Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1864-08-31
From the N. Y. Worlds Correspondent
ARMY OF THE PoToMAc, August "a.

TFrom the N Y. Worlds COrrespondentl
ARMY OF TnE PoToaAC, August "a. {
II was discovered early Monday morn
ing that the enemy had fallen back To-
ward Petersburg. Our lines were advanc-
ed over mile and half in that direction
Yesterday, after our troops had securea
themselves by strong works against any
sudden attack from either flank. Inc
line is now approaching hall circie
around the city, and, ere many Gays
elapse, you may look for new develop
ments in this quarter.
Our losses in the recent operations OF
the Fifth Corps are larger than had sup
posed. The total loss is put down AZ
1900, about two thirds of whom are prs
oners This is rather discouraSlnS
record TO make, but the truth must DO
told, no matter who snlers. 1t is scarce
J " possible TO believe that troops such rs
those engaged here, could lose so many
prisoners without somebody being terri
ibly at fault. As near as can be ascertain
cd. tie forces of the enemy consisted OF
Mahone's and Heth's divisions, under
A. p. Hill, the one assaulting on the riShI
and the other on the left with the inten-
ton. it is believed, of meeting in the CEN
theirs. Both assaults were partially sue
cessCul, particularly that made on the
rinht, ,,here the enemy, under Heth,
broke in between the Fifth and division
Of the Ninth Corps, which had arrived IN
the morning, but had not got fairly INTO
position. As soon az the enemy got thro'
our limo at this point, it seems rs though
our men had ceased fighting and given
,, themselves up as prisoners, or started and
run 10 the rear as fast as they could.
Some officers are reported as having
+ parts of their commands. and fought their
: way through 10 our next line; but this
was the exception, instead Of being, as it
ought always TO be, the rule. Almost all
, who attempted to escape without fighting
f ere captured, while those who stuck by
: their officers nearly all got back safe.
D But things seem to have been sadly
' mixed up, not only here but also on the
J. left, where the Second division line was
also broken through by the columns un-
n der Malone, and large number OF the
D regular brigade with its commander taken
q prisoners. The enemy, however, did not
I succeed here as well as he did on the right,
i. as our second line, as well as the batteries,
{ opened and poured very destructive ire
= into them, causing them to fall back more
r rapidly than they desired. BY the cap
r ture of these men the enemy has obtain
ed large number Of the Spencer rifles
v which makes the matter still more unior
l. tunate.
d Had the Ninth corps moved up to The
i support of our right little more rapidly
l., the matter, as it was, would have had a
different aspect. In fact, the enemy
IS might not only have been badly whipped
d but the greater portion Of his force taker
|. prisoners. Surely two corps ought, will
a. anything like management, to whip twt
D. divisions, particularly when the torme
n are on the defensive, and behind theI
IL works. venture to say there is no in
A. stance in the war where tho enemy hav
n, been defeated by force less than half hi
10 own, and he in his intrenChments. Moth
,C irg can excuse the conduct of some of ON
20 '~11re uIsa!ter was, however, somewha
romed!ed on Sunday, by the utter detca
10 of the rebels in their desperate effort I
al turn our left flank. Here they were con
60 pletely outgeneraIed, for on reaching whc
r. they believed to be tho left of our Lin
DE they found another, little in the real
and extending parrelol with the railroa
to a long distance, with batteries eniiladin
to the ground which they had passed. Thi
m caused large number to throw dow
N, their arms and come in as prisoners, viii
TO some escaped to the woods, many bein
shot down in the attempt to get away
$50 They lost at least 700 in killed an
he wounded, and near 400 prisoners.
er, Since that time the enemy has kept
.er respectful distance, having fallen bac
ed and commenced fortifying. On each sic
IN orthe railroad in the vicinity of the lea
works forti!icalions are being built, an
or the men engaged on them are worl
es ing day and night. Yesterday mornin
he our line was advanced over mile dow
the railroad and past the Davis lIous
where the rebel videttes were posted.
- Our troops are building works to pr
oo- tect themselves as they advance, viii
it detachments are destroying the railroa
he for miles. Even should we abandon tn
'p- road, which there is no intention OF doin
ed however, the rebels could not repair il v
ma ry readily, as the ties are burned and I'll
OF rails twisted for q distance of about Fl,
miles.
Ou
10 AWFUL DESTRUCTION or HUMAN LIFR-
of We have before US letters from thre
in soldiers in the Army of the Potoma
The iirst states that Gen. Grant lost eigl