Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-06-23
Official War Bulletins.
WASHINGTON, June II.

WASHINGTON, June IL.
To Maj Gen, Dir:
The following dispatches have been re-
ceived BY this department.:
CSfy Point, Va. June IS Nd Jdmestr,on
Island $50, a. m. June l6.-Smith with
$1,000 men attacked Petersburg this morn
ing. Gen. Butler reports from bis obser-
yatory near Bermuda Hundred that there
has been heavy fighting and that the troops
and trains Of the enemy were, as he writes,
marching from the city, across the Apo
pomstoI, se If retreating. Hancock ~ not
near enough to render Gen, Smith any aid.
The Richmond papers have nothing to in.
dicsts suspicion Of our having crossed the
James river; they expect to be attacked
from the divecttor Of Malvern Hill
City Point, $40 p. M. June i5.--Our Ia
test report from Smith was at 4 p. m. lie
had carried line Of entertainments at
Bsatty's House. The colored troops az.
saultiDg and carrying the rife pits with
great gallantry; but he had not yet carried
the main line. He describes the rebels ar
tillery FIRE as very heavy. He expected to
assault the line just before dark. Hancock
is within three miles of Smith.
Ciiy Point, 7 a. M. June 18th, Uid Jdn,es'
to,on Island, ll:45 q. n.--At T:2O P. NJ
yesterday, Gen. Smith assaulted and carri-
ed the principal line of the enettiy before Pc
tersburgh, taking l3 cannon, several stands
ofcelors and between three aud four hun
dred prisoners. The line is two miles from
Petersburg.
Hancock got up and took up position on
Smiths left at 3 A. N. to-day. There was
heavy firing in that direction from 5 to 6
o'clock No report has been received yet.
Dent Head Landing, p. M. June 10
After sending my dispatch of this morhibg
from the nights Southeast Of Petersburg,
went over tie conquered lines with General
| Grant and the engineer officers.
The works are of the strongest kind. more
difficult to take than was Missionary Ridge,
at Chattanooga. The hardest lighting was
done by tho black troops. The forts they
stormed were the worst Of all. Alier the
affair was over Gen. Smith went to thank
them, and told them he was proud of their
courage and dash. He says they can't be
exceeded as soldiers, and hereafter he will
send them to.a difficult place as readily as
the best white troops. They captured sir
out of the sixteen cannon.
The prisoners taken were from Beaure
gard 8 command Some OF them said they
had just crossed the James above Drury's
Bluff.
l do not think any of Lees army had
reached Petersburg when Smith storined it.
They seem TO be making arrangements tc
hold the West side Of the Appomattox. -
The town they cant think of holding, as il
lies directly under our guns.
The weather is splendid
City Point, June l6-5l5 D. m--Gcn
Butler reports from Bermuda Hundred tha
the enemy have abandoned the works IL
front Of that place and that his troops art
now engaged in tearing up the railroad be
twcer Petersburg and Richmond.
The following despatch does not dcsig
nate the hour, but is supposed to be late
than the preceding ones.
JaniesfoUn, Va, June l6 Il came adwi
from the pontoon above Fort Powhatan
with dispatches for Secretary Stanton; jus
as left, Capt. Pitkin reported to me tha
Petersburg was in our possession. Moth
ing Of recent date has been heard from Gen
eral Sheridan, but the Richmond Wing o
the 18th contains despatch from Ice, sta
ting that Sheridan had been routed 10 al
engagement with Fits Hugh Lee and Ham
ilton losing 500 prisoners and leaving hi
dead and wounded on the field.
From General Sherman q despatch da
ted last night at o. clock, has been receiv
ed. 1t only states the relative positions Q
the forces. No serious engagement had ye
occurred.
[Signej] 4. NJ STANTON,
Sec'y OF War