Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-05-20
FROM GENERAL BUTLER's ARMY.
Severe Fight near Fort Darling-Particu
lars of the Rebel Attack-Butler Change
His Position


BERMUDA HUNDRED, May 17.-As reported
yesterday, the ienemy came out OF their earth
works around Fort Darling at day break yes.
terday morning and charged upon our right
wing, but were driven back with heavy loss.
Immediately they made another charge but
with similar results. At the third charge,
which followed in quick succession, and with
greater numbers, ont right wing fell back, and
we lost a considerable number of prisoners,
also killed and wounded, but your correspon-
dent has no estimate as to the number.
L AT the time of the attack there was a dense
fog, and the enemy was not observable till
close upon us. We however captured about
1856 prisoners, and the enemy's loss in killed
and wounded was at least three to our one.
Prisoners captured say they were heavily re.
inforced during the night, but do not know
where from.
We captured George W. Jones, a son of
Senator Jones, OF Tenn; the Assistant Adju-
tant General of the rebel General Bus hrod
johnson. We also captured three other Cap
tains.
Gen. Gilmore's position on the left was at
tackled at the same time, also our centre, but at
p. m. both held their positions.
Gen. Gilmore captured fifty prisoners in ad-
dltlon to those mentioned.
Up to q o'clock p M, Gen. Buffers head
quarters, which were close in 'front.', had not
been unchanged, but owing to the superior
numbers Of the enemy now confronting US, we
may have to fall back to our entertainments.
All however is in good order with our army at
present.
The rebel ram has not been seen since 10
O'Clock yesterday.
their position, and Gen. Gilmore ON the OK .
treme left is within six and half miles OF
Richmond.
The enemy lost in killed and wounded in
the three charges they made from one thousand
to fifteen hundred men, whilst our loss in killed
and wounded was very slight.
Later.
Gen. Butler having learned that the enemy
W Qa ha4y IV raiv Ind hu fha vpiy
a courier having aseertained that Gen. Kautz's
cavalry had succeeded in their mission in de-
stroylng the railroad bridge over the Appomat-
tox river and several miles of the Danyille
railroad, also the dams, locks and embank-
ments of the canal leading into Richmond,
decided to fall back from Fort Darling, and by
behind our new line Of entertainments, in per-
feet order. with the exception OF Gen. Heck
mans brigade, which was badly disorganized
and the General captured.
This brigade formed the extreme right wing,
and here the enemy made their attack with
great desperation, driving back the brigade
nearly two miles with overwhelming numbers,
and capturing large number of prisoners.
Many were also killed and wounded.
Three Of our siege guns are reported to have
fallen into the enemy's hands, the horses being
killed. The guns are said to have been spiked.
At present it is impossible to give a correct
estimate OF our losses. Stragglers are con.
stantly coming in. We have no doubt lost
more prisoners than the enemy, but their loss
Ours, as our men were protecte6by entrench-
ments.
Several of Longstreet's men were captured,
who stated that his whole force was CO opera
ting with Beauregard. Rather an improbable
story.
One great object Of Gen. Buffers advance
against Fort Darling has certainly been &C.
complished-that of attracting the attention Of
the rebel forces in this vicinity away from the
operations OF our cavalry under Gen KautZ,
whilst they have been destroying the enemy's
m r. SOnth Richmond
Correspondence New York Herald
HEADQUARTERS EIGHTEENTH ARMY CORPS,
IN THR FIELD. May l7-Gen. Butler received
a Richmond paper dated 10th, which acknowl.
edges that Lee met with a defeat on Thursday,
and states that "the slaughter was terrific; no
particulars are known" The paper adds that
Jef Davis received dispatch from Lee which
has been kept secret
Gen. Kautz's cavalry have struck the Dan
willie Railroad and Mattox Station and burned
the bridge over the Appomattox river. He is
tention OF destroying the great iron bridge over
the Stanton river. This is the first positive
intelligence we have received from Kautz.
About GEO rebel prisoners were captured.
Many Of them were taken in the fog, before
they were aware that they were in the midst
of our troops Major T. p. Branch, chief OF
staff Of General Ransom, rode into our line in
the fog and was captured
The rebel works built to defend approaches
to Richmon d, on the south side of the river, are
immense. They are splendid works of art and
mencing at Kingsland creek and passing above
Richmond
at dark the order was issued to retire, and
before midnight the troops were all behfnd
their intrenchments, north of the Appomattox.
Our loss Is very heavy, numbering perhaps
two thousand five hundred killed, wounded
and prisoners. The rebel loss was probably
greater, as they were badly cut up by both
Hickman and Wistar. and were subjected to an
unmerciful Smelling by the artillery.
General Hickman was reported captured;
but am happy to say that he was only missing
for time, and is now with the remnant OF his
valiant command. About one third Of Heck
mans force succeeded in cutting their way
out by the assistance which had arrived to
them.
General Sheiridan's forces started on raid
around Richmond yesterday afternoon, after
refreshing their horses. The cavalry will keep
the railroad communication to Richmond cut
for while.
n~SUNDAY, At 8 O'Clock, Mrs. L. SMITH will
A speak in The lower Capitol grounds under
the influence of the Father of Love who desires
to encourage all nat the is a to future
prosperity-that liberty will bring about the Mil
leneum. my 2)-2tt
n~KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS-WASHI