Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-02-10
The battle near IatcI,er.s Rum

1
HEADoUARTERs ARMY OF THE PoToMAc,
rep. The night near Hatcher's run yes
terday was one of the most severe that has
taken place in this army for some time, and
taking into consideration the unfavorable
character of the country through which
the troops had to move, and the large force
| opposing their advance, it is not strange
that the enemy should gain temporary
| advantage. The country, from the ci oss-
| ing of the river at Dobney's mills, Is yery
woody, with swamps and rayines running
through it in all directions, and the ONLY
road Is a narrow bye-road, not wide enough
TO allow two wagons to pass, and in many
places in very bad condition.
The 81 division of the 9th corps advanced,
supported by the 1st and I'd divisions, and
also by brigade of the 9th corps. The
rebels were driven to and beyond the mill
on this road, about three miles from cross
ing the line OF breastworks. There were
no less than four divisions of the enemy op-
posing our men, namely, Mahone's, Pc
grams, Heath's and Gordon's divisions
the latter three opposing the 9TH corps,
whlle Mahone's, acting independents
ly, engaged Gregg on the Vaughan
road Tor some time, when Gregg order
ed his cavalry to dismount, and held his
opponent back, inficting some loss. Ma
hone, finding no chance to accomplish any,
thing in this position, wheeled round, and
marching on bye-road running northwest,
struck the left flank of the 9Th corps, doub-
ling 1t up and causing it to fall back on its
center. The woods here being so thick as
to render the formation OF a continuous line
Impossible, 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
towards the position they started from
The fear of being cut Off from crossing at
EGha f as Enough reg
ular panic had seized upon our men; but
upon reaching the open country on
Vaughan road, and finding no enemy there
and the bridges all safe in our possession,
they became reassured, and in short time
the weaker part OF the corps were in line,
ready to meet the enemy as soon as he
should appear. A few minutes after, when
they did show themselves at the edge of the
woods, they were met by such storm of
bullets as to send them back into the woods
very quickly.
Our loss during the day amounts to about
GOO, and that of Sunday to about 200, max
ing total tor the two days of about 800
killed, wounded and missing. The loss of
the enemy is not known, but is believed to
be fully as large as ours. We took about
$50 prisoners, among them number of
officers. ..-e
Notwithstanding q severe storm of rain
which set in last night and continued all
day to-day. freezing as it fell, the Sd divis-
ion Of the 9th corps advanced to the point
it reached yesterday, at, Dobney'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 fight
ing done to-day.
Our permanent lines now extend from
what was formerly the extreme left at Fort
Cumming, on the Squirrel Level road, to
and across Hatcher's run, at Armstrong;
MILL with the advance well out towards
Dobney's mill, distance of about four
miles, all of which ground had been wrest-
ed from the enemy in the past three days,
and makes the line much safer and more
formidable than before. .t
AS soon as the weather permits, further
active movements will no doubt take place in
this vicinity, and one or two like the last
will bring us within easy striking distance
of the South Side road, which will soon be in
our possession.