The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-06-23
Details OF the Advance Upon Peters
burg and the stOrmlRg Of the Rebel
Lines.


/ Sunday morning Several Of his pre-
vious dispatches, embracing long lists
Of killed and wounded, failed to come
to hand
WALTHALL's FARM, NEAR PETERsBURG,
June l7-6 A M--The 18th Corps, I'M
der General w. F. Smith, which had
but Just returned to Bermuda Hun
dred, although greatly needing rest,
marched out at three O'Clock on the
morning Of the 10th, on the Petersburg
side of the river
They were joined by General Hands
division of United States colored
troops, which had crossed, on pom
tOon bridge, over the Appomatox at 10
o'clock the right before. This division
consisted of Duncan's brigade, 4th, 9Th
9th and 22d Regiments, with Captain
/ Angels battery attached; Colonel
Holmes brigade LIST Regiment and
detachment Of the 9th Massachusetts,
Colored Cavalry, under Colonel Russell,
with Capt. Choules colored battery at
tached
1 Gen. Kautz's division Of cavalry were
also with the column As the column
approached the City Point and Peters
burg Pike at a right angle, it was sud
denly epfladed by battery on Baton's
farm Kautz's cavalry were sent for
ward 10 reconnoitre. They found the
rebels posted on rapidly rising ground,
some four hundred yards behind an al
most impenetrable thicket Of a quarter
of mile extending to a forest on TIE
/ left The rebels had four pieces of ar
tiliery, and two regiments of infantry
] behind their breast-Works, and small
force of cavalry.
Duncans black brigade was formed
in line of battle both sides Of the pike,
as follows 9TH regiment, Col Conine,
at the right; 22d, Col Keddo, at the
right center; 4th, Col Rogers, at the
left center, and 9th, Col Ames, at the
left Col Holmes small brigade form
ed the second line. In this order the
troops struggled the swampy, tangled,
and almost impossible woods, the re
bells Smelling them furiously all the dis
lance. As our line emerged irregularly
from the woods, the rebels threw CAMS
ter with terrible effect
The 18th received their whole concen-
trated fire. Captain King was instant
ly killed; Lieutenant Brigham was
mortally wounded, and the whole right
suffered severely. Both wings were
forced to return and remain in cover
until the lines could be reformed. But
at the word she right wing charged with
a shout up the slope and through the
murderous fire. Therebels fed in con.
fusion to the woods in the rear, leaving
one gun behind, which was instantly
turned upon them by some negroes of
Col. Kiddo's regiment, under direction
of private John Norton; Company B, |
lst District of Columbia Cavalry. The |
rebels at Baylor Farm opened at about
six o'clock. By eight o'clock they
were driven out
This affair, although attended with |
heavy losses, gives the black troops |
confidence in themselves, and prepared |
them for more terrible trial in the at |
tack upon the strong line of rife.pits,
redoubts, and redans which run irregu- |
larly from the Appomattox, up and !
along the crests of the hill on several |
farms, two miles from Petersburg In |
this engagement General Martindales |
division of the 18th corps, which suffer
ed moderately by the action, held the
right of the line stretching along the |
pike and Mrs Bessley's farm on the /
right OF the road Gen Brooks staunch
division, with two brigades of General /
Ames' division, had the center, assisted
by Kautzs cavalry. Hanks division
of colOred troops had the left. Brooks
division marched to some open pine
woods, where they remained until the
al, ,,r,n Mt Tho oIopa - 10 Ill., L.. 4 |
before them an open space of about /
eight hundred yards The colored
troops were obliged to advance across
an open field, exposed the whole dis
lance to a deadly fire, completely emf
lading their two lines of battle to fire
of two batteries directly in front, and
to cross fire from an intermediate
battery An hour was consumed in
forming the line of battle snd advanc-
ing the first quarter of mile The men
could move but few rods before the
rebels got the range, when they were
obliged to lie down and wait an oppor-
tunity Soon they would push forward
a few rods further and again lie down
At about halfpast one they gained
the designated locality, and then for
five mortal hours lay exposed to a strain
of constant apprehension from cease
less shelling Old officers declare that
while they have been under more
furious cannonading, it has been under
the excitement of charge, but that
they were never subjected 10 a severer
trial under fire, considering the time
during which they were exposed by ,
by this unavoidable inactivity, and add +,
that there can be no seVerer test of a
soldier, particularly as in the case of
Duncan's entire brigade, that after a
long strain upon the nerves they should
be able to rise and march against sucn I
a formidable line of works, and carry :
them triumphantly. 1t is irresistible
proof that black troops can and will
fight Z
At half past six the charge was order !
ed. The first plan, to advance in two +
lines of battle, was changed, General =
Smith deeming it madness to throw :
full lines against such strong redoubts q
Half of the first line was sent forward | !
as slximishers, to be promptly supported, ;
if any advantage should be gained. As (;
the sl1iFmishers pgshed ON, our bat ,
teries on our right opened and were re-
piled to by the rebels with equal vigor. r
After half an hour of very heavy can. I
and musketTy firing a shout ;
Of victory drowning all other sounds.
and plainly to he heard for two miles
away arose from our troops, as they
gained and dashed into the works. G
These were fOrmicble redoubts half 1
mile and three quarters of mile sever
lily distant, on either side, and up deep
and difficult ravines in a very command q
ne position.
Colonel Kiddo regiment was formed E
n support of this general flank move .
nent Of the FIRST line The second 4
inc, consisting of the 9th and 9th reg e
ments of Duncan's brigade, were a
wung around and moved against the I
ront remaing works. The rebels await !, l
d in flank, and lank-fought to the last .
aud then so precipitately with q
rev that but few were captured. y
It was now o'clock in the evening, :
md immediate pursuit was impossible. Z
General Smith deemed it prudent to :
est and await reinforcements. The I'd =
Army Corps, which had made forced y
march, arrived two hours later.
General Smith showed his apprecia- q