The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-06-29
TIE WAR NEWS.

1t was reported ip Petersburg late Sun
day evening that the enemy were burning
| surplus baggage on their extreme left, and
making such movements As gave rise to the
| Impression that they were about to contract
their lines by Withdrawing from the South
ern Railroad but ii was believed on Mon
! day that they were still there In considera-
| lie force. We hear that picket firing tas
been discontinued, both sides seeming to
have come to the conclusion that il il q
| practice more honorcd in the breach than in
the Observance. The Incidents OF Monday
were of slight Importance. At one O'clock
in the afternoon heavy cannonade opened
on our left, and continued for some fifteen
minutes, when il ccaeed entirely; and ahont
three O'Clock the enemy made an artillery
| demonstration upon our centre, keeping NJ,
| heavy fire for some time. We have no III.
| formation as to the object sought to he ac-
eonplished In either case. Movements Of
the enemy's wagon trains, in the vicinity Of
Battery No. 3, have created tho conjecture
| that they are making come alterations in
that work, but what those alterations are
no one on our eide knows. 4 report is in
circulation that The enemy have repaired
the Norfolk Railroad, and are now opera
ting 1t TO within two or three miles OF Pc
fersburg.
1t was rnmore3 yesterday that consid
cradle force of Yankees had been moved
over to the north side of James river. 1t is
stated that the water obtsined In Prince
George is 80 impure as to cause great NOR
tality in Grants army, and that this move
ment haS been resorted to "a n sanitary
measure. We only hope that they may
everywhere find the water as bitter az that
of the Dead Sea. Ii poison were thrown
into the wells it would have beneficial ef-
feet, in cXteiminating the basest set of vii
lains that ever cursed any portion of the
earth.
Passenger hy the Peter burg train last
evening state that everything was unusually
quiet yesterday on the S0uthside. 1t was
the opinion Of some that the armies would
have taken advantage of the cooler weather
to recommence active hostilties, but We are
assured that there has been I'D material
al tuc lEC DtIItl !lP-
walls in some quarters that great battle
cannot much longer be delayed. Grant is
probably holding council with Lincoln, who
is reported to have gone TO the 'iront'-
(he will doubtless keep a5 far TO the ytaJ. as
possible)-upon his future plans, and as soon
as they are decided upon the grand struggle
Tor supremacy " be inaugurated Uuder
baS ~; MI ao4o rt
Old Abe viii promise an abundance OF men
to ill up the gaps created by Confederate
bullets, and then the Yankees viii be sent
iuto the fight like sheep to the slaughter.
INCIDENTS OF THE DEFENCE OF perHLsElpG
We have been permitted to peruse let
ter from gallant young soldier OF this city,
q member OF Sturdiyant's battery, which
gives some interesting incidcnts of the de-
fence Of Petersburg, not heretofore noticed
in detail As it furnishes connected and
reliable history Of the earlier events of the
contest Immediately around that city, and
the part borne by company from Rich
mend, We give place to some extracts from
the letter:
"On "Wednesday, the 18Th, we were attack
cd by Burnside's and Hancock's corps. TO
oppose them were about - pieces of ar
tillery and - infantry strung out over Il
line OF Notifications some four Miles long
was not with our company, but had COM
mand Of howitzer worked by inlantrym en-
at Battery No. s. some live hundred yards to
the left OF the company. Capt. Sturdivant
commanded all the artillery on that part OF
the line, and was conspicuous for his cool
ness and efficiency.
"About 10 O'Clock the enemy made his ap-
pearanse in onr front, and in u short time
MS sharpshooters were ut work Industrious
~. inese, however, were several times dis
lodged, and every attempt at m nd gance was
toiled by the heavy fire OF our artillery. -
Late "a the afternoon the enemy emei. ed
cd swiftly towards Batteries s, i and &. some
four hundred yards to my left. We very
soon concentrated our artillery fire upon
them. and they wavered, broke and fell back
in confusion.
"Some half nm hour later, while shelljno
sharpshoofeTs from an orchard in front oi
me, saw the Yankees in heaS force flour
lines Of battle, advancing at a double ,,ncls
on the came point from which they uad be.
fore been repnlscd. At this .uncluro our
infantry ammunition gave out, aud the ord
nance wagon was unfortunately some dis.
.tauce in the rear. After firing their last
round of canister, our artillerists were COM
PEELED TO fall back from batteries ), Il. and :.
At the former Captain Sturdiyant was
taken
"All this time was firing as fast as possi-
BILE with shrapnei and canister, and Sturdi-
wants pieces on my right with tWo-6econd
she'll. Suddenly y force of the enemy ap-
peared Immediately in front, and attempted
to charge my gun. gave them canister,
and saw the stars and stripes fall to the
ground several tiMes> The enemy at that
time were so close that heard every com
mandt their oilicers. gave. While was thus
engaged In front, the enemy had turned our
lett and gOtis sn iW'ide Of our fortiiications,
compelling tho iafantry between me and No
u fall back. Cot IL rode MP to me and said
w Q shall be Obliged To shandOn this posi-
tlon.' 1 have DO Eors. alr, and must leave
the piece and spike ii Sc replied very
well, 10 so'-and nc "a on. While this
brief conversion was .oisg on, the infan- |
try were falling bae.. rapdly. | told the
cannoneers to look GA. fer themselves AS
b,est they could, s-:.ssch they did instanter. !
For want of so.aesai,g better, | cut q |
wooden Plug and spiked tie piece. When |
started to retreat the ony persons near |
mo were two Of the Blues md q Petersburg |
militiaman. We had not fsllen back more |
than seventy-fiye yards wh,n General Dear
ing rode up, rallied the infantry, and led US |
hack to No. s, which we gained Just before |
the Yankees got to II. With the assistance /
OF TWO tnfantrymen. ! un,piked the gun |
and commenced firing with canister again |
Inc enemy, however, were too strong for |