The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-10-29
War News Fifty Years Ago
trrom the Riehmond Dispatch. Oct. go. 1894

Our account published yesterday of the move
ments on the north side was In the main correct.
y visit to the front yesterday has put in
possession of some additional particulars
During the night OF the 26th the enemy
massed left. the Darbytown and
Charles City Roads, and their Eighteenth Corps
which, up to that time. had held the line at. and
in the vicinity of, Fort Harrison, Withdrawn
and marched across the Darbytown and Charles
City Roads and in the direction OF the James
City Road. the object being. by overlapping the
Confederate left to get possession of our works
the latter road. Fort Harrison and the po-
sition vacated by the EightceSth Corps
intrusted to small force or newly arrived
troops. mostly arillcrists who. to judge by their
general appearance. their yaw knapsacks. etc.
recent conscripts. About . o'clock the next
our lines OH the Darbytown Road and. being
pulsed. renewed the assault repca teddy. but each
time with the same result. The light here
kept UP for TWO hours or more. and the enciny's
loss in killed and wounded was very severe. The
Confederate losses amounted TO almost nothing
all Of h..hting that rerulsed the Feterals
ut every point with artillery at long range
Although the attack upon the Confederate
lines the south side OF the James day before
yesterday was well sustained and very deter
mined and though doubtless the Federals would
liked TO have broken the Confederate lines there
yet 1t is now very certain that IL was but
demonst ration to cover a much moro important
movement. and ono upon which General Grant
to engage our attention while the Eighteenth
Corps passed to the williamsburg Road and
seized works there But again Grant was
thwarted by generals.
The Fedefnls. in their attack below Peters
burg, to have gained no advantage and
suffered heavy loss. II appears that the Second
Ninth and Part OF the Fifth Corps of Grants
army moved around 10 the Confederate right In
the night time and early yesterday morning
drove in our pickcts at Armstrong; MILL press
ing rapidly forward in strong force in the ,li.
rection OF the Boydton Plank Road, distant some
two miles. striking IN the meantime that portion
OF our breastworks occupied by orr cavalry
before which they wcre temporarily checked
However, tho FcdeTals rallied and in Srenter
forcc renewed the attack. The enemy crossed
Rowanty Creek, below Burgess's MILL and forced
back our cavalry in the afternoon. General
Heth attacked, and ut nrst drove them but
later found them IN too strong force. After.
wards the Fedcrals attacked. but wcr& repused
However, they still hold the Plank Road at
Burgess's Mill
General Lee officially reports: "on the 25th OF
October Colonel Mosby Bi.nwcr HILL cap
turcd Brigadicr- General DUfe several other
prisoners and number Of horses"
General Lees official report of the hghting
southwest OF Petersburg is as follows: General
~ T. Hill reports that the attack General
Heth upon the enemy the Roydton Plank
Road. mentioned briefly in my dispatch last
evening. was made By three brigades undes
General Malone i'll front and General Hampton
In the rear. Malone captured 100 prisoners
three stands of colors and siI pieces artillery
Inc latter could not he brought off, the enemy
having possession of the bridge In tho attack
subsequently made by the enemy, General Ma
none broke three lines OF battle. and during the
night the enemy retired from the Boydton plank
Road, leaving $50 dead on the neld on Ri.
Williamsburg Road yesterday, General Field
captured upwards Of 400 prisoners and seven
stands Of colors. The enemy retired 10 his
former position to-day