The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-06-24
MARrRDALE' s DryIsIol

which had to take another road after
crossing the Pontoon, and thus com
PEELED TO make a eircuitous march
along the winding Appomattox, was
not on the enemys front until near
midday.
THE Line FORMED.
General Smith gradually formed his
line of battle along the whole rebel
front, and about noon the rapid dis
charges of Kautz's howitzers, and the
far off cheering and imperceptible dis
charges of his carbines, as the cavalry
charged on foot showed that this
splendid and successful officer was ma
king desperate efforts to carry the mas
sive works on his front. All through
the afternoon Brooks, on the centre
and Martindale and Kinks on his TANKS,
were skirmishing with the enemy; but
owing to the formidable character Of
the rebel works, and the difficult ma
ture Of the ground, it was only with
the utmost difficulty that the troops
could be properly disposed for charging
effectively.
A simultaneous advance of the three
infantry divisions, after a desperate
fight, carried the enemy's outer line,
and we succeeded IN getting a good 20
SitiOn on which to mass our artillery so
as to operate on their main works,
which were discovered to be strong
earthworks, hanked here and there by
massive earth forts. Beauregard has
certainly not forgotten his engineering
skill, and every position was admirably
selected
THE ARTILLERY COMMANDER.
The artillery was under the direction
of Captain Toilet, chief of that arm in
this corps, and was composed of -
pieces, some of which were magnificent
rihed guns. Thompson's, James and
Belges batteries were soon in position
on high ground, Immediately in front
of Brooks, between the City Point and
Jordan roads, and commenced a sue
cession of artillery volleys that drown
ed every other. sound, and completely
silenced the rebel guns Their dischar-
ges filed the air with smoke and dust,
that obscured all view.
THE GRAND CHARGE.
Night was rapidly approaching when
the charge was finally ordered by Gen.
Smith. At halfpast FIVE I. NJ, Brooks
advanced on the centre with the Thir-
teenth New Hampshire, Eighth Con-
necticut, Ninety-secend and One Hun
dred and Eighteenth New York, of
Burnham's brigade, on his front When
they approached the rebel works they
for the first time realized their formida-
bic character
GENERAL BURNHAN,
however, dauntlessly pushed on, and
the event justified his action. His
brigade rushed through the bitches
and moats and clambered the high
walls with loud cheer, and the de
moralized rebels fled before him. In
FIVE minutes he had carried their works
and captured six guns, a battle-fag,
and two hundred and forty prisoners. /
GENERAL MARTINDALEs ACTION
Martindale, on the right, swept over
the open country, with Stannard lead
ing, and, carrying the rebel position,
captured three guns and a number of
prisoners
GENERAL KINKS.
Kinks charged simultaneously with /
his negroes; and carrying three lines !
of entertainments, dfove the enemy be- |
fore him like sheep, and planted his |
colors on their Notifications A great /
cnoooes LoI loov, ,1soIo1
GENERAL SMITH,
by a mastery series Of manpuvres and |
desperate fighting had captured po-
position that We now examine with as
Constituent General Grant, viewing /
the works to-day, expressed himself /
greatly astonished After the line had |
been carried the General rode along /
the front of his victorious soldiers, and /
was greeted with loud and continued /
cheers. This success, when it is consid- |
cred with. what little loss it was accom-
plished, and when the enormous
strength and Importance Of the rebel /
works are properly viewed, is undoubt /
edly one of the greatest triumphs Of the |
war. "Baldy Smiths" first considera-
WON mas always DStu the lives OF MS /
soldiers; and the most desperate en-
terprises are accomplished under his
command with most disproportion-
ately small loss on our side.
THE ENEMY s SMELLING
was miserably Inaccurate, the shells
falling wide Of their mark, and only on
rare occasions. inhicting damage.
The newspaper publishers Of Maine
talk Of holding convention of the
editors and publishers of that State,
shortly, in order to organize a @'E Mon