Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-06-18
Terrible Explosion.
CONG GRE sSIONAL
Dispa tch from Secretary StantOn-
The Latest from the Front.

WASHINGTON, June IL.
To Mgor- General Die:
The following dispatch has been received
by this department:
CRY POINT, June 18th, VIA JAMESTOWN Is
LAND, $50 A. NJ, June l5.-Smith, with fif-
teen hundred men, attacked Petersburg this
morning. Gen. Butler reports from his OBJ
servatory, near Bermuda Hundred, that
there has been sharp fighting, and that the
troops and trains of the enemy were, as he
writes, moving from the city across the APP
pomattox as II retreating. Hancock is not
near enough to render Gen. Smith any aid.
The Richmond papers have nothing TO in
dicate suspicion of our crossing the James
river. They expect to be attacked from
the direction of Malvern Hill.
CITY PoINT, June $3.50 P. M.-Our
latest report from Smith was at u. NJ. lie
had carried a line of intrenchments at Be-
atty's house, the cOlored troops assauting
and carrying the rifle pits with great gall
lantry; but he had not yet carried the main
line. He describes the rebels artillery fire
as very heavy. He expected to assault the
line just before dark. Hancock is within
three miles of Smith.
CITY POINT, June 16-7 A. .M.-vIAJ JAMES,
TOWN ISLAND, ll:45 A. MAJ 7:20 p. NJ,
principal line of the enemy before Peters,
burg. taking thirteen cannon several stands
of colors and between three and four hun
dred prisoners. This line is two miles from
Petersburg. Hancock got up and took po-
sition on the south line at 3 A. NJ. to-day.
There was heavy firing in that direction
from to O'Clock. No report has been re-
ceived yet.
DoNT HARD LANDING, Va, June 16.-
After sending my dispatch of this morn
ing, from the heights southeast of Peters
burg, / went over the conquered lines with
Gen. Grant and the engineer officers. The
works are of the very strongest kind, more
difficult to take than was Missionary Ridge
at Chattanooga. The hardest fighting was
done by the black troops, and the forts they
stormed were the worst of all. After the
affair was over, Gen. Smith went to thank
them and tell them he was proud of their
courage and dash. He says they can't be
excelled as soldiers and hereafter he will
send them in difficult place as readily as
the best white troops. They captured six
out of the sixteen cannon which lie took.
The prisoners he took were from Beaure-
CARDS command. Some of them said they
had Just crossed the James about Drury's
bluff. / don't think any of Lees army had
reached Petersburg when Smith stormed
it. They seem to be making arrangements
to hold the west side of the AppOmattox.
The town they can't think of holding, as it
lies directly under our guns. The weather
is splendid. ,y.--....
CRY POINT, June 16, 4:15 P. M.-General
Butler reports from Bermuda Hundred,
that the enemy have abandoned the works
in front of that place. His troops are now
engaged in tearing up the railroad between
Petersburg and Richmond. The following
dispatch does not designate the hour but
is supposed to be later than the preceding
ones:
JAMESTOWN, VA, June 16.-I came down
from the Pontoon above fort Powhattan
with dispatches for Secretary Stanton
just as left Captain Pitkin reported that
Petersburg was in our possession.
Nothing of recent date has been heard
from Gen. Sheridan, but the Richmond
Whig of the 10th contains dispatch from
Lee, stating that Sheridan had been
routed in an engagement with Fitz Hugh
Lee and Hampton, losing five hundred
prisoners and leaving his dead and wound
ed on the field.
From Gen. Sherman dispatch dated last
night at o'clock has been received. 1t
only states the relative position of the forces.
No serious engagement had yet occurred.
(Signed,) Ed. NJ. STANTON,
Secretary of War.