground little to the left
Of the bridge, Secuted the open space in every
direction, tearing up the earthWorks with their
whizzing missiles. The redoubt was carried
at the point o + the bayonet and considerable
number OF the rebels killed in the entrench-
ments, and ITO of them captured.
The assault, which was made under the i'm.
mediate direction of General Birney, is con.
sidered very brilliant affair. and General
Hancock wrote him very congratulatory let
ter, expressing his thanks and admiration for
the mastery manner in which he handled his
command; for, in spite Of the terrific fire con-
centrated against him, he maneuyered his
troops with such consummate skill that his
losses are very small. The Sd and 5th Michigan.
S9th and 124th New York, the 99th Pennsyl.
vania, and the 18th Maine, suffered more Sc
verely in the assault than any other regiments
in the division. They stood bravely to the
work, tired and weary as they were with
long march on an exceedingly sultry day, facing
the storm OF bullets hurled against them with
unfiinching bravery.
The rebels, when driven from their redoubt
and rifle pits, retreated across the river. many
of them swimming, the bridge being too much
crowded to admit Of their crossing with as
much celebrity as they desired. The assault on
Taylor's bridge, spanning the North Anna, was
made without loss OF time by the 4th Maine.
The bridge was carried after a short skirmish,
and the rebels driven from their tete du points
on the opposite bank. The 4th Maine held the
Awya
from the Excelsior brigade, which was relieved
in turn by the Goth Indiana and portion Of the
10th New York.
At eleven O'Clock in the evening the enemy
to retake tho bridge from us; but after aspirited
skirmish OF about twenty minutes duration, he
was driven back.
At midnight he made another attack, with q
much larger force, and drove our men from
the bridge and held it for some time, and made
several attempts to burn it. The 9TH New
coming up, the rebels were forced to retire; the
fires they had kindled were extinguished, and
we occupied the bridge without further trou-
BILE until morning.
At seven O'Clock g. m, on the morning OF the
24th, General Birney crossed the North Anna
at the bridge with his division, followed BY
General Gibbon and his division. and soon
after by the balance Of the corps.
The cd corps is now In line OF battle about
quarter of q mile from the river In tolerably
good position. One part OF General Hancock's
line Is Wlt0l0 IO0I ydIuS Va LILO IcOcl
entrenchments, and the ridemen on the other
side are carrying out the Irishman's motto
when at wake, "If you see head hit it."
Skirmishing was kept up all day yesterday,
but no real engagement took place.
The 5th, 9th and 9th corps are across the
North Anna also. They crossed near Jericho
Mills, mile or TWO to the right Of Taylor's
bridge.
considerable skirmishing took place along
our whole line yesterday, In which portions OF
all the different corps particip ated.
JERICHO, Va, May 2S-Noon.-In my full
dispatches Of seven o'clock this morning, mar.
rating the events Of the march from Sp0ttsyl.
vania to this place, and the engagements and
stratesic movements that enabled us to force
the crossings of the North Anna, 1t was stated
that the enemy had probably withdrawn across
the South Anna. The advance Of the 5th and
9th corps had found him in considerable force.
Whether it Is the entire army Of Lee, or only q
corps left to retard our advance, and gain time
for the passage Of the main army and its trains,
has not yet been learned.
Constant skirmishing has been carried on
during the forenoon, accompanied with can.
nonading at irregular intervals. :. 49,
The obstinacy Of the struggle in hancocKs
front late last evening argues tne feooI lorco
weak enc. But few troops were discovered,
but these maintained their poeitlon rec cKieesiy.1
-Our entire army was across the Noftn Anna
1t DAYLIGHT, and maneuvering 70 gain posi-.
ton and uncover the enemy, which has occu-
reierste NY drst belief, that no teuporari-