Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-10-05
QC&l&'9rapbit.
FROM PETERSBURG.

u r y = o ' .
Desperate Attack on our Left-RebeIs
Rcpulscd - Feeling the Enemy
Strength and Organization of Lees
Army Rcinforcements for Early.
New York, Oct 4.-The IIerald's City
Point correspondent of October I'd, says:
As the mail boat is about leaving, learn
few particulars of an attack in force by the
enemy upon our left yesterday afternoon.
Under cover of the rain storm they massed
two divisions of cavalry and several regi-
mcnts of infantry, and attacked Wilson's
| cavalry on the lett of Warrens new posi-
ton. a desperate fight cnsued. We lost
over 100 in killed and wounded, but main
tanned the ground. Towards night the enc
my gave up the attack and retired. This
was the only important operation of the
day.
The Herald's correspondent with the cav
airy, Oct. lst, says: 1t has been fully as
certaincd that the rebel Generals Hamp-
ton, VIII. zee and Young, were opposed to
us during the engagements of yesterday
and day before. They have been so fire.
quently punished by our cavalry that they
will only, fight under the most advanta-
geous circumstances. "-t
The Herald's correspondent with the 10th
| corps, October 1st, says: The grand feature
of the day has been reconnaissance in
force up to the inner line of the rebel
works. Birney has again pushed his forces
up to the very outskirts of the city, and
has only refrained from entering and TAX
| ing possession because his orders would
| not permit him to do so.
This morning the division OF Gen. Terry,
with Kaut's cavalry, started out on the i'm
portant mission of feeling the enemy and
ascertaining his strength in the immediate
vicinity of Richmond. For this delicate
| movement the dispositions were made as
| follows: Two brigades of Terry's infant
| ry moved out by their right flank to the
Central road, and, covered by the cavalry,
advanced up the road towards the city,
| Col Spears brigade of Kantz's cavalry,
with one section of horse artillery, was
thrown out on the Charles City road, with
skirmishers deployed on the left to the Cen
tral road, to cover the movement in that di-
recton. The rest of the cavalry deployed
| as skirmishers in front of the infantry, and
extended their line on the left down to the
lett of our main line. Six pieces Of horse
| artillery accompanied the movement on the
| Central road.
When the line had advanced to the Powell
| House. point on the Central road about
three miles from Richmond, they met line
of rebel skirmishers. At this point the
cavalry skirmishers were withdrawn, and
the 9TH and 10th regiments Connecticut in
| tantry deplOyed in their stead. These regi-
ments advanced handsomely, driving the
rebels before them with ease. The rest of
the column advanced steadily in line of bat
tie in the rear OF the skirmishers. When
the line had reached Howe's House the enc
my opened on them with heavy artillery
| from their main works; but, disregarding
| this, the skirmishers pressed on and drove
the rebels into their line of works at Sharp's
House, two miles east of the city. The cav
airy Oh the right reached simultaneously
the same line of works. These works were
ascertained to be of a very formidable
| character, similar in nature and a continua
| ton of those in our immediate front at
| Laurel Hill. They mount heavy guns, but
are manned by a force of militia men press
ed into the service in the emergency, from
the shops, stores, factories and streets of
| Richmond. B. A E.
The expedition having accomplished all
that was desired, fell back ut nightall to
their old positions. The losses in the move
ment were about thirty killed and wounded.
| While this reconnaissance was going on,
the rebels were observed massing for an at
tack on the left of the 10th and right of the
| 18th. Gen. Birney at once made prepara-
tions which caused the rebels to abandon
their design, whatever it was.
From prisoners we have to-day gained
the following information as to the present
strength and organization of Lees army:
At Petersburg, Anderson's old division of
| Hills corps, commanded by Gen. Malone,
and Bushrod Johnson's division Of Beaure-
CARDS corps-say 10000 in all; north of the
James, Gen. Lee commanding in person,
| Heath's and Wilcox's divisions of Hills
corps, Fields division of Beauregards corps
say 10000 in all; the militia being scatter
| ed in the different divisions. 1t is reported
that one of the above divisions, designation
unknown, returned to Petersburg last night.
| In front of Bermuda Hundred, Pickett's
| division of Longstreet's corps, with Early's,
Kershaw's, and Early's old division of Gen.
Longstreet's corps, Rhodes division and
Gen. Ramesur, commanding Breckinridge's
mixed command. -
A railroad man captured to-day, asserts
that on Monday last he saw 6,000 troops
moving from Lynehburg to Gordonsville,
to support Early, and that eight brigades
of Kershaw's command had previously been
sent forward tor the same purpose. a -
Most ofthe prisoners captured are of the
rawest kind of soldiers-men who have just
been thrust into the ranks. They tell us
when the announcement of the advance
was made, every man capable of bearing
arms was sent into the field, and all busi-
ness suspended. In the rebel assault on the
Both about 800 prisoners were captured.
Paine's division of colored troops, Tempo
rarily attached to the 10th Corps, have re-
turned to the 18th. Gen. Birney<wrote a
letter ofthanks to Gen. Paine and his COM
mand, for their gallantry in storming New
| Market heights = .,--.' & %--N