Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-08-27


Rebel Prisoners Taken-Tbe Enemy Re-
treat, Leaving their Dead and w ounded
on the Field-We Still Hold the eldon
Railroad.
WAR DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON, August 27-10A.M.
Major Gen. Dir, Neao York ID
On Thursday, the 25th, Gen. Hancock, who
was south of Reams' Station, was attacked
several times during the day, but he repulsed
the enemy in every assault. At half past five
p. m. combined attack was made on his cen.
ter and lett, which, after one oI the most des.
perate battles Of the war, resulted in the en-
envy Withdrawing from the field, leaving their
dead and wounded on the ground. The de-
tails are given In the following brief ofdcial
reports OF Gen. Grant, Gen. Meade and Gen.
Hancock:
CITY POINT, VA, Noon, August 26, 1861
Following Just received:
.sSKcorp ARMY CORPS, August 26.-For Gen.
eyal Humphreys: The attack about $50 p. m.
was probably intended to be simultaneous, by
Wilcox on my center and Heth on my left.
Enemy formed in the woods, placed their artil-
,lery in position, and opened a heavy cannon
ade, lasting about fifteen minutes; then as
saulted Miles force. He resisted tenaciously,
but enemy broke his line. Some of Gibbons
roops were hurried over to repair the damage,
soon attempted on my extreme left, driving
Gibbons division from his line. His men had
been much wearied, rushing over to General
Miles and back during the repeated assaults.
ssGen. Gibbons succeeded in forming a strong
line, and the enemy, who were pressing on
with great enthusiasm, were severely checked
by the dismounted cavalry under Gen. Gregg,
which he handled handsomely. Miles re-
gained most of his entertainments, and distin-
guished himself. All he had to work with
were such small parties as could be rallied and
formed by staff officers. The fighting was con-
tinuous TILL dark, the enemy being held in
check by artillery, dismounted cavalry, and
skirmishers.
cat dark we withdrew for reasons stated.
The chief Of artillery reports that he lost about
two hundred and fifty horses.
"The enemy made an advance, up to late
hour last night, holding, as far as could be
seen, some Of our captured guns with their
skirmish lines.
"They must have suffered heavily. My own
less, including cavalry, will perhaps not ex-
coed twelve or fifteen hundred, though this is
surmise, as the command is not yet organized
"Capt. Brownson, of my staff, was MORALLY
wounded, dying during the night. Col. Walk
er, A. A. g., is missing.
"This is acknowledged to have been one OF
the most determined and desperate fights of the
war, resembling Spotsylvania in its character,
though the number engaged gives less impor-
lance. A few more good troops would have
given us victory OF considerable Importance.
81 forward this forenoon, prisoners from
"Major Angel, of my staff, saw and con.
versed with two prisoners OF Maho mes diyis-
ion last night. do not find them this morn.
ing. They said Mahone's division, with the
exception Of one brigade, was there.
"W. A. HANCOCK, Major General"
GU. S. GRANT, Lieutenant Gen eral."
CITY POINT, VA, 1 p. m, Aug. 26.-F ollow-
ing Just received:
"SKcoND CORPS, 1890 p. m, August ga
safe. guard that was left on the battlefield re-
manned there till after daylight this a. m. At
that time the enemy had all disappeared, leav-
ing their dead on the field unburied. This
shows how severely they were punished, and,
doubtless hearing Of the arrival of reinforce.
ments, they feared the result o-day if they re-
manned. G.. G.. MEADE, Major Gen."
CITY POINT, VA, August 26, 9. p. m.-Fol-
lowing just received: -... $3.50.
"SRCoND ARMY CORPS, L p. MO Lieut.
General Grant.-Since sending my last des.
patch have conversed wit b the safeguard
referred to- He did not leave the field till after
sunrise. At that time nearly all the enemy had
HONiue tOWdIuS CICIsUuIS. nc says
they abandoned not only their dead, but their
wounded also. He conversed with an officer,
who said their losses were greater than ever
before during the war. F.
s'The safeguard says he was over the field,
and it was covered with the enemys dead and
wounded. He has seen great manv battle
fields, but never saw such sight. Very few
Of our dead-nearly all of the enemy. All our
wounded are brought off, but our dead un-
buried. have also instructed Gregg to make
an effort to send party to the field and bury
our dead. G. g. MEADE, Major GenI."
"U. S. GRANT, Lieut.. Genr.''
Our forces hold the Weldon road, and, in a
dispatch dated at p. m. yesterday. General
Grant says that their loss of this road seems to
be g blo,e to the enemy he cannot stand I think
do not overstate the loss of the enemy in the
last two weeks at ten thousand killed and
wounded. We have lost heavily, but ours has
been mostly in captured when the enemy
gained temporary advantages" The number
of rebel prisoners taken on our side has not yet
been reported. 81 ga..Z Gil" ElEcf
Gen. Grant also makes the following report
Of an unsuccessful attack by the enemy ON
Gen. Buffers picket line Thursday:
yesterday (Thursday) morning the enemy
drove in Buffers picket line. The picket guard
soon rallied, however, drove the enemy back,
and established their line ssEsIIaP
"The result was one killed, sixteen wound.
ed, and fourteen missing on our side. Two
commanding officers and fifty mine enlisted
men were captured from tie enemy.
wWhat their casualties were in killed and
wounded we do not know A.
EDWIN NJ. STANTON, Secretary of War.
FIGHTING ON THURSDAY ON THE WELDON
We learn, unoficially, that at the time OF the
| attack on Hancock he was engaged in extend
| ing the work OF destruction on the Weldon
| nsii-oad and his man being scattered In de.