Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-10-06
THE OPERATIONS AGAINST RICHMOND.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF Potomac, OCT.l
Fhe long contemplated and earnestly hoped for on to
Richmond" of the Army Of the Potomac has at length
teen commenced and the progress made the right
ries within about six miles of that devoted city while
left has been flung around and abks Petersburg
the vest approaching to within short distance of the
Soutbsde railroad.
This initiated by the Tenth Corps which had
ben occupying the front against Petersburg on the south
side of the Appomatox quietly Withdrawing from it's Do.
son and moving Wednesday night last under cover of
da kness to the north side of the James river at Deep
Bottom, the Eighteenth Corps having meanw lille crossed
at Rkers Landing. After crossing the river the Tenth
Corps, haJor Gen. Blrney commanding moved up the
New Market road and the Fighter th up the Varna road
intending to form junction where these roads iners.ct
front Of the rebel works about seven miles from Rich
mond where they would form line Of battle with the
Eighteenth Corps the left and the Tenth Corps ON The
right Kautzs cavalry division, who also had part to
perform in the grand drama about to be enacted after
securing the country in front of the two corps took ts no.
son the left fink and moved forward along the Oar
bytown road thus eectuay providing against any posi-.
blty of sortie and nk attack that side while the
right faux equally well protected by the gunboas and
the river.
Nothing opposed the onward movement Of this force
until they about entering he pine woods on the north
side Of the Aikens farm when their skrnishers or adj
guard met the rebel pickets These formed but
slight obtrucuon being speedily driven back and induced
to seek shelter behind the front line of rebel work which
commence at the river Drury's Bluff and run north
wardy some three miles, when they bear westward un
they connect with tho line which forms the northern ia
fences of Richmond.
The portion Of this line nearest the river aud ia front of
the Eighteenth Cops described IA bspp very strong
with four redoubt at appropriate intervals and defended
by small rce well provided with artillery of various
calbre. That portion in front Of the Eighteenth Corps
nothing more than rifeps defended only bynfantry
but these in pretty strong force and the rebels no
doubt supp, sed them sufficient for any emergency likely
to occur.
About eight o'clock yesterday morning the Eighteenth
Corps having approached to within about half mile Of
the rebel work emerged from the woods and CHARGED
across field The fret DIVISION which was in tho centre
succeeded in driving the rebels from portion OF the
works in their front and not only captured the works but
took sixteen guns from the eucmy five Of which were
heavy siege guns This division also suffered severely in
killed and wounded losing in the aggregate about five
hundr d men killed, wounded AMI missing The second
division Of the Eighteenth Corps, which WAS on the left
the James RIVER also charged upon and succeeded in
carrying the works. but found it impractcabe to hold all
lines as that nearest the river exposed to an en-
fladng fire from the rebel gunboats as vel "a 70
the fire OF the second line of the enemy's works to
which their discounted forces had withdrawn After
gaanty striving for several hours to maintain their posi-
ton their left was compelled to withdraw from that nor
ton OF the line nearest the river, where they fell back to
the woods forming angle with their right which con.
tinuei to occupy the works they had captured
At the angle where the two portions OF the second dv
joined, our army held eide of redoubt and the
rebels the opposite side and the on neither side dared
show their heads above the parape lest they should be-
victims to the accurate aim Of the enemy the op
poste side They still continued to occupy this position
and both parties are unwilling to abandon he work with
out another contest which may be expected at any mo
| ment
While the Eighteenth Corps performing the feat,
we hive mentioned Gen. Paynes negro division Of the
Tenth Corps moved the New Market road and between
aud 10 o'clock charged the enemys rhe-pts on the
right OF the Eighteenth Corps with onet and succeeded
in carrying the works but not without heavy loss to
themselves Gen. Terrlrs division Of the Eighteenth