Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-02-16

The battle on the 9th instant, near Petersburg,
turns out TO have been an action OF great sever
ity and Of considerable importance, both as re
CARDS the numbers engaged in It. the facts that
were developed bv the fighting and the results
that NAV flow from il. The affair has caused
more interest and excitement here than any
event since the fall Of Fort Fisher. As the re.
sult of the action is not regarded a triumph of
our arms, il will doubtless, al present. be herald
ed as a reconnaissance. pretty full account of
the affair reached here this afternoon from par
ties VINO were eng ed in il, the substance of
which il as follows:
The confederate works defending all the ap-
proaches to the Lynehburg or Southside railroad
from the south were known to be Of great
strength and extent, particularly those in the
neighSorhood OF Hatcher's Run. al point where
the Bovdton Plank Road crosses that stream
which is fourteen miles southwest of Petersburg
General Grant made several attempts to carry
these works last fall. the last being on the 9th
Of October. and all of them resulting in failure.
The present attack made with the same ob
ject in view. and has terminated in the same re-
suit. IL was another attempt by General Grant
10 extend his left wing further around TO the
west OF Petersburg, and il failed almost in the
same manner as the battle of October 81, and
owing to the same reasons. There were. how
ever. some new features in this affair.
corrs, Gen Hancock 5 old corps, now con-
manded by Gen Humphries; the 5th corps, Gen.
Warren two divisions from other corIs and q
large detachment Of cavalry. in all considerably
over 50 600 men. When il Is remembered that
the 81 corps is by far the best in the army and
that the 5lh is not far behind them either in nu-
mericai strength or discipline. the inference il
irresistible. either that Gen. Lees army i
stronger than is generally supposed. or else that
the works on that particular plrt of the confed
crate defenses are such as cannot be easily car
ried
IL will be remembered that. starting at three
O'Clock in the morning on Sunday our troops
after a long and difficult march on the Vaughan
road, reached and crossed Hatcher's run and
took possession of some outworks of the enc
nv, on the southwest side of the stream, and
about a mile distant from il. Here they en-
trenched and bivouacked that night On the
morning OF the 9th. the whole force being
sembled. and Gen. Meade himself being in the
Geld in person, an advance made in a west
err. or northwestern direction, along the Dsbney
Mills road, which runs nearly parallel with the
run This advance. AZ fret. not seriously
contested. The confederates, who did not ap-
pear 70 be ia much force, fell back. and abandon
ed several positions, which were occupied by
our troops.
rhe Boydton plank road. which runs to Pc
tersburg. crosses Hstcher's run about three or
four miles above the Vaughn road On reach
ing the Boydton road il was found by our troops
that the confederates were in strong force beyond
IL, end were holding the bridge by which il
crosses the run. Ii was found. in the battle of
Oct 81. that the enemv's strongest works were
the bill just beyond this bridge. on the north
west side Of the run. On that occasion the
bridge was carried BY Gen Egsn's division of
the ID corps. and they were just forming to
charge the works upon the hill when our whole
force was Withdrawn aud the attempt abandoned.
Our troops, therefore. were familiar with the
ground.
On this occasion it WAS evident that the con-
federates bad fallen back, only 10 concentrate
their forces At their positions the Boydton
road, where the main body was posted. For, on
arriving at this road. and before line of battle
could be formed. the enemy charged, and drove
back our advanced division upon the main body.
What followed Immediately co not feel at lib
erty TO relate liz Is said that OF the divisions
were out Of ammunition; but why should thew
have been sent into action in that condtiionf All
accounts agree that considerable disorder pre-
vailed, and that some OF the troops mot those in
the advancsl became disorganized IL would
seem that when the retreat began. all attempts TO
form line Of battle on the southwest side of
Hatchers Run were unsuccessful.
The contederates. too. charged from two di
rectons at once. and in force that proved TO be
overwhelming +: for although the retreat was
checked once. at the place where the second
corps had intrenched. vet il was resumed. and
continued until all of our forces had re crossed
TO the northeast side of Hatchers Run. The
confederates followed in pursuit. and had
the aadscity TO attack our troops near the Arm
strong House on the Duncan road mile east of
Hstcher's Run. The retreat. however, by this
time. bad been stopped A line OF battle was
formed. and the charge WAS handsomely repuls-
ed. The confederates then crossed the Run.
and retired TO their positions on the southeast
side thereof. and near the Boydton Road. and
our forces resumed their former positions
Five ammunition wagons with their contents,
said to have been abandoned during the re
treat, and TO have fallen into the hands of the
confederates
The only result that seems TO have been &C
complished i, that it has teen ascerlained that
the enemv Is IN very strong force At that part OF
their line. and that they hsvs continuous lines OF
very strong works at all available points be-
tween the Boydtown plank road and the Lynch
burg railroad
The reader wil naturally inquire why il was
that no attempt made on the 7ih TO again
march to. charge upon. and take the positions
near the BoydtOn road. in which the euemy had
been found posted on the 6thl That question
must remain unanswered. Unless the intelligent
reader can 6nd an answer for himself.
MALCOLM
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