The New York herald., 1864-06-06
COLONEL PRESTON, OF VERMONT, KILLED.
General Stannard and Celenel Ben
jamin, Of New York, Wounded.
THE LOSS AROUND COAL HARBOR,
&ess Ae.s Aes
Secretary stanton to Major General DIX
WASHINGTON, June 5-1 P. N.

Secretary Stanton to Major General DIX.
WASHINGTON, June 5-1 1P N.
Major General DIX
Adespatch from General Grants headquarters, dated
Aadpa eight O'Clock last night, has been received
states that "about seven yesterday friday Sd of
June the enemy suddenly attacked Smiths brigade, OF
Gibbons division The battle lasted with great fury for
half an hour. The attack was unwaveringly repulsed.
Smiths losses were iuconsiderabeo
At six P. NJ Wilson, with his cavalry, fell upon the
rear OF brigade Of Heth's division, which Lee had
thrown around TO his left apparently with the intention
q enveopng Burnside. After a sharp but short
act, Wilson drove them from their rifle pits In confusion
He took few prisoners He had previously fought and
routed Cordons brigade OF rebel cavalry During these
lights no lost several officers among them Colonel Pres
con, First Vermont cavalry killed; Colonel Benjamin,
Eighth New York cavalry, seriously wounded.
General stannard, serving the Eighteenth corps,
severely wounded yesterday (Friday)
Our entire loss in killed, wounded and missing during
che three days operations around Coal Harbor will not
exceed according the Adjuant Generals report
thousand Eve hundred.
This morning Saturday June ~ the enemys left wing,
% front OF General Burnside, found to have been
drawn IN during the night.
Colonel Cesnola, in command Of nve thousand men,
arrived there yesterday, having marched from Port
Royal.
The telegraphic communication between Cherryetone
and Fortress Monroe continues interrupted.
EDWIN N. STANTON,
Secretary OF War.
Mr. James C. FItxpatrfck's Despatch.
NINTH ARMY CoRps,l
TEN MILES FROM RICHMOND, May SIP. NJ.
am enabled to write you toll night from point little
pearer Richmond than when wrote you this morning.
Me operations OF to-day embraced general advance OF
eur lines, in which we moved about mile towards
Richmond.
SKILL or GENERAL LxpLrs DISPLAYED.
Ny last despatch left all quiet. Towards noon,
howevsr, General Ledlies BRIGADE which in the adj.
vance, formed in column, and marching by the flank,
pushed II may be well TO preface what follows by
bAying that the order to do either misunderstood
Or miscomnuncated II occasioDed movement which
Tor time threatened adsaster and wherein the courage
and cooness Of General Ledc admirably displayed
sn Withdrawing bis mon from very dangerous predca
nent u may be we'll also 10 explain to your unmiary
leaders that In marching by tho fank the troops formed
N close column, four abreast and advanced.
they tobk the road and passed the original skir.
mish line. The rebels, either wondering at the
boldness OF the movement or desiring TO wholly
sntrap the brigade allowed them TO proceed until they
were passing through dense wood, when a voey
poured in from either flank The troops not in line
f battle and Of totally unprepared for such
3 demonstration. However, General Lede gave the
eessary orders to withdraw the brigade, though not
without some loes On reaching the ntreuchments an
explanation was had, when was discovered that there
was mistake about the orders Chaplain Dashiel,
OF the rfty.sevcnh Massachusetts,, had a narrow es-
cape, one bullet passing very close proximity 10 his
ear Surgeon Heath, OF the Fourth regulars was paf.
tcuarly watched by the shsrpshoo,ers who kept him
two hours under cover OF tree from which be dared
not move. ~
s-r- =. cvvrsn ADVANCE,
This afternoon a general advance Of inc corps .oos
acc the Fifty.sixth Massachusetts, leading on as sA
nishers There was brisk 1ring until, near sunset wnen
wc had driven the rebels about mile. Our skrmsh
line tonSst is not far from the Chickahominy rhere
general engagement, of corps; but from the
eriug judge that has been some sharp work 90
our right Our loss will not exceed nity today ! el
Doso partial list Of wounded, viz
z. Z. yniSn, ., s7.h Mass, lef. foot.
f,Snn Samees' s1ta p S1ss Ms.. sais ,s right hand
Lieut.. : Y Priest, 4, @ sS,h Mass. Mass, rIsh, ,hish.
W. /.
James Eylsn, ID, seth Mass face
A. MeGilvray, b, Goth Mass, left shoulder. '
Pat. Howard I, beth Mass, right side.
Daniel Mason, A, seth Mass, loft forearm.
James Fox, a, 5Ssh Mass, lcf. arm aua body.
w. I. Capron, A, seth Mass., left thigh.
T. P. Marshall, A, seth Mass, right foot
A. Nicel, q, 56th Mass nose.
q n Brown, q, 5oth Mass, body
george A. Brookes, I'd Pa. artillery, right leg.
3ohn Merritt, X, Seth Massachusetts,, left side.
n 0lden, q, seth Massachusetts,, right leg.
J. NJ. Coleman, @, seth Massachusetts, left thigh.
ID, NcGowan, r, 6pth Massachusetts, right hand.
John swar,s, X sd New Jersey cavalry, right leg
H. May g, 4th regulars, len side Of head.
r. ~ Steele, 10th regulars, abdomen.
Benapln Dorson D. Tooth pennsy right th igh.
Z Cole, 4, I'd New York Rites, right leg
sTcnn "a Ssw M Yorx orx rlhes ssri sssrsns eg a.,
5ohn sherman, 4, ~ New York rifles, left arm.
corporal H. bounel, A, I'd New York rInee, right hand