Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-06-24
LATEST FROM THE NORTH.

LATEST FROM THE NORTH.
THE CAPTURE OF PETERSBURG OFFICIALLY RTPoRTED.
We are indebted Gays the Express, to the polite ct.
tention OF a friend for copy of the Philadelphia In
qurer, of the 18th inst The Inquirer is adorned with
map Of Petersburg and !S railroad connections, aud
herads forth, in large capitals the capture Of this i'm
poItant city by General Badly Smith. The editors can
hardly restrain their joyous feelings in view of such
grea. event. Richmond is now in rat trap, says the
editor and escape the clutches of Grant save by
miracle and God does not work miracles in behalf Of
Rebels. The following ia the InquirerI heading on this
subject:
Grant-The Great Contest-Baldy Smith attacks Peters
burg-The Rebel FOrtifcationS Carried-Four Thou
sand Pr soners Captured Several Stands of Colors
Taken-Thrteen Cannon fall into our Possession
Splendid Heroism of the Oolored Troops-They Win
the Praise of All-The City now Held by us-R:ch
mond Railroad Destroyed.
The following official despatch from Stanton (which,
in consequence OF the mutilaed condition Of the paper
we are unable to give entre) is there given
Washington, June II, 9 80 A. MO Major Cen
eral Dix, New York The following dispatches have
been received by this Department:
City Point June 10, via jamestown Island, 80 A,
NJ June lS-General Smith, with fifteen thousand men,
attacked Petersburg this morning
General Butler reports from his observatory,
Bermuda Hundred that there has been sharp fighting
and that he troops aud trains Of the enemy we're,
be writes moving from The city the Appomattox
as if retreating.
Hancock is not near enough to render General Smith
| any aid.
The Richmond papers have nothing to indicate
suspicion Of our crossing the James River The Rebels
expect to be attacked from the direction Of Malvern
Hill
City Point Va June Is, 80 p. M-Our latest re-
/ port from Smith Was p. n.
He had carried line of entertainments at Beattys
HOUSE, the colored troops asaulting and carrying the
rife pits With great galantry but he had not yet car
ried the main line.
He describes the Rsbs artillery FIRE as very heavy.
| He expected to assault this line before dark.
| Hancock is within three miles of Smith.
| City Point, Va, June l6, a. m, via jamestown
leland, 1l45 NAT 720 p. m, yesterday Smith as
saulted and carried the principal line of the enemy be-
fore Petersburg, taking thirteen cannon several stands
Of cOlOr5, and between three and four thousand
| prisoners.
This line i. two miles from Petersburg.
Hancock got up and took position on Smith'slefl at
| 5 q. In. on Tuesday.
There was heavy firing in that direction from to 8
| q. m. but no report yet
| Douthart Landing, Va, l p. M, June l6-After
sending my despatch Of this morning from the heights
Southeast of Petersburg, l went the conquered
/ lines with Gen. Grant aud the engineer officers.
Tae works ars OF the very sronges; kind, more diff
fcu to take than Missionary Ridge at Chattanooga
The best fighting was done by the black troops.
From Gen. Sherman, despatch, dated last night ct
p. m, has been received It only states the relative
position of his forees No serious engagement had yet
occurred. EDWIN M STANTON,
| Secretary Of War;
THE VICTORY AT PETERsBURs.
The Inquirer thus expresses itself editoriay on the
capture of Petersburg:
The vgor of General Grants movements in Virginia
is proved by the celebrity of the attack upon and capture
of Petersburg. The 18th corps, under Major General
Badly Smith, began to arrive at City Point, on the
James river in transports, Tuesday afternoon By
hali-past o'clock five thousand of them had landed.
The whole corps must have been ashore at some time
10 the evening. lnsead of resting they moved imme
diately upeR Petersburg, and before daylight upon
"Wednesday ,rnpg Wero in position TO ASSAULT the out
er defences OF that town. Tbs rebels made coed
tillery 6gh but they could not stand the mpeiuosty
of the Union troops The colored regiments which led
the assault acted with distinguished bravery. They
carried the rife pits with firm galAntry. The battle
continue all day. At twenty minutes after O'Clock in
the evening, Gen. Smith made the grand assault upon
the main line of the rebels the colOred troops in the
| advance
The latter did tho hardest fighting and behaved with
such splendid gallanry that they received the special
thanks of the General. or Is guns which .ere cap
tured the black troops took six. They also parcipa
Is guns, several stands Of oolors, aud between
three and four thousand prisoners
After these works taken General Grant and Gen.
utter went over the lines with engineer officers. Gen
Grant OF opinion that the works stronger than
those at Missionary Ridge which taken by assault
at the battle of Chattanooga This is valuable testimony
the courage aud endurance Of soldiers aud gives
the hsppest promise for in future operations
The results of the operations of Tuesday were the
capture OF Petersburg aud the of the remnant
of The Rebel force to the opposite side of the Annoa
tox where they seemed to be preparing for further re-
drawa of the Rebel troops which Werein front of But
ler at Bermuda Hundred, and the abandonm of the
railroad leading Petersburg, which they have guarded
50 long, Butler took advantage Of this retreat to tear
up the railroad and totally destroy it. BE Is now upon
the flank OF the Rebels if they remain in line upon the
AppOmatoz and the latter are thereby placed in great
danger.
TEE INQUIRE on GEN. GRAEF-HIs EAPoLrozIC QUAIL
The Inquirer is brim full Of admiration for General
Grant, and knows no praise too high to be rendered
him:
To get full appreciation of the rapid character of
the work which Gen. Grant has lately performed the
reader should trace back the course of events during
the proceeding three days. On Sunday evening Gen.
Grant and the army were on the Ohckahominy, with
Lees army in their 'front.' protected by that river and
with five successive lines of defepces to fall back upon
between It and Richmond. The defenses mentioned