The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-10-02
War News Fifty Years Ago

Since last report (and reports have
been mcagre because Of the call upon our Office
FOR printers and reporters and other able bodied
men to so to tie defense ot Rchmondb military
operations below Richmond have been some
what active. although the enemy has gained no
advantage since the capture by Them OF for'
Harrison Thursday last. Saturday morning
last there some dosuliory ilrnS, but as the
day was rainy and disnGrecablc y was generally
supposed that there would be little or no real
fighting As the dag advanced. however. u
heavy nnonadinS was commenced. when con
tinucd for several hours. aud h. 1850 IN the
afternoon il surpassed in rapidity and sound
any thing before heard IN Richmond. The
reports of heavy guns fairly shook the houses III
the city. and. from elevated positions the smoke
OF the guns could be distinctly This CON
iinucd until near o'clock. and some imaginative
persons under tho impression that gen
crai engagement was in progress In the very
cnvirons Of RchJnond Some fanciod they could
hear the rattle ~ the muskctry, and thst" We're
numerous conjcctures concerning the nature ana
progress OF the battle. The reports OF cannon
AVERAGED about one minute "h',c ., ''',, ne,
they more frequent ':naNy the
Of all OF this excitement was easily cN-
piainet by people coming IN from tho front II
appears that the Tenth Corps of the Federal
army commanded by General Birncy, al
vanced on the Darlington and Charles tltE
Roads, accompanied by a large force OF caNilr%
under General Spears, and succeeded in getting
in the vicinity OF the intermediate line Of en-
trcnchments. some and half miles from
Richmond. At this point the Confederate bat
teries opened upon the enemy had no trouble
in preventing them from getting in position,
and they retired gracefully. This effoct on the
part of the Fedcrals was only a RECONNAISSANCE" IN
was only great waste oi ammunition to no
purpose at all
portion Of tho James River Confederate
fleet has been engaged since Thursday morn
ing last in Smelling Fort Harrison. but no gen
cral assault has YET been attempted. and the
enemy still hold the position.
Yesterday tSunday) with thee exception OF
Some diminishing chains Bluff. no gen
crai lighting took place III. lines below
Richmond sunday morning tho cnemy drove in
our pickcts n Chains, but In the afternoon.
our having rallied, they in turn drove in
heIO irn fall nfpl 81!
OF the old lost ground
Among tho confcderatcs captured At Fo".
Harrison last Friday were Colonel Maury ana
Major Il 6. Taylor, the last named. a brother
OF General Lees adjutant-t'cucral. Major Taylor
Harrison.
Several farm houses below the city havc
been burned within tho last four days, some
OF chem - the fedcrala a,lI by own
mon as prcca"tionary measures Among those
d"stroycJ were the dwellings, Of Thomas \.
Duke. pr i.oftn, The Hughes tavern aud tho
homes Of Mr. clay and Mrs Weaver md mo
barns ~ Joseph White.
From Petersburg General i.co reports to Mo
War Department: Yesterday evening General
lie,h attacked The encny's infantry, who had
broken through portion Of tho Inc held
ny our artillery on Squirrel Love, Road and
drove them back. General hin reports that tho
enemy was severely punished ana 100 prisoners
were taken General Hampton operating on
''chera' 'ioths r'sh' also drove the enemy in.
capturing two stands Of coors and $40 prison
"rs, including tive coloncls and thirteen other
officers"
In all % tho Saturdays nshiins in front of
Petersburg II seems that The Confederate arms
We're fairly successful our troops rcga,ning
nearly MI OF the ground prey iousiy lost and re-
capturing all of the guns that lost in tho
hshting Of two DAYS before
Among the killed in SATURDAY 3 nghtins around
Petersburg were Or. Fontaine. Of the pr ca
ldsnf .! the Central Hallway. and General Don
itvant, Of South Carolina. who WAS il, command
oi Hutler's old brigade
General Early reports officially that all Of the
enemy : cavalry has retired from his front .
wards liarrisonburG No force Of the enemy has
moved south Of Staunton for the past three days
Friday afternoon II large cavalry force of the
enemy was driven from Early's front and far
beyond Staunton