The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-10-04
A ARMY OF THE JAMES
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OUR TROOPS AT CHAPIN'S
FARM.
THE Reconnaissance TO
RICHMOND.
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What Was Seen and Done.
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REPORTS OF DESERTERS.
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Organization and Strength Of
Lees Army.
What Was Seen and Done.
REPORTS OF DEsERTERs.
Etc, Etc. Etc, Etc, Etc. ETC, Etc.


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HEADouARrERs TENTH ARMY CoErs, BEroRE
RICHWoNp, October l, midnigbt--If the 10Th
Corps still retains the position held az the date
of my last despatch, the Rebels have only to
thank General Birney, its commander, and his
superior officers. IL is not because OF insur-
mountable obstacles in its trout that Il has not
advanced into the Rebel capital. Questions Of
eNpcdiency alone-not political, but purely mill
tary-haye constrained the higher military
authorities TO hold us in check.
And still the day has not been idly spent. Not
withstaudng a severe storm of rain that has pre-
vailed since last night, we have been busy
strengthening our position, and are now so
securely posted that, If 1t shall be deemed expe-
dent Tor us TO remain where VIC are, we can
safely defy the whole Rebel army. l trust that
DO one will consider that in this remark l am
belray ing any military secrets. | do not profess
to know the plans of this campaign. Further,
do not believe IL is the intention Tor us 10 remain
long where we are. / simply relate an accom-
pushed fact, that, Notwithstanding we are sent
Six or seven miles from Richmond there is not
the Rebel force in existence that can dslOdgc us
hOm our position.
AN IMPORTANT REcoSNo1ssASCE N FORCE.
The grand feature of the day has been q recon-
nOissance In force up to The inner line of the
Rebel works. Biruey has again pushed his
forces up to the very outskirts of the city, and
has only Teirained from entering and taking pos
session because his orders would not permit him
to do so. This morning the division of General
Terry, with kauzs cavalry, started out on the
important mission of feeling the enemy and
hsCCrtaiuing his strength IN the immedac vici-
uity Of Richmond.
For this delicate movement the dispositions
were made rs follows Two brgades of Terry's
infantry moved out by their RIG ht flank to the Cen
tral road and covered by the cavalry ,advanced up
that road towards the civ. CO'Onel Spear
| q = vii IN nf
horse artillery, was thrown out on the Charles
City roac, with skirmishers depoyed on the left
to the Central road to cover the movement in thAt
dire ctUn.
The rest of the cavalry deploycd as skirmsLers
in trout OF the iniantry and extended their liue
on the left down to the left Of our main line. Six
pieces OF horse artillery accompanied the move
mt mt on the Central road.
When the line hid advanced to the Powell
bouse, point on the Genital road about three
mites from Richmond, they met q line OF Rebel
skiImisheIs.
THE INFANTRY MOVE Up.
AT this point the cavalry skirmlshors were
Withdrawn, and the 7th ana ION regiments of
Connecticut infantry deplOyed in their stead.
Thee regiments advanced handsomely in per-
feet line, driving The Rebels before them with
ease. The rest of the cu,umn advanced steadily
III line OF batte IN rear of the skirmIshers.
THE EMMY OPENS WITH HEAVY ARTILLERY.
When the line had reached Howes house, tho
enemy opened on them with heavy artillery from
Their main works. But disregardi0g this, the
tknmlshels pressed On, ana uEOye Tue ReOe5
into their line OF works at Sharp's house, two
miles east Of the Ciy. The cavalry on the right
TeuChtd simultaneously Tie same line OF works.
These works were a.C'r aimed u DO Of very tor.
mIduhle character, similar in nature ald q con-
uLuAliOn OF ihUse III our immediate front at
Laurel Hin. They mount heavy guns, but nre
maI N, by force Of mi itiamen pressed into the
selVIre, in the vmeT genCy, from .he shops, Stores
factories, and streets OF Richmond.
RETURN OF ruB REcoNEoIssAEcE.
The expedition, having accomplished all that
was de signed, ie back st nlghnaiI 10 their old
positions. The losses IN the movement we're
about thirty men in killed and wounded all told.
THE ENEMY HAssINa ON OUR LEFT.
While Tery's troops were on the way to make
this reconnaissance, information reached these
headquarters that the Rebels were massiDg on
our left and the right of the 18th Corps evidently
| with the purpose OF renewing Lhe assault they
| made at thar pOnt yesterday afternoon.
AZ tnis point our forces hold a strong earth
work m the main line occupied by the enemy,
destroy ing the cont nuity of the Inc and render
ing perfectly securc an angle In the present for.
/ mailOn Of our line. ] his they seem bent on re-
| possessing, ana all the prisoners We Capture from
tbem unite in asserting 1t as the liked purpose OF
the Rebel commanders 10 retake it at any cost.
A COUNTER, MOVEMENT BY BRNBY.
When their intentions and prepIra:ions were
| made known TO General Btrney, he advanced
| four regiments uf infantry on the Newmarket
| road as far as the Laurel IL church. This
! diversion had no sooner attraU cd the attention
| Of the Rebels than rerry's movement was dis
covered further TO the right, and thinking NC
were advancing seriously upon their capital, Ghey
| at once abandoned their mediltted attack and
prepared 10 defend their own left flank. Thus
| they were completely outwitted oUtmanmuyrod,
ana outgeneraled by BTney, and a desperate
! battle was avoided.
VALUABLE STATEMENTS OF PRISONERS.
We have gained much valuable information
! from pri' OueTs cnptuIed tO-oty. These, being
! largely raw muitidmen, many Of them hastily
crowded into the Tauhs, are by no means so chary
/ OF lhelf Information rs the veteran troops who
| are held in reserve.
| PRESENT STRENGTH AND ORC AVIATION OF THE
! RFREL ARMY.
i Among the information OF value received to-
day is the following statement OF the position of
the Rebel army last evening, which statement IS
confirmed by the information pumped from 0 li-
GERS well as prlyates, aud also by the fact th It
we have taken prisoners from all the commands
mentioned US being on the north side Of the
James =
AT rITEt-UHus
AndeFsons old division, OF uhs Corps, commanded
| by General Malone,
Bu,h cd Jolnsou's Division, of HcUuregards Corps,
Say twenty thousand ID all.
NORTH JAMES.
| I In