Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-05-20
"Details Of the Fight Between But-
Ter nnd Beauregard -.-- Butler
Compelled to Fall Back.

Ter and Beauregard --.- Butler
Compelled to Fall Back.
New YORK, May 16.-The Herald's cor
respondent with Butler gives detailed ac-
count Of Beauregard's concentrated attack
on our forces at Palmers Creek, on the 10th.
The entire length OF the rebel line opened
while artillery and shells were poured upon
our position in showers. A dense fog en-
Yeloped the country at the time, and both
fires were wrapped in misty vail. This
was the condition of affairs, when the reb-
els, massing their troops, took our right,
under Gen. Hickman, enveloped its flank,
dealt with terrific force. Gen. Hickman's
brigade, 18th corps, holding the right, was
doubled up and forced back on the next
brigade which was also thrown into confus-
ion. Our men did not observe the rebels
until they had succeeded in passinga column
between Hickman's right and the river,
and then taking him in front and rear
crushed him between the columns, and for
time created some confusion.
Hickman made gallant fight as long as
he could; but the enemy came upon him so
suddenly and in such overwhelming num-
bers, that a successful resistance was quite
impossible. In the darkness and confusion
some of the brigade was captured.
After this operation, having forced back
the right a heavy attack was made on the
entire line of the 18th corps, with feints
along the 10th corps line, and the entire
right was forced back some distance after
several hours of the most severe and san
culinary struggles. The battle ragged with
unexampled fury until nearly - o'clock;
the rebels throwing heavy masses upon
our line, and finally forcing it back nearly
quarter OF mile. Our men fought
stubbornly with few exceptions, and resist
ed every step and repeatedly checked the
rebel advance with terrible slaughter, but
not without loss on our side. The enemy
numbered not less than $4,000, and pushed
into the murderOus fire with recklessness
and steadiness rarely seen. In the attack
on our right we lost one gun, and it is said
some light pieces, how many it is difficult
to ascertain. Probably four will cover the
loss of light pieces.
Finally after forcing the 18th corps back
from its position, and regaining portion
of the first line of entrenchments, they
massed their forces on the 10th corps to
drive it back. They first hurled their col
umn upon Turner's division, which held
18th corps. They behaved in a beautiful
manner, and moved steadily on Barton's
brigade on the right of the division, ad-
vancing as on parade and not firing sim
| gle shot until they had arrived within good
distance and in effective range. The brig
ade poured into their lines such terrific
fire that the line melted away and was
thnned and broken. The line, after vainly
endeavoring to advance amid the storm of
bullets, fled with terrible loss to the woods
in their rear. The volleys were continuous
and effective as the musketry of a brigade
could well be, and such as nothing could
| iIa
chaff and broke for the woods in disor-
ganiZed mass.
Under their friendly cover, after much
exertion, the line of attack was again form
ed, and again the brigade advanced in
splendid style against our line. Again did
they receive terrible fire, but they pushed
steadily on until fourth of them lay killed
or wounded on the field, when they broke
and rushed quickly TO the cover of the
woods. Our boys gave them hearty cheers
and sent a vOlley after them, which told on
them. After being twice bloodily repulsed
at this point, they moved further to our
left, and hurled a column upon Col. Haw-
ley's brigade, Gen. Terry's division. They
came up in the same steady and defiant
manner, but were received by more rapid
and equally deadly fire than they were
treated to by Turner. They broke and ran
for the woods, accelerated in their flight by
the music of bullets about them. They
were determined, however, to break our
line and force it from its position, cost what
itmight. They again formed, and strength
ened by reinforcements, charged again, and
after ten minutes work were disastrously
repulsed and driven back atall points.
That ended any serious effort on their
part to force our position, and leaving their
dead and wounded to the number of one
thousand before our line, they again massed
upon Gen. Smiths front, and attacked his
left. Gilmore ordered Gen. Turner to at
tack the enemy on their flank, and ordered
Terry to support him. Turner's attack was
hardly commenced before Gilmore was Or
dered by Butler to retire and strengthen
Smiths corps by forming in his rear. Our
troops fell back slowly and in order, re-
pulsing every effort of the rebels to quicken
their movements, and making stand at
every favorable position until the enemy
ceased to follow and fell back to their first
line of intrenchments. Gilmore then drew
off his corps and formed to support Smith.
The fighting, which had been going on
with more or less violence along the entire
line now ceased at half-past two, and prep
arations were made to draw off our forces
from the field and return to our intrench-
ments. The artillery was sent to the rear
except q section to cover the rear guard
Ambulances with the wounded and the
supply tain were dispatched to the rear;
and finally the entire army fell back, the
enemy not pursuing.
The same correspondent says of Kautz's
raid on the Richmond and Danville railroad:
He tore up several miles of track, destroyed
the rail and ties and blew up the iron bridge
over the Appottomax river at Mattax sta
tion.
Sheridan's forces again started on raid
around Richmond yesterday. The 18th
cavalry will keep the railroad communica-
tion to Richmond cut for while.
Another correspondent says Buffers
forces are safely in their entrenchments, and
able to withstand an attack from any force
the rebels can bring against them. The OBJ
iect of Butler in making the advance from
City Point and Bermuda Hundreds was to
create diversion in favor of Grant, and
was successful.
The Capture of YazOO City.
CAIRO, May lS.-SteamerS ST. Patrick, from
MemDhis Dasspd nm for louisville. Her