Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-06-24
OFFICIAL DIsPA7oHEs.

WAsHINeToN, June H.
10 Maj. Gen. Dir
The following dispatches has been received
by this department
City Point, June rs, via jamestown Island,
June l6, $50 A. M.--Gen. Smith, with 49,
600 men, attacked Petersburg this morning.
Gen. Butler reports from his observatory
near Bermuda Hundred, that there has been
sharp fighting and the troops and trains Of
the enemy we're, as he writes, moving from
the city across the Appomsttox, as il retiring.
Gen. Hancock is not near enough to render
Gen. Smith any aid.
The Richmond papers have nothing to in
dicate a suspicion Of our crossing the James
River. They (the rsbels) excepted an attack
from the direction Of Malvern Hill.
CITY Point, Va, June 1880 p. NJ
| Our latest report from Smith was at 4 D. m.
! He had carried line Of entrenchments at
| Bealthy's house, the colored troops assaulting
and carrying the rife pits with great gallant
/ ry, but he had not carried the main line. He
describes the rebel artillery FIRE as very heavy.
/ He expected to assault this line just before
dark. Gen. Hancock is within three miles
of Gen. Smith.
Oify Point. "a, June l6--7 A. n. VIA
JdmestoDn Island, AS a. M-A. 20 p.
m. yesterday, Gen.Smith assaulted and carried
the principal line Of the enemy's works be-
I fore Petersburg taking 13 cannon, several
stands Of colors and between 500 and 400
/ prisoners. This line is two miles from Pc
/ tersburg.
Gen. Hancock got up and took position on
Gen. Smiths left at 8 a. m, to-day. There
was heavy firing in that direction from to 8
o'clock.
Don't Hard Landing, Va, June le--1 P.
M.-After sending my dispatch Of this NOR
ming from the heights southeast Of Peters
burg, went over the conquered lines with
Gen. Grant and the Engineer officers.
The works are of the very strongest kind.
more difficult even to take than was Mission
sIy Ridge, at Chattanooga.
The hardest fighting was done by black
troops. The forts they stormed were, think,
the worst Of all.
After the affair was over Gen. Smith went
to thank them and tell them he was proud OF
/ their courage and dash. He says they can
not be excelled as soldiers aud that he will
send them in difficult place as readily as
out Of the sixteen guns which he took.
The prisoners he took were from Beaure-
CARDS command some of them said they
| rvs Bluff. | do not think any Of Lees ar
my had reached Petersburg when Gen. Smith
stormed it.
They seem to be there this morning. how
ever, and to be making arrangements to hold
the west side Of the Appomattox. The town
they cannot think of holding for it lies di-
rectly under our guns.
The weather continues splendid.
CITY Point, Va. June l6, Ais p. H., via
jamestown, IL AS p M-Gen. Butler reports
from Bermuda Hundred that the enemy have
abandoned their works in front of that place.
Gen. Buffers troops are now engaged in tear
! ing up the railroad between Petersburg and
Richmond.
The following dispatch does not designate
the hour, but it is supposed to be later than
the preceding ones:
! Jamestown, "a, June l6.--I came down
| from the pontoon above Powhattan with dis
patches for Secretary Stanton. Just as /
eft Capt. Pitkin reported to me that Peters
! burg 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
stating that Sheridan had been routed in an
engagement with Fitz Hugh Lee and Hamp-
| ton losing 500 prisoners and leaving his
dead and wounded on the field.
A dispatch from Gen. Sherman dated last
/ night at p. NJ. has been received. 1t only
states the relative position OF the forces. No
engagements had yet occurred.
(Signed) u. NJ. STANTON.
Secretary of War.