Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-03-28

SrOa yesterdays :Raeniag clifton.
THE NEWS.

FULL R-AkIltILAkS OF IhE ATTAIN IN lHE
ENEMY'S LINES NEAR PETERSBURG-OPERA-
TIONS on THE RIGHT ETC rsa
The Petersburg Express, Of this morning, fnr-
nishes the annexed interesting details Vi the affair
near that city Saturday morning;
A reconnaissance in force was made Of the sne
my's position near the river on Saturday morning
at an early hour, which was brilliantly executed as
tar as it went, but VAS, unfortunately, attended
with some little loss. Our troops we're nassed to
the lett of Colquitts salient in 'front.' Of the eneHys
works on Hare's farm, whence, preceded by Gen.
GOrdon's corps Of sharpShOoters, silent but rapid
advance was made. The shsrpshooters were mott
lied OF the duties expected of them, ard perfect
quiet imposed upou their movements. The assault
was intended 90 he surprise TO tho enemy, and
such, indeed, It proved to be.
About O'Clock, everything being in readiness,
the corps OF skarpshooters, about two hundred and
fly strong, lett our works, and with empty guns,
advanced Stealthily but rapidly upon the enemy's
positions. They tell like thunder clap upon the
Yankees behind the first iue of works they stvucS,
clubbing such IS they found awake with theiT mus
ketS, bagging good many prisoners, qpd capturing
several hundred yards OF breaStwOrks- Not g mas
ket was fired, and not man injured on our side
Meantime the several brgades nlassed, both 70 sup
port and assist them, came up, and the formidable
forts daTe'S Hill, with considerable portion OF
the heavy line Of works adjoining and connecting
with il, were charged and captured, additional
prisoners and numerous mortars and guns falling
into our hands. Unfortunately, Of tho Yankees
who had escaped in the darkness ed and aroused The
men In the rear line OF works, and tho alarm was
quickly spread throughout the reserve camps be-
hind, 80 that formidable force was 5000 aleri -
By the time our troops had formed iuto line on si-
tnsr side Of the captured fort the enemy was ihor
oUghly aroused, and was prepared tor fsrthssr Of
ieuSiye operations on our side, otherwise She adj
vaGcc OF our troops would have been irresistible
aud successful beyond anticipation, As il was,
they came ia a position subject 10 an en6ladng tire
either side, and confronted by heavy IOrts aud
breastworks. The YanlJ were not slow to'iake
advantage OF the OPPORTUNITY thus afforded them,
and they qnic Sly massed artillery in the neighbcr-
ing forts aOd infantry in rroRt. They made
several fierce assaults upon our columns, IN heavy
lines, which were repuised with great Goodness and
yigor, and in which it is believed the enemy sus-
tanned much loss.
Finding il impossible 10 dslodge the Cnifede-
rates by their infantry attacks, ths enemy opened
upon them with their artillery. Battery No. I, un
the river, aud Fort Steadman, on the right both so
situated as thoroughly to command and enhlaae the
captured fort and works. belehed forth their terri
Ole discharges of shell, grape aud canister INTO
ranks, and rendered the position almost Untenahle.
Further advance by our troops, in the face OF the
terrible obstacles that presented themselves, VAS
deemed imprsclicable, sai Gen. Gordon gave the
command 10 retire. Not whipped, not even once
q repnlsed, our brave men who had taken the enc
my's strong works and themselves repulsed all at
70 this moment they had lost nothing hut gained
everything. The caemy nov opened every gun that
cOVld be brought 20 bear upon troops, aud sub
jeetet them To rain Of iron, before which the
peuences Of Malvern iIih and Gettysburg are said
by veterans 20 pale almost into insign,fcauee. IL
painfully distinct in this city, where our very
dwellings we're shaken 10 tReir foundations Our
troops retired through ills trying ordeal IN
meudsble order, leaving several Of thslr gallant
comrades behind, aud reached their pFlSuisl lines
between eight and Nlue O'Clock. The Yankees pur-
sued no further thGa their own works.
Five hundred ana seven prisoners, all belonging
TO the Ninth corps we're brought on early IN the
morning. Among them was Brig. Gen. MCLaug HIN
and numerous commissioned Ofhcers.
Nine pieces OF artillery and eight mOrtars
captured. The former were sPiEed aud dismounted
Three hns brass mOrtars were brought OF.
Among the casualties Is the following partial list
Of officers
Brigadier Gen: william Terry, painfully in both
thighs.
Brig. Gen. Phil Cook, Of Georgia, arm broken.
Gen. Gordon, very slight IN leg
Col Casey, 5Sth Virginia Regiment, Pegram's
Brigade, captured.
. COLI. II. Baker, commanding Evans Brigade,
wounded slightly.
Lieut.. Col. Tate, 9th North Carolina, badly in
face.
Lent Col. Jones, 57th North Carolina, severe in
arm.
Major Bell, 2lst North Caroliu9, hand slight
Captain Nicholson, \. g. ~ Gea. Johnston,
Captain Kidd, commanding 18th Georgia Regi-
msnt, killed
AoiatAut Clayton, 18th Georgia Battalion, killed.
Brig. Gen. Johnston accidentally sprained an
ankle while leapRg the enemys works.
Our loss will reach several hundred. Oh the en-
emy's loss we are unable 70 form estimate, but
it was no doubt severe, as they were repulsed in
two heavy charges.
An officer of some distinction was shot from his
horse while endeayOring 10 rally his men. He Is
believed 20 have been General Warren, now com
handing the yin corps.
This movement Was well conceived and admira-
bly, executed. Tue commanding officers bear unan-
imOus testimony TO the gallant action of TIE troops
eDgaged and award them the highest l'ralse-
General Gordon's sharpshooters are very highly
spoken Of.
About II O'Clock aag-oi-trnce was sent across
70 the enemy, proposing a cessation of hOstulities
for the purpose OF removing the dead and wounded
which Vas readily acceded TO. Our dead and
wounded were all brought on the held. .
During the remainder Of the day and since there
has been unbrOken quiet on tins portion OF the
lines.
OPERATIONS ON rHE RIGHT.
About nine o'clock on Saturday morning after
the lighting on our left had ceased the enemy com
mencSd demonstrating the right, in the vicinity
Of HSteheT's Run, and thence during the day, down
70 Fort Gregg, some two and half miles FROM the
city. Our picket lines were charged and captured
in front of several brgades, aud in tnrn portions
Of them reesptured BY our troops. These demon
stAdtloHe--toi tAeJ were nothltB eiSc-NNAS LSlt
up all day the heaviest of them being made be-
tween aud O'Clock r. NJ. The enemy advanced
IN double line Of battle, the leagh Of brigade trout
each, and drove in General Thomas pickles, aud
pursuing 10 within some two hundred wards Of our
lines. A battery OF artillery placed in posi-
tion on their flank, which opened upon them with
grace ard canister, and one, second fuss Shells
A large number OF tnem were Killed and wOuniled,-
the lac Of battle quickly broken, aud the Yankees
-rstreated in confusion TO their works. Our main
line OF works was al time of the day IN danger.
The whole days operations were conducted on aRa
about tue picket lines. We lost some prisoners
and captured $50. Our loss in killed and wounded
49, lf-sa-