Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-03-28

| 1SlCuOClldlL-OcllcTdls
The Attack ON Fort Stendman-
The Fort Captured and the GAR
risOn Taken Prisoners = Rein
forcements Arrive and the HSeb.
els are Driven Back.
CITY POINT, March 25.-News has just
| reached here of an attack on our line this
morning at daylight by the enemy, at
Fort Steadman, near the AppomattoX river,
capturing the fort and taking prisoners
nearly all its garrison. They sent those
prisoners over the works toward their lines;
| but on the way they broke from the guard
and mostly all escaped back to our lines on
each side of the works. The lines Oh each
side of the fort was taken and held for
short time by the rebels; but reinforcements
arrived and they were driven back, losing
| heavily in killed and wounded, as they ran
between the lines. Our loss is not known
at this hour, but is believed to- be small. The
line is now reported to be re-established as
formerly.
| SECOND DISPATCH.
| CITY POINT, March %, 3 p. M.-The re-
suit of the engagement this morning was
more important than at first reported. At
the point where the enemy charged the
|
ground between being level and free from
distractions, except the abattis in front of
the works on each side. At this place fir
ing between the pickets has been almost
continuous, and scarcelya day passes with
out two or three being wounded on our
side at least. This point of the line has
been occupied by the Sd brigade of the 1st
division of the 9th corps, Gen. Mclaughlin
commanding. He has often expressed his
ability to break through the enemy's lines
here, and only yesterday he showed how it
could be done to some visitors who were
| inspecting the works. ,.'.N.
This morning four divisions of the enc
my were massed in the rear of their line,
under command of Gen. Terry, who was
appointed to lead the charge. These troops
consisted of Bushrod Johnson's, Walkers,
Evans and Gaines divisions of Gen. Cor
dOn's corps. At 5 A. NJ. the charge was
made, and the time occupied in crossing the
| space between the lines, cutting down the
abattis and getting to the rear of the fort,
was the work of only few minutes. Here
they formed in line of battle, brigade front,
and while one portion advanced on the fort
the other swept to the right in towards
the AppomattoX, expecting to flank and
capture the whole line to the river. The
latter party were met by the 18th Michigan
and drove back after some hard fighting.
The force that attacked the fort were re-
pulsed by the garrison several times, but
their numbers being superior to ours they
finally overpowered and took prisoners
nearly all who were in it. They at once
sent the captured over the works into their
lines, and many got away, as the guard was
very small. ......
General Wilcox moved up part of his
command from the right to the scene of
| ha a,oat frO,,, In
line on the right of the fort Gen. Hart
suff's division, lying partly in reserve and
partly on the line to the lett wing, was
quickly on theground with reinforcements,
and at once assaulted the fort in turn from
the rear, which the rebels seemed deter
mined to hold at all hazards. Three re-
peated charges were made, and after that
the fighting here was over, the Johnnies
laying down their arms and surrendering.
To the left of Fort Steadman is located
battery No. IL, which the enemy managed
to get possession of but did not keep it
long, and although they fought bard, they
were forced to relinquish it. Colonel Nc
Laughlin, commanding brigade, occupy
ing this part of the line, was among the cap
tured. Our loss in killed, wounded and
prisoners is believed to be about 500, over
one-third are probably prisoners. 1t was
first reported that the rebels had carried off
three mortars, but that is mistake. They
took one over the side of the fort, but in
their haste to get back to their lines they
dropped it within few yards of the breast
works, from which place it will be brought
in tonight.
The loss of the enemy is much heavier
than ours. Their dead and wounded num-
Der more than double ours, while we have
over 1,S00 prisoners, among them about 40
officers. The rebel Gen. Terry, who COM
manded the assault, is reported killed. Gen.
Hartsuf was reported badly wounded, but
he is unhurt. He was on the field at one
o'clock, arranging flag Of truce at the re-
quest of Gen. Gorden, to bury the dead and
care for the wounded.
1t seems the enemy believed Grant had
sent away a portion of his army to aid Sher-
man, and that in consequence of this our
| lines were very weak. In this they have
found out to their cost that they were sadly
mistaken.
| The 9th corps have, in this affair, paid the
rebels back for their defeat at the explosion
of the Petersburg mine, and henceforth
they will be held in as high esteem as any
other in the army. -tf
THIRD DISPATCH.
CITY PoINT, March 25.-After the engage
ment between the enemy and the 9th corps
this morning, orders were given for the
9th corps to make an attack on the left Of
| the line in front Of Fort Fisher. The Sd
! division, Gen. Seymour commanding, was
| selected for the assaulting column, and
shortly after noon the line of battle was
formed and the order to advance given. In
short time our men had possession of the
entire line of riilepits of the enemy nearly
all the occupants having been made prisons
ers. Our loss in the affair was very trifing.
Over 6O0 prisoners were brought in as the
result of the engagement.
Still another fight took place at Hatchers
run, in which the I'd corps was engaged.
The attack was made about dark. Over
400 prisoners fell into our hands on this
4 ground, making in all to-day about 2,S75,
\ among whom are nearly 100 commissioned
tofficers, the highest in rank being Colonel.
This does not include the rebel wounded in
hospital, whose numbers are considerable.
These men seemed, as they passed along,
completely satisfied with their position, no
doubt anticipating larger supply of ra-
etions than they have been getting for some
( time. 3N N'Vb 1hiE5 H GEN z a.
1t is reported that Gen. Gorden was seen
/. urging his men to fight, at times swearing
, at them for cowardice. Ending with the
! exclamation, ''By God! just as l thought.
The men won't fight" After which he was
| not seen. d, 4ifI
Lieut.. Nye, of the 18th Massachusetts
battery, was killed while fighting. He was
ordered to surrender but refused, and six
bullets were found to have entered his body.
Col. Penteeost, of the Tooth Pennsylvania,