The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-06-18
BY TELEGRAPH
!. EVENING PAPERS.

official Dispatch from Sec. stanton


WAsHINGToN, June II.
To Maj. Gen. Dir The following dis
patches nave been received by this depart
ment:
City Point 18th, ria jamestown Island 5 80
a. NJ l6th.-Gen. Smith, with $1,000 men, at
tackled Petersburg this morning.
Gen. Butler reports from mis- observatory,
near Bermuda Hundreds, that lhere has been
sharp lighting, and the troops and trains OF
the enemy were, as he writes, moving from
the city across the Appomattox, as if retiring.
Gen. Hancock is not near enough TO render
Gen. Smith any aid.
The Richmond papers have nothing TO ind-
cate suspicion OF our crossing the James
river. They 1.-THE rebels) expected 10 be at
tackled from the direction OF Malvern Hill.
7.30 p. M-Our latest report from smith
was at p. NJ. He had carried line of en-
trenchmenis at Beatty's House, the cOlored
troops assaulting and carrying the rifle pits
with great gallautry, but he had not carried
the main line. He describes the rebel artillery
fire as very heavy. He expects TO assault this
line just before dark. Gen. Hancock is with
in three miles Of Gen. Smith.
City Point Va, 7.30 Il. NJ, 18th, ria james
tolen Island IL As A. MAJ 7.20 L. NJ. yes
terday, Gen. Smith assaulted and carried the
principal line of the enemy's works before Pc
tersburg, taking thirteen cannon. several
stands of colors and between 800 and 400
prisoners. This line is two miles from Peters
burg. Gen. Hancock got up and took posi-
ton on Gen. Smiths left at A. NJ. to-day
There was heavy firing 10 that direction from
8 to o'clock.
A dispatch from Don't Hard" Landing.
Va, 10th inst, at p. NJ, says :-After send
ing my dispatch of this morning, from the
heights southeast Of Petersburg, went over
the conquered lines with Gen. Grant and the
engineer officers. The works are of the very
strongest kind-more difficult even 10 take
than was Missionary Ridge at Chattanooga
The hardest lighting was done by the black
troops. The forts they stormed were, | think,
the worst Of all. Alter the affair was over
Gen. Smith went 10 thank them and tell them
he was proud of their courage and dash. He
says they can't be exceled as soldiers, and
that hereafter he viii send them in q difficult
place as readily as the best white troops.
They captured six out OF the sixteen guns
which he took. The prisoners he took were
from Beauregard's command. Some of them
said they had just crossed the James river
above Drury's Bluff. / do not think any OF
Lees army had reached Petersburg when
Gen. Smith stormed 1t. They seemed 10 be
there this morning, however, and making ar
engagements 10 hold the west sidc'of tho APP
pomattox. The town they cannot think of
holding, for it lies directly under our guns.
The weather continues splendid.
City Point. - p. M 10th, ria jamestown
lI.45 p. M.-Gen. Butler reports from Ber-
muds Hundreds that the enemy have aban-
doned the works in front of that place. Gen.
Buffers troops are now engaged in tearing up
the railroad between Petersburg and Rich
mond.
The following dispatch does not designate
the hour. but il is supposed TO be later than
the preceding
Tres Junction, Va, 16h.-I came down
from the pontoop above Powhattan with a
dispatch for Secretary Stanton. Just as left
Capt. Pitkin reports TO me that Petersburg
was in our possession.
Nothing of recent date has been heard from
Gen. Sheridan, but the Richmond Wing of the
18th contains dispatch from Gen. Lee, stat
ing that Sheridan had been routed in an en-
gagement with Fitz Hugh Lee and Hampton,
losing 800 prisoners and leaving his dead and
wounded on the field.
A dispatch from Gen. Sherman, dated last
night at Q O'Clock. has been received. 1t only
states the relative position Of the forces No
engagements had yet occurred.
tSigued) EDWIN M. STANTON,
Secretary of War.