The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1864-06-24

burg-The Enemy Still i'm the
TOWn..General Birney's Sue
cess..Result of Thursday's
Battle..The Battle Renewed
on Friday.-TheR Railroad still
Held by Lee..The Next Move
ment .-Fighting and Flanktng
From the News Correspondent IL Il.
49, ARMY OF THE PoToMAc, .5,
June 18, 1864 20 A. NJ. 4
As stated in my letter of the 10TH. Gen
eral Hancock's Corps arrived in front OF Pc.
tersburg early on Thursday morning, and
went into position on the left Of the Eighs
teenth. The latter was then iu possession
Of commanding line OF earthworks, capS
tured from the enemy the night before.-.
These two corps, forming the advance of
the army, were then within ten miles OF
Petersburg, and from the line they occupied
the church spires and some houses in the
town were plainly visible. Smiths right
rested near the Appomattox river, and his
left was close up to Hancock's right. The
movement executed by Smith on Wednes-
day afternoon secured strong and adyan.
tageous position, and owed its success to
the rapidly with which the Eighteenth
Corps has moved from Point OF Rocks.
Shortly after the Second Corps went into
position, lively artillery FIRE was opened
on the enemy. The shots were vigorously
returned and the cannonsding continued
throughout the morning. The greater part
of this desultory action took place in front
of Gen Birney's division, and its only re
suit was a large number of casualties in his
ranks. Col. Eapan and It. Col. Warner, Of
the Mozart regiment, were both severely
| wounded. .....
The Ninth Corps followed in the wake
of the Second, and reached the front on
Thursday afternoon. 1t went into line on
Hancock's left, its right joining Barlow's lst
division of the Second Corps, which then
formed the left center. Smith now formed
the right, Hancock the center, and Burn
side the left of the limo.
Notwithstanding the extravagant rumors
circulated along the line on Thursday morn
ing, the enemy still held the town of Pc
tersburg, and strong position on the nights
above. They also had very streng line
of works on the Appomatox, opposite the
toAn, and the guns in the latter works
could concentrate SO destructive fire on
the town, that it is doubtful if we could
hold it, even were the enemy forced to aban.
don it. Their strongest and most trouble-
some works on the North side Of Peters
burg, were in front o our center, and it
was against these works that Hancock's fire
was directed during the day. ... u
Shortly after Burnside took position on
the Hancock's left, the Second Corps was
ordered to charge the works in front. Ate
P. NJ. the action commenced, Barlow and
Birney leading. In addition to his own
Third division, Birney also had two brig
AIDES OF Gibbons division, Second Corps,and
two brigades of Brooks division of the
Eighteenth Corps. When the advanced
commenced, Smith opened from his batter
les on the right, and also moved out to
make diversion in favor of Hancock. The
enemy must have been strongly re enforced
for they were fully prepared for the move
ment, and received Hancock's advancing
line with storm of shot and musketry---I
The fire was so severe as to produce some
disorder in Hancock's line, but this vas
quickly remedied, and the two divisions
moved close to the works they were about
to take. The fight was as obstinate as any
that has taken place during the campaign,
and full price was exacted for every foot
of ground taken. The works were charged
by Barlow's division, but they were not t.
ken; and our forces had to retire, as at Coal
Harbor, and throw up intrenchments about
hundred yards in front of the enemy's |
line. Birney was more successful, having |
gained about a half mile, but the ground |
taken by him was not so strongly intrench. |
ed as that in front of Barlow. 49,
Three brigades of Barlow's division sue
ceeded in driving the enemy from one line
OF rifle pits, and these afterward held. The |
action was over before dark and Hancock |
had succeeded in advancing his line close
to the enemy, and obtaining better posi-.
ton than ne held in the morning, although
he had not taken the works or inflicted any
severe loss on the enemy, who was well
protected by bresstwnrks. His loss was
severe, probably amounting to fifteen hun.
dred in killed and wounded. The troons
remained close to each other during Thurs.
day night, and kept up desultory Gre oil
musketty. At three o'clock on Fridav
morning portion Of our line vas again in !
motion.
Potter's division of Burnside's corps.
BY Barlow's division of the Sec,
ond advanced against the works in front
of Hancock's left. The men moved for.
ward silently, with fred bay onets glisten
ing in the clear moonlight and charged the
enemy without hsving fred . shot, Bar
low waslon Potter's right, and both lines
advanced simultaneously. This action did
not last more than ten minutes, and was st
complete success. Two breastWorks and