Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1865-03-29
TEtEGRAPHlC NEWS.


March 26.-The engagement here yesterday
was without doubt the most important and sue.
cessfu for Union arms that has taken place
since our arrival in front Of Petersburg.
Not only was the enemy met and defeated
at every point, but the result demonstrated the
fact that they have Lost heart In their cause,
and that largo numbers are ready and anxious
to lay down their arms and give up the strug-
gle
After they had succeeded in gaining pos.
session OF Fort Steadman, they At once fell to
plundering the baggage 10 the tents, and all
that their officers could do would not induce
them 10 desist
Those who remained in line fought with
nothing like The enthusiasm they exhibited
last summer, and many laid down their arms
at the first opportunity OF reaching the rear.
On Witnessing this the rebel officers deter
mined to return to their own lines as rapidly
as possible, and urging their men over the
works managed to yet large portion OF the
assaulting column back in safety, Hundreds,
however, ran and hid in the bombproois, and
waited for our men to come aud take them
prisoners,
The number OF prisoners brought in by the
Ninth Corps was reported yesterday correctly
at 1900 The loss in this Corps is not tar
from 600, the official fRures not yet being as
certained. After the fighting ceased at this
point Of the line it was thought that the at
tack might have been made to cover q more
important one on the left, and consequently
the entire army was put under arms to be
ready for any emergency.
General Humphrey was ordered to mako
reconnaissance in front OF his line, in order TO
develop the enemys strength and ascertain
Al IL h.
fore noon, and the picket line was here driven
in, or captured, for a considerable distance
Our men continued to advance, and part Of
the division reached and took possession of a
so ,ond line of light works, but the rebels soon
after charged the latter in line Of battle, and
forced our men back to the line Era taken.
This was principally caused by FIRE from two
batteries which they were enabled TO throw
along this advanced position
From this time until four P. NJ. the fighting
was not very severe, the enemy having retired
to their works, leaving a strong picket line
to hold their pits
At this hour the signal to fall in was sound.
ed along the rebel line, and soon after hea
Wy column appeared, and forming ia line Of
battle, advanced in q charge on Gen. Miles
division, bot they we're gsllantly received by
the heroes OF this division, who soon drove
them back in disorder, with heavy loss.
Twice they repeated the attempt to break
through the line, but failing in this, they en-
deayored to turn the right flank, but General
Miles was as ready to receive them here as
at other points, and they finally fell back and
disappeared, leaving their dead and wounded
on the field
The war of musketry on this ground was as
severe and continuous for two or three hours
as ever heard, and was not surpassed even by
that heard at the Wilderness
General Miles and his officers and men,
particularly the Irish Brigade, received the
highest praise for their gallant behavior on
this occasion.
The Third Division, under Genral Mott,
held the center of the lipe aud repulsed each
attack Of the enemy with spirit although the
contest here was not as desperate as in front
Of the First Division.
The Second Division held the extreme left
Of the line toward Hatcher Run, the brigade
commanded by General Smyth only being en-
gagged They advanced at the same time
with the rest of the hne, and took part Of the
enemys works with a number Of prisoners
The losses in the Second Corps, as near as can
be ascertained, are about six hundred and
fifty, with probably one hundred missing
Among the casualties are the following
Col Blsee, 49th Pennsylvania infantry,
wounded Lieut. Col. Andrews, Goth Indiana
wounded; Major Hamilton, 10th Pennsyl
vania, wounded; and Capt Stewart, llOth
Pennsylvania, killed
The engagement between the Sixth Corps
and the enemy was as severe as at other parts
Of the line, where the Second and Ninth Corps
fought Here also the object Of the attack
was to feel the enemy and ascertain il the
works were occupied in force.
Some OF the troops finally reached the reb-
ell pickets and took about 547 prisoners, driv.
ing the remainder back to the main works
The enemy's batteries were very active here,
and did good deal Of mischief ''-
Firing was kept up till dark, without any
attempt on their part to regain the lost
ground. d ut i H
The casualties in the Sixth Corps we're 35
officers aud Ala men. Among the killed are
Capt A Q Douglas, l39th New York Capt
Martin, l22nd Ohio; Adjt l. l. Crawford
F Ritch, 93d Pa IL Col D @ Killear, 93d
Pa, Col "A MilIikin, 43d N Y; Captsin P
Brieher, 93d Pa Capt j G Rample, 18Th
Pa, wounded. ''."
The number Of prisoners in our hands as
the result of the day operations is 2,2Tl en-
listed men and SO officers, besides about l50
wounded in nur hospitals.
An order is being issued to the army CON
graduating the officers and men on the splen-
did victory achieved over the enemies OF the
country, and thanking them for their behAyi-
or on the occasion.
To-day good deal Of picket firing has been
keptup along the line bat without any casual
ties rs far as known.
About twenty-five deserters came in this
morning They bring no news M
LATER
BALTIMORE, March % "A Fortress Monroe
letter AAYa. the mail Eteamar Wehatar from