The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1865-03-30
THE WAR.
SHERMAN MARCHING ON |!
GRANTS LINES ADVANCED I!
A SEVERE BATTLE.

A SEVERE BAT Tie.
The Enemy Defeated with
Great Loss.
2,700 Prisoners Captured.
OFFICIAL WAR BULLETIN.
WAR DEPARTMENT., WAsHINaroN, Friday,
March "a, 9 p. n--To Major General
Dix:-The following extracts from Rich
mond papers were received this evening at
$50 D. m, from Gen Grant
CRY PolNr, March 23-To Ebn. e. NJ.
Stanton, Secretary Of Wharf.-The Richmond
papers are received. The following is from
North, Carolina. 1t is understood in official
circles that no fighting has occurred in North
Carolina since Sunday. 10th, and from all
we can learn It appears that Sherman has
ATTEMPTED no advance since his check on
that date. General Hardee's victory Of the
f6.h was very important one, and as re-
CARDS the enemy, a most bloody af6r. Gen.
r-h--A-- A-i~---- .>t,aa shni in that kaftfa fhe
enemy $500. The fight took place at Av-
erysboro, on the Cape Fear river. half way
between Raleigh and Fayetteville, Gen
Johnston's defeat of the enemy last sunday.
the 10th inst, occurred at Bentonvile. We
are informed that Sherman is pushing to-
wards Raleigh in two columns-one moving
due north for Fayetteville. the other north
west from Newbern. Gen. Hardee fought
the former, Gen. Johnston the,latter.
U. ). GRANT. Lieut. Gen.
WAR DEPARTMENT, March, 81.
To Major General Dix:
The following official reports Of operations
of the Army of the Potomac on Saturday
and Of Gen. Sherman's operations since he
left Fayetteville, have been received this
morning. Gen. Sherman was at Goldsboro
on the I'D Of this month. No movements
were made on cit her side before Richmond
and Petersburg since Saturday night.
E, NJ. STANTON, Sec. of War.
War Department, March 25.-7. p. m.
To Major G neral Dix This morning at
half-past o'clock, the enemy, by a strong
and sudden assault, captured Fort Stedman;
but after a Wig ,rous contest the fort was
recaptured, with 1000 prisoners, two flags.
and all the guns uninjured. Gen. McLaugh-
lin was taken prisoner by the rebels, who
assaulted Fort Haskell, but they were re-
pulsed With great loss. The official report
is subjoined e. NJ. STANTON, Sec. War
City Point, March 25-10:30 am
Hon. E NJ. Stanton
The following dispatch of Gen. Parks is
received nv Gen Meade:
[Signed U. s. GRANT. 1t. Gen.
The enemy attacked my front this morn
ing at about 4:30 a. m, with three divisions
under command of Gen. Gordon. By
--sS------~ a--y----s--a 49, I:---i>.ia -hs
the Sd brigade, lst division, at the foot Of
the hill to the right Of Fort Stedman, over.
towering the garrison. and taking possess.
ion of the fort. They established themselves
upon the hill turning our guns upon u.s.
Our troops on either flank stood firm.
Afterwards a determined attack was
made on Fort Haskell, which was checked
by part OF McLaughlin's brigade and Will
cox's division. and was repused with great
loss 10 the enemy.
The LIST brigade Of Hartsufrs division
held in reserve, was brought up, and a
check given to any further advance. On.
or two attempts were made to retake the
hill. and were only temporarily successful
until the arrival Ct the I'd brigade, when
charge was made by that brigade aided
by the troops ofthe LIST division on their
flank, and the enemy were driven out Of
the fort with the loss Of number of prison
ers, say about 1900 The battle. flags also
have been brought in. The enemy also
lost heavily in killed outside our lines The
whole line was Immediately re. occupied, and
the guns reeaken uninjured. regret to
add that General Mclaughlin was captured
in Fort Stedman. Our loss otherwise was
not heavy. Great praise is due Hartsuff
for the gallantry displayed in handling his
division, which behaved with great skill
in this its first engagement"
JOHN PARKS, Maj. Gen.
WAR DEPARTMENT, March 25-10:30 Pm.
MAJ. GEN. DIX:
Later reports from Gen. Grant, which
are suhjoined, show that the operations Of
our forces this morning were brilliantly
successful. The number of prisoners al
ready secured number tw thousand and
seven hundred. The rebel killed and woun-
ded, General Grant estimates at probably
not less than 5000. Our loss Is estimated
at 800, and may prove less.
E. N. STANTON, Sec,y War.
City Point. March 25--s A. NJ.
Hon. e. NJ Stanton. Sec'y Of War:
The number ofprisoners received by the
Provost Marshall is 1920 taken by the
9th corps, and 500 by the I'd corps There
may be still more to be brought in.
y, S. GRANT, Lieut.. Gen.
The Tribune's Goldsboro North Carolina
correspondent says Joe Johnsto ms entire
force confront Sherman at Smithtield-the
latter being on the south side of the river,
ard the former on the north side. Late
dispatches confirm this statement.
In the engagement on Sunday the 10th,