The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-11-02

The passage OF the AppomattOX was effected
during the same night and early on the 10th.
Smith advanced in three columns, Kautz
with his horsemen covering his left.
"Now, Hancock's entire corps had been
ferried to the south side of the James on
the night OF Smiths arrival at Bermuda
Hundred, and might easily have been
pushed forward on the morning OF the 18th
to take part in the assault; but left in lgno-
rance Of the projected coup-de-naain, its
commander, in obedience to orders, was
awaiting rations where he had crossed.
Incredible as it may seem, General
Meade himself, the commander OF the Army
OF the Potomac, was left in liketgnorance,
and General Grant, hurrying back to the
north side to hasten forward reinforcements
from the corps OF Wright and Burnside,
found that the army pontoon-train had been
sent to piece out tue wagon-train pontoons,
which had proved insufficient for the passage
of the Chickahominy at Coles ferry. Thus
nearly day was gained to the handful OF
brave men defending the lines OF Peters
burg, and lost to the Army Of the Potomac
curious instance OF the uncertain contin-
gencies Of war, reminding the military
|student, with difference, Of the happy
chance which saved Zaragossa in the first
siege, when Lefebre Desnouettes 'missing
the road to the bridge, missed that to vic
tory"
THE ADVANCE ON PETERSBURG.
Smith pushed forward on the 18th, and
after two hours desperate fighting forced
behring's meagre command to retire from
the rifle-trenches. It was II o'clock before
they came upon the heavy line of entrench-
ments covering the eastern approaches to
the city. "Shortly after that hour Smith
moved by the Baxter road upon the Con-
iederatc works in front of batteries and I,
but the men of Wise's brigade resisted his
repeated assaults with unsurpassed stub
bornness-I use the exact language of
Beauregard-whle the rapid fire of sthe
light batteries completed for the time his
discontinue"
At 7:30 P. M. the enemy advanced at a
charging pace and carried the whole line OF
redans, from 5 to 8 inclusive, and which
were defended by but few hundred men,
while Smith had in his command 10000.
"Scarcely was the assault over when
Hancock came up with the Second corps.
and though the ranking officer, with rare
generosity, which recalls the chivalric con-
duct Of Sir james Outram to Havelock in
front of Lucknow, at once offered his troops
to Smith, and stood ready to receive the Or
ders of his subordinate. The coveted prize
was now within his grasp had he boldly ad-
yanced, and the moon shining brightly
highly favored such enterprise; but Smith,
it would seem, though possessed OF con-
siderable professional skill, was not endow-
ed with that intuitive sagacity which
swiftly discerns the chances Of the moment,
and thus, hating on the very threshold of
decisive victory, contented himself with
partial success, and, having relieved his di-
visions in eocaptured works with Ham
cocks troops, waited for the morning."
THE CONFRONTING FORCES.
"Meanwhile Hoke had arrived on the
Confederate side, and Beauregard having
disposed his meagre force upon new line
short distance in rear OF the lost redans,
ordered down Bushrod Johnson's three bri-
eadcs from the Bermuda Hundred front,
and made such preparation as was possible
for the assault Of the morrow. The situa.
ton was indeed critical, for though the en-
emv assaulted but feebly next morAing, and
Johnson's brigades arrived at 10 A. NJ, there
was still such disparity of numbers as might
well have shaken the resolution OF less de-
termined commander. The Ninth corps
| reached the Federal front at noon, and Gene
raj Meade, having met General Grant on the
| CITY Point road was directed to assume i'm
mediate command of the troops and assault
as soon as practicable. Thus at $50 P. NJ:
more than 10000 troops were launched
against the works held by but 10000
brave men-a disparity still further
increased by the arrival at dusk OF
Warren's Fifth corps, two brigades
Of which--Miles's and Griftith's- took
part in the closing assaults. For three
hours the fight ragged furiously along the
whole line with varying success; nor did the
contest finally subside until after9 O'Clock,
when it was found that Birney, OF Han
cocks corps, had effected 4 serious lodgment,
from which the Confederates in vain at"
tempted to expel him during the night.
.sOn the same day Pickett's division, dis.
patched by Lee, and leading the advance OF
Anderson's corps, recaptured the lines on
the Bermuda Hundred front, which John-
son had uncovered in obedience to orders,
and which had been Immediately seized by
Buffers troops. 1t is surely sufficient an
swer to those who represent Lee as even
then despondently forecasting the final issue
of the contest to find him writing the next
day in great good humor to Anderson:
believe that the men Of your corps will
carry anything they are put against. we
tried very hard to stop Pickett's men from
capturing the breastworks of the enemy,
but couldn't do it,
ssFortunately for the wearied Confede'
rates the enemy. attempted no offensive
movement until nearly noon OF the next
day, at which hour the Ninth corps, ad'
vaneing with spirit, carried a redoubt in its
front, together with four guns and several
hundred prisoners, while HancocRs Second
corps pressed the Confederates back over
Hare's Hill-the spot afterwards made IA
nous by .Gordon's sudden and daring
stroke. ..----.'.-'
NIGHT BATTLE.
"Later in the day the Ninth and Second
corps attacked again, but were driven back
with severe loss. Then along the whole
front occurred a series OF assaults ano
counter-charges creditable to the courage
and enterprise OF both sides, yet so con.
fused that an attempted narrative Woulo
necessarily partake Of that confusion.
| uSuffice it to say that at dusk the Con
federate lines were pierced, and the troops
crowding together in great disorder, ire
| narable disaster seemed imminent, When
suddenly in the dim twilight dark column
was deserted mounting swiftly from the
rayines in rear. and Gracie's gallant Ala
bamians springing along the crest: with
fierce cries leaped the breastworks, captured
shove 1000 prisoners, and drove the enemy
nell-mell from the disputed point. Then
| the combat broke out afresh, and, despite
the darkness ragged with unabated fury un'
til past midnight" =. .. !, .ss... -.
CAPTAIN McC Cabe in glowing language pic
tured the scene in the heroic city OF fetefs-
burg that night, and paid beautiful frlnnte
| xunpaan and. in naSSiQe