Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-06-11
FROM a. P...r.5ur0 Erprs.., jan. 10.

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From the Psssrs5Srg Express. June 10.
DARING ATTEUPT OF KAUfzS CAVALRY TO
CAPTURE PETERSBURG-THEY CHARGE AND
TAKE TaE BREASTW0RKs-FHEIR FINAL RE
PULSE AND DEFEAT.
YsttsrdAy was another day Of excitement In our
midst ard bat little else was done BY our citizens than
40 for the stern realities OF the crisis which
stared them in the fos Il viii DO recollec;ed that We
ssstsd IN wednesdays issus Of the Express, when
tonS the diminishing Thsh occurred GA to roads in
Prince George county, the V-ning previous thA ttey
wee but the precursors of more formidable demonsra
lions which in al probability would soon threaten US.
Our opinion proved correct and tue formidable de-
nonSrGtions we're not long delayed.
Yesterday morning at one o'clock three distinct
discharges Of cannon heard In the direction OF The
snsnys Whereabouts, AMI Of early dawn our piokets
WsFe driven in on lhs City Point and Prince Gsorge
Court House roads. Il subsequently ssoer'aided
that these movements but fsints TO deceive oGr
sorces while tho real movement for the surprise and
sGpturs OF the city VAS On the Jeresaem Plank ROAD,
coming into Petsrsbu from southerly direction Va
the two Asst named roads ths enemy appeared IN can
adorable Members as early o'clock, and bTitk skir
miShiag Was kept up for rome ime. A: o'clock tae
Court House and engine bells rang, TO which the
cIsns respooded with thele usual slAcriy, aud maui
fsatsd every dspOson to eefend their homes and hEe-
sIdeS.
In ths meAntlm', the euemys gunboAts assembled the
Appoua,tox river aud opened furious hre on Fort
Clifton and Il Va ous other points along the river, Tor
hs obvious purpose of occupying the attention OF cur
troops In O6es'6rheid.
Road we're driven in and before ten the enemy showed
hima,H in overwhelming numbers, filing the road, and
tie woods on both siies. Oar breAs,Works here ex-
ended from the ienee Of Timothy RvsS, EsQ., on
tas lsft TO and scOs the read and beyond the house
O. Mr. VIM A. Gregory, the right The enemy
ma OaVsred for vhis, thi king that our raw troops
would abandon their position without fight But
never were the Ys; kee invaders more mstaken Ous
MAJ were made OF sler OF III and inspired By tie
cool dc Srminaton II their leaders, Gen Uokton ana
Col T. O. Archer tanned heir ground Ike VeteraGs
Finally she enemy ordered charge, and came down 10
our IA With YELL their drasn sabres hmhirg
in the sunlight Wnen Sithn forty PAGES Of The lori
hoa,ioss The order 10 IRE was gveu, and the
YaokseS recoItd end fell back. prisoner taken,
subsequently,, states that In this charge, tho no
torous SpsSrs led aud that they had forty wounded
ana two killed, This Charge vas repea ed twice,
bat with like Eesuls when the enemy rSsorted to the
,nkirR process which by reason Of bis Overwhelming
nunbsrs, he WSs snAbiCd 10 do with much ease.
snort time Afterwards regiment came around Rves'
house on our lsi another appeared our right anda
large body came 6orn il trout. We had but ITO mea
all toll and il w1s mDos ole With this number guard
centre right and elt, song length OF three quarters
Of mile or The order was glVsa to retreat and
in a few minutes the enemy had possession CT our
works our camp and were In full pursuit OF our
Oourers bad BEEN despatched for renforcsments, but
hsy did not toms I'd in time fornhcat ons
aud mary Of PetsIsburs'I best and moss gallant
sons, Who fell in the sfsay, some killed and others
wounded
The enemy came on Ia double column, with sabres
drawn, unit they reached the bill opposite the Water
Works, where thSy planted cannon for the purpose
Of shilling the cEy. Ta0y then started down the hR5
and their advance column actually took possession Of
bridge W. ioh P0EelS Ran a. the foot OF tbs
Wafer Works HILL
They were almost In Petsrsburg-could lie spires
and ate ple and many Of tie houses on cur suburban
i'm 10; 6us again that D.visS arm which hes been
oi1.n Gu stretched in bshslf, barred and cur
" vas saved from ths tsad OF tbs ruthless invader.
Jast A. tbs oppostune moment Grahams Battery
reached the Reservoir Hill, numbered In instant
And with precision and rspdity which We have beard
SPOKEN Ct Is being almost which, precedent, threw
into the ranks OF the enemy shower OF she'll The
n sses of dsaIh coming Unexpectedly 10 the foe he
a, Arst seemSd overwhelmed with surprise and halted,
neither Advancing nor rvtr atng. Bat minute or two
aer another branch Of our service tde Its appearance
wheh quickl y determined thu enemy as to the best
cou Sc for him to pursue Bearings cavalry brigade
Quickly dismOunted, and descending the hi with
veil charged upon the enemy in beautiful EtJs. Tbis
was more than they eXp6o,ed (snce they had encoun.
tsrd bat teH militia in the bGeastWorks and had aivanc
ed neary NILE without seeing any reguarS anG they in
sGrly heesd their horsss aid started back up the hill
In great confuSon Grshams Battery continued 10
pay upon them aud Dearipgs men crossed tbs rsvns
and Gscendsd the opposite hill 10 gallant STYLE their
cArbines keeping up regular AID moss musical fus ado
upon KluE and Spare, and their rapidly retreSigg
followers Upon reaching the top of the opposite hill
the enemy hoped 10 mako a sand, as here another
SoumG which IN. had cent on 10 the city Tor the pur
pose OF entering by the Bandford Church road hove in
sght. But this column had al started on a re.ro-
grade movement for 70 tgeir surpIse, too they had
ESQ, untered siurdvanLs Battery which had gone out
by AIother road and the two columns met aud con-
EnUsd Their a. sped not AZ ell slscksued by
the Confederate SHE'LL aud balls which Ging thick
AID ast among them. II Jackson held, mile or so
fom the Blandfosd Church, We oapiurSd handsome
cannon and ak horses Whoh the eaemy were compel.
led TO abandon in their hgGt Our forces pursued them
Tor few miles killing and Wounding many, and taxing
some prisoners.
YESTERDAY afternoon late our plcksts extended for
several mica ca on the jerusalem Plank Road butno
Sgns Of the enemy could be seen, and It is supposed
they have retTeated the river. Ths 10 only suppo-
ion however sgd me Vanaas will bear constant and
VigilAnI watching.
Gen. KAutS was in command Of this foros, and pri-
soners taken yariousy estimate h ct from three to hve
thousand. None put the number Rt less than three
thousand and somsSay that t sysa mora than five
thousand There no doubt bui that IL intended
20 cspurs this ciiy, ami al the circumstances are
str nEy corroboratIvs Of this VisW. Thanks kind
Providencs who has nerJed the hearts and strength
sned the hands Ct brave men, We have bssR again
preserved.
Toe enemy orep. up behind the residence Of Mr. VIM
Gregory assembled 10 she roof aud, knocking OF the
ahngles, were euADieo NOS ~ W Optan ~ eASeHent
view, and ascertain the number of cur forces, bit
through she openings thus made hrsd upon aud killed
many Of our msn behind the breastWorks.
The residence of Timothy Rives, Esq, fell int the
possession Of the invaders forces retret and
The scoundre only rAnsacksd and robbed It OF all
its valuable conEsnt buI then applied thu torch, and
burut IL to the ground. Tney aSo carried Mr.. yes
eR prGoner.
The foregoing substantially all the facts cOnnOc
ed with this bold stemp 81 capture Petersburg 90 far
AZ We have been enabled 70 eosot them, bu: the sad
dest pars OF our statement yet remains uneecarded. PEI
tsrsbags brAVess blood flowed freely yesterday ana
nav housahoId has beel plunged INFO tie NEST In
consolabe greet We witnessed scenes 70 tsrday alter
noon which Ne trust may never witness sgsin. All
Who hsVs been 60 siekeD, have the consoanon-a sad
one & L true-bu nevertheless, 81 couSOing to know,
has thcss vino have been 30 suddenly snatehed rom