Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-02-16
LATEST WAR NEWS.

I,;r advance, it is not strange that the
',l nonv gained temporary advantage.
Tnc country from the crossing of the
pnn 70 dabney's Mill is very woody, with
l,romps and ravines running through it in
~ directions, and the only road is a narrow
',,.road not wide enough to allow two wag-
,1s 10 pass, and in many places in very bad
/ condition.
The Third Division of the Fifth Corps
Iranccd, supported by the First and Sec
and Division, and also by brigade of the
sixth Corps.
The enemy were driven to and beyond
the mill on this road, about two miles from
,5c crossing line of breastworks.
There were no less than four divisions of
rho enemy opposing our men, viz: Ma
.,rn's Pegram's Heath's and Gordon's old
livision-the latter three opposing the
Fifth Corps, while MahOne's, acting indie
nendentIy, engaged Gregg on the Vaughan
/ Road for some time, when Gregg ordered
his cavalry to dismount, and held his oppo-
npnt back WELL inficting some loss.
Malone, finding no chance to accomplish
anvthing in this position, wheeled round,
and. marching on a by-road running north
. wcstwardly, struck the left flank of the
Fifth Corps, doubling it up and causing it
70 fall back on the center.
The woods here being so thick as to rem
s der the formation of continuous line i'm
] possible, the command became somewhat
confused, and the heavy fire which was
poured in by MahOne's men made things
! still worse, and in few minutes the entire
line left their position falling back rapidly
ward the point they started from.
The fear of being cut off from the cross
Z me- at the Vaughan Road increased the con-
fusion, and for a short time it seemed as
though regular panic had seized upon our
men, but upon reaching the open country
on the Vaughan Road, and finding no enc
mv there, and the bridges all safe in the
possession of our troops, they became re-
assured, and in short time the greater
mart Of the Corps were in line ready to
meet the enemy as soon as he should
q appear.
4 i few minutes after when they did show
& themselves at the edge of the woods they
we're met by such severe storm of bullets
As n send them back into the woods very
quickly,
Our loss during the day amounts to about
s six hundred, and that of Sunday to about
1 two hundred making a total for two days
4 Of about eight hundred killed wounded and
. missing.
j The loss of the enemy is not known, but
9 is believed to be fully as large as ours.
We took altogether about one hundred
9 and eighty prisoners, among whom are
& number of officers.
Notwithstanding a severe rain Storm
which set III last night and continued all
day to-day, freezing as it fell, the Third
Division of the Fifth Corps advanced to
the point it reached yesterday at Dabney's
Mills, driving the Rebels before them and
into their works beyond.
The casualties in this affair have not yet
been reported, but are said to be very
few
This was all the fighting done to-day.
Our permanent lines now extend from
what was formerly the extreme left at Fort
Cummings, on the Squirrel Level Road, to
and across Hatchcr's Run at Armstrong's
Mil, with the advance we'll out toward
Dabneys Mill, a distance of about four
miles
All this ground has been wrested from
the cnemg in the past three days, and makes
the line much safer and more formidable
than heretofore.
As soon as the weather permits, further
active movements will no doubt take place
i'll this vicinity
One or two more like the last will bring
Us within easy striking distance of the
South-Side road, which, is hoped will soon
bee in our possession.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY THE PoToMAc,
Wednesday, Feb s, 1865
The result of yesterdays engagement
was more important than reported in my
last dispatch, the particulars of which
were not fully known here at the time |
sent it off
When the Fifth Corps fell back to the
line of works at Hatcher's Run, on Monday
night, the enemy did not follow very vigor-
ously, nor did they make any attempt to
storm the position.
1t was believed, however, they would do
50 yesterday morning, but up to noon no
sign Of an attack appeared nor did the
Rebels seem to be in strong force in the
vicinity
1t was therefore determined to send a
reconnaissance out over the ground occu-
pied by us the day previous, and ascertain
where the Rebels were, and if possible
force them back to their works at Dabney's
Mil
Gen Crawford's Division of the Fifth
Corps, having led the advance the day be-
lore, and being best acquainted with the
nature OF the country, was selected for the
duty, which they performed to the entire
satisfaction of the Commanding General.
The column moved about noon, taking
the Dabney's Mill road, and advancing
about half mile struck the Rebel pickets
who fell back as our men advanced
\ line of battle was then formed the
right resting on Hatcher's Run and the left
supported by part of Gen Wheaton's
command of the Sixth Corps
The entire line then advanced cautiously
throughout the thick woods on each side of
the road, and before going far met the Reb-
els IN force, when sharp engagement i'm
mediately began
The Rebels were steadily driven back un-
I'll they took refuge behind their works at
the Mill, where they made determined
stand
Fighting here was kept up until dark,
when our men commenced throwing up
slight Breastworks to protect themselves.
The Rebels did not seem disposed to at
10 L 4