The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-05-10
The Railroad Captured from the Enemy, Re.
covered by Them, Igain Captured and
Recaptured, and at Last Taken and
Destroyed by the Union Forces.
Destruction Of the Gunb0Af
Shawsheen.
LIST OF HER FICER s
Re-. &c. Re.

Mr.. Oscar G. sswyer's Despatch.
HEAporARERs, TENTH ARMY CoRrs
CHFsTErF-s,c SvcNTY, Va May ], 1864
PREIaEINARY OPERATIONS
Of the objects Of General Buffers movement to
the point gained day by forces. The prelimi
nary operations had already been most brilliantly and
successfully carried out By the seizure Of Bermuda Hua
dred and the occupation Of Abe Peninsula lying between
the James and the Appottonax rivers. Its occupation
and the Speedy and effective 10 which It has
fortified and rendered sss against all comers have given
forces base from which 1t threatens both the rebel
capital and Petcrsourg-a place no less important 10
many points OF view.
OPERATIONS
One OF the important objects OF enc movement was the
destruction Of the Petersburg and Richmond Railroad
OF the main trunk lines OF Communication between
Richmond aud the southern portion o the socaed
fsderscy The lire that from Richmond 10 Dan.
Vile the southern boundary Of Virginia. from whence
Eoad, long projected, 10 connect with OF the
North Carolina roads, leading through The heart OF the
Atlantic seaboard States. The tapping OF these Rchmon
roads sewers all Communication by rail between Virginia
and the South So much for the importance OF The
achievement and " the details OF the opesa,.asf
s0rEDrHoS.
The 6rst plan TO strike and destroy the railroad last
night WAS relnqusbed for various good reasons
now one formed, which seemed have In Il 10 greater
degree the clements OF Five brgades were de
tailed 10 push forward and the at the proper
point 70 be Under the command OF Brgadier General
Brooks and the division forward at an early
hour this morning. From the Tenth corps the Second
brigade, First division, Colonel Plaisted, OF the
Eleventh haiue, commanding; the Second brigade
Second division, Colonel Barton, Forty.eishth New
York, commanding, and Colonel brakes brigade,
Third division, were detailed, aud General Burn.
hams and Gen. Msrston brgades from the Eighteenth
army corps Hunts battery, OF the Fourth artillery.
attached 10 Gen. Brooks command The column left tLe
Notifications ~ about ter O'Clock, General Burnhams
brigade savins the ln'auiIy advance oudordonss New
York mounfsG !ines leading. '''-'-...-ssyss,
.A......s g;sssEs START
Aiter the cOnmsOd had besn united by GepsIs Brooks
jus, wi,hou, our works ondordOnfs fsspsr Was sen,
ahead TO feel the way aud develop The snemys position
Y should be on our line Of march. took the wrong
road, and bad advanced distance when Il came
across rebel picket, which II captured wit,,ut airing
shot, Soon after discovering It's a,s,ske the resi.
merit bt5shl Back % the ssh, road and the column
started 10 the direction q The proper pon, Genera
Burnbam's brigade followed closely after. The column
moved quietly forward, and without interruption, for
como distance over q common road, winding hll
and through evamps aud ravines, under sun, with.
eui finding trace OF the enemy; but when within
two miles Of the railroad the cavalry advance
came upon the rebels, cnsconsed In strong
position IN tbe underbrush on either side OF the
road, from which They opened sharp IRE, which
the mounted rncs returned. The enemys nre incress
ing In strength and rspdy the mounted rnes fell back
70 the Infantry ne, which deployed skirmshers and
slowly advanced, with strong suspor 10 line Of battle
The eoemy had very favorable position, and made 4
stubborn resistance to advance; but they were
steadily driven back, with some loss 10 them,
- well 40 TO ourselves, and, after sharp sxIrmish
OF about hour, they retreated 10 their main
line, IN front Of the railroad, where they had
their lines OF battle and artillery Our forces
now formed In line Of battle, with the artillery In the
centre, and began advance slowly and cautiously
wards the rsrosd ready moot any forcs the enemy
might have 10 position before them.
yoscy.
Ouf skrmlshcrs again met the rebola and this time In
strength this side the Railroad with their front mostly
nsoscted by swamp and shoIr bse veil srsnsthsrsd by