The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-05-17

and continued with grea. fury for some four or
Eve hours. The enemy fought with great stub
bornness, and showed resoute purpose. to reach
the railroad Our forces, under command OF Gen.
Bushrod johnson, resisted their advance most gal
lanty, and about six o'clock, after spirited en-
gagement. drova back their infantry. The artille-
nv continued to fire slowly, but the enemy made
no attempt 10 recover the ground they had lost.
During the night, for prudential reasons. General
Bushrod johnson fell back upon Swift Greek
bridge most important structure the railroad,
a mile and half from Petersburg, and about the
same distance from Port Walthall junction. against
which.it is we'll known that this advnnce of the
enemyis directed
The Latest from the Enemy on the South SIDE.
The latest information received at headquarters
last night, stated that the enemy about Port Wal
tha junction had retired to his Notifications, and
that all was quiet up to the latest advices. The
enemy are reported 20 be entrenehiDg themselves
between the James and Appomattox rivers, aud
will hardly venture another advance soon, after
their repulse on Saturday In their retreat, on
Saturday, they left their dead and wounded on the
field, and sought refuge under cover of their gun
boats. Here they remain, and, up to late hour
last night, all was reported quiet 4 detachme Mt
of our forces had been ordered to drive in their
pickets, and ascertain if possible, in what strength
they about Port Walthall. The railroad, up
to latest accounts, had received no injury, and
the enemy was held in check in the narrow neck
of land reaching from Bermuda Hundreds on the
James River to Port Watbal on the Appomattox
river The fight on Saturday seemed to have sat
is6ed them, at least for the present.
From the Richmond Sentinel of the Eth. r..
SOUTH OF JAMES River, May 10.
The battle took place near Chester, three or four
miles below Fort Drewry.; 1t commenced yester-
day Srif be-, oho
ing the advance of the enemy, and driving them
back from the opposite bank. This morning it
renewed by Gen Ransom, with Barton's and
Gracey's brigades, and ragged with great obstipacy.
Our forces made the attack, and drove the enemys
left for some distance, with heavy loss but we're
arrested, and finally found it advantageous to re-
tire before superior numbers, to original posi-
ton, within the entertainments of Drewry's Bluff.
The battle was sanguinary one and the loss
was large on both sides. Bartons brigade suffer-
ed severely. Lit Col Cabell, Of the 36th re suent,
was shot through the breast, and was reported dy-
ing few hours since. Captain Pritchard, of the
same regiment, is reported wounded In the arm
and thigh. Gen Barton had horse shot under
him. L am unable to learn further particulars at
present. Passengers report that we saved halt of
eur wounded The Yankees were commanded by
Gilmore. Fifty nine prisoners were taken BY our
troops. . So
LATER "A person just from the battle field
says that Bartons brigade lost about twenty killed
and one hundred and fifty wounded, and that it
fell back without disorder before a force that
proved 70 be of very superior numbers The enc
my can do nothing against Drewry.
From the Richmond Enquirer of the llth.
The BATTLE AT PORT WALTHALL.-Brig Gen
Bushrod johnson was the senior Brigader in COM
mand, and behaved with much coolncss.- Lieut.
Con H.
court the most dangerous positions.
Our loss in killed and wounded was about one
hundred and fifty or two hundred at the far,best,
and We lost very few, if any prisoners.
The eEemy's loss was represented, by the pris-
oners we captured, to be very heavy-not less
than 1000.
An intelligent servant who was held by the enc
my at Mrs Dunn's, says that the officers and sur
geons stated that their loss was 500 in killed and
wounded.
The number Of the enemy engaged was twelve
or fifteen thousand
Taken altogether, this is one of the most bril-
liant and successful fights that has taken place
during the war. Too much praise cannot be
awarded the South Carolina troops They have
covered themselves with glory.
In the engagement on Friday our troops were
confronted by greatly superior numbers, but they
held their ground manfully and completely check
ed the enemys advance. In this engagement we
only had parts Of two regiments engaged, viz the
2lst and 25th South Carolina Vounteers-but
weak as they were, they were more than match
for the overwhelming Yankee force that wcro
brought against them
Our forces we're commanded by Col Graham, of
the 2lst South Carolina Volunteers, of General
Hagood's brigade, who behaved with conspicuous
gallantry.
The Richmond Sentinel of the 1lth. says: The
struggle the south of tho James has been relieved
of all solicitude to the result. 1t will not be
amiss to say for the public satisfaction. that Gen
Beauregard, with sufficient force. is now conven-
lent enough to the field of operations TO make us
masters of the military problem. We trust we
shall, in addition to the establishment of our securi,
ty be able adequately to punish the enemy for his
pending attempt.
CAPTURE OF ONE OF THE ENEMY's GUNBoATs
IN JAMES RIvER.-During the afternoon of Sat
urday the agreeable news came that we had cap
tured one OF the enemys gunboats in James river
but being pursued by the enemy's iron ciads, our
men had been compelled to blow her up. On in-
quiry at headquarters, We we're oblgiEgiy furnish-
ed with the following official dispatch from the
officer commanding at Chains Bluff
..-. "CHAFIN's BLUFF, May 7.
"Ncj T 0 Ghesney, A 4 G. dc:
Il have the honour to report that Major
Stark has just dispatched to me that one of the
enemy's gunboats attacked and disabled, and
then boarded and burned by oar forces Two
iroDclads bore down on our forces, and they re-
turned. No particulars given. No toss on our