Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-05-16

BERrUDA LArD1so, Nav 10.


General Butler retired within his in
trenched camp this afternoon, having sc.
eomplished the complete destruction Of the
Petersburg and Richmond Railroad in this
vicinity, thereby not only cutting of any
further supplies through this source, but
retsrding the movements Of General Beau
regards troops from Weldon so that he
cannot possibly reach General Lee in time
to reader the assistance he so much needs
and upon which depends the fate Of that
General.
The enemy made desperate attempts to
force General Butler back beyond the line
OF the railroad before it had been material
ly damaged.
During the night Of the 9th portion Of
their force crossed Swift Greek, which, as
1 have before stated, separated the two ar
mics, and charged our lines repeatedly.
They were always repulsed, and finally
i driven back over the creek, and forced to
burn the bridge crossing it st this point.
The forcee gagged on our side during
the day and night Of the 9th were mainly
Of General WeitEeps division; General
Heckman's brigade, Of Massachusetts and
New Jersey troops, took the most promi-
nent part.
At one time they were face to face with
Hapgood's South Caroline brigade. Dash
ing on them, they forced them from posi-
tion, and following them up closely, made
great havoc in their ranks.
The fighting to day has been severe, and
mostly on the right. The Tenth Corps has
acted well. One gun was lost during a
skirmish, but was speedily recsptured.
Bushrod Johnston was in commend Of the
rebel forces. Toward evening our troops
we're ordered to fall back, which they did
very quietly, without being followed by
the enemy.
A flag Of truce wss sent in, and the
thres following propositions made by the
confederate general To bury their dead,
to exchange wounded prisoners, and to
exchange able bodied prisoners. To the
first, General Butler replied: We have
buried your dead;" TO the second he
agreed, appointing Wslthall as the place
where the exchange should take place; to
the third, he replied; "No we'll man car
be exchanged until the Confederate States
recognize colored prisoners as prisoners Of
war, and treat them accordingly"
General Ksut1's expedition arrived al
City Point last night from their raid OF
the rebel communications between Weldon
and Petersburg. They show most bril-
liant record. Since the war do not re
collect anything Of the kind which, con.
sidering the limited time occupied, hsl
proved so successful and brilliant.
The expedition started from Getty's sta
ton at six o'clock, Thursday, May 5
went directly TO Suffolk and thence t
) Fernsville; hivouscked until midnight, a
which time they started again on thu
merch to Broad water ford on the Black
water. Here after skirmibsing with thu
enemy they destroyed three bridges snC
} then moved to the Nottaway river, ThicI
they crossed, and went to Sussex Cour
House. From there they went to stOneJ
Greek, and had q skirmish-one officer snC
four men we're wounded.
They have burned several cars loaded
with lumber, two bridges, and destroyed
every thing belonging to, or connscteC
with, the railroad. In the skirmish theJ
took forly-fve prisoners. At the Notts
way crossing they burnt q large covered
bridge under gre from sn esrthWork.
Jsrret's station was the next place visit
ed; there they met considerable resistance
from large force Of infantry, but finally
beat them, taking forty prisoners. Colo
mel Spears, at the head Of the Fifth ant
Elevevth PennsylvsniG troops, charged
and the enemy fed They then tool
Petersburg plsnk-rosd, went within sever
miles Of the place, crossed over to NOrfOll
and Petersburg railroad, and burned 1
bridge. From there they came to CITY
: RoinE
: During the time they have been away
they have travelled nearly two hundred
and fifty miles, and have lived on thu
country. The damage they have done il
the way Of destroying government mate
rial. burning bridges and breaking the
enemy's communication is immense, snd
will be keenly felt by the rebels.
Our gunbosts we're shelling the woods
opposite this place yesterday, having
heard the enemy we're coneealiDg q bat
terry there. They received 10 reply.
Firing was heard on the Appottomax
near Walthsl, but could not learn what
occssioned it.