Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1864-06-25
THE WAR.


and is defended by The entire Confederate
army. On Friday last heavy battle was
fought in which General Grant was re-
pulsed. The Federal loss is estimated OF
eight thousand.
From Petersburg to Port Walthall the
Appomat,ox River runs nearly north
From Port Walthall its course 10 east to
City Point. -Four railroads runs out of
the town. One TO City Point goes north.
east One to Richmond goes north, pass
ing threo miles west Of Port Walthall.--
One to Norfolk runs southeast, and the
road to Weldon, in North Carolina, runs
south Paraelle to the City Point road
there is turnpike East from the town
is another turnpike, known as tho Prince
George road. The Baxter road rams
south. From Port Walthall around to the
Weldon Railroad is complete semi icircle.
Had General Grant moved with little
more calerity he could easily have cap
tured the town. On Wednesday morn
ing last General Lees troops begun cross.
ing to the south bank of the James River,
at Fort Darling, fourteen miles north of
Petersburg. One brigade and two or three
batteries, with few militia, we're all the
Confederate troops in the town. These
were distributed over largo circuit, and
could easily have been vanquished had the
Federal attack been pushed vigorously.-
At noon, on Wednesday, General Smiths
corps attacked the outer lines Of Confed-
crates, on the railroad and turnpike run
ming to City Point, four miles from town
The contest was kept up till dark, the
Confederates gradually retreatipg for
mile and giving up the outer line of works.
Hancock's troops then began to come up
along the Prince George road, approa ch-
ing Petersburg from the east, At the same
time Lees advance from Fort Darling,
partly on cars and partly marching, came
across the Appomatox into the town.
During the night they were sent to oppose
Smith and Hancock.
On Thursday morning Burnside camo
up, following Hancock on tho Prince of
George road; took position south of tho
road, and approached the town along the
Norfolk Railroad. Lees troops still con-
tinued to ponr into the city, and the lines
in front of Smith and Hancock were made
strong. During Thursday, Warren came
up and took position south of Burnside,
approaching the town from the south along
the Baxter road. On Thursday night, by
sudden attack, tho Coniedera.cs, sur
prised the 9TH New York Regiment, which
was out on picket in front of Hancock's
lines, and captured three or four hundred
prisoners. On Friday morning by an
equally sudden attack Burnside captured
the two rodoubts in his front, with four
guns and four hundred prisoners. The
prisoners he sent to the rear, and with
them the battle-fags Of the New York
regiment, which he succeeded in recap.
turing. The Confederates, however open.
ed brisk FIRE, which forced them to re.
trea. and give up the redoubts, and enable
them to retake the guns
On Friday, Wright with the Federal
trains began to arrive, and Lees troops
continued pouring into the city. All the
time the whistles and rnnniug trains could
be heard on the Richmond Railro ad.-
Strong demonstrations were made against
the Confederate works, bnt nothing could
be accomplished. Grant began to eutrench
A force of Confederates, north of the
Aappomattox, advanced from the Rich
mond Railroad to the line of works from
Port Walthall to Dutch Gap on the James.
This line is from three to six miles east
of the railroad and fully protects it. But
ler's forces were weak, and all but the
negroes had been withdrawu to attack
Petersburg, and he retired before the ad.
vance. On Saturday nothing was done
but skirmishing and digging. Both ar.
mics worked hard in the trenches. On
Sunday morning the armies maintained
tho same positions. Some attempts by
Butler to advance to the Richmond Rail
road was frustrated. Had he succeeded
however, it would have been of little ad.
vantage,as all Of Lees army was at Peters
bueg.
General Grant docs not seem to intend
another ditect attack upon Petersburg
He is apparently contemplating q flank
movement around the town by way OF
Bermuda Hundred. He could easily have
turded Petersburg one week ago, without
any loss. Gilmore, it seems, has quar-.
relied with Rntler and 10 renortad IN ho ma