Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-01
War News Fifty Years Ago
Urom the Richmond Dispatch April 1. 1863,

All continues quiet on the north side of the
James. and is likely to continue ouIct tbora ror
a long time to come,
On General Gordon's lines on the Petersburp
front there has been stir since the affair
ot Wednesday night The performances OF that
never to be forgotten night are quito sufficient
TO last the Yankees considerable length OF
time. "
The Fcdcrals have pushed heavy column
beyond our right, southwest OF Petersburg but
we hav" heard nothing that is any way relia bile
from that quarter since General Lees official
report OF night before last, published in ycstcr-
day mornings paper. in which he briefly stated
th;'t there was some lighting going on at or
near Dinwiddic Courthouse.
y report that comes to this ma ner from, ,,.,,,,
burg. outside Of official sources is to the effect
mat General Grants long contempa ed move
ment 10 extend his left towards the Southside
Railroad. has begun and that he has 40 900 men
on the field TO back up that movement
~ late report that came in last night is that
Il heavy tight going pretty much all
day yesterday in Dnwiddie County, near
flntchcr's Run. eight miles from Pctersburg
There arc no official reports from the lighting
on fintchers Run, but unofficial reports Of many
kinds are filling the air. The most reliable of
these that We can gather. state unequivocaly
thnt three furious assaults made Ivy the
Fedcrals. and that two of them were repused
There is some doubt TO the results the
third. There was a rumor last night that tho
third assault had succeeded in breaking one of
our strongest lines, but this lacks
hrmation and is not believed in official circles.
Last night there n report that
the Federals. about o'clock Yesterday after
noon came up in crwhclming numbers and
aroNc SeneraI BuShrod JohnSonS division mile
and hair back from his former position Later
confederate re endorsements came up: the tide
was turned, the enemy driven back. and
when night put an end Ia the terrific battle the
honors seemed TO be easy.
Notwithstanding the rcticcncc of tho War Dc
rartnent and its fixed determination to tell
nothing of what il knows about the vigorous
battling in front of Petersburg. some will
leak out. There is doubt that terrible light
ing is going on all along the Petersburg lines.
Grant is making determined rush. and Lee
is making equally as determined defense Men
on both sides arc being slain in great numbers.
and all reports agree that tho ground between
the contcndnE armies is strewn with tho dead
and the dying and the wounded
The report comes that Federal raiders
are advancing on Marion, in Smythc County, Va.
What they want with that place doth not rs yet
appear.
bury y. G.. to capture the prisons there and
release the Federal prisoners. was met by the
North Carolina militia and driven back, and
off their route.
Over 400 Federal pri*ouc came in from the
Petersburg front yesterday. and were safely
landed in Libby. They were captured on Gen
erai Gordon's front within the last three days.
Tho fourth big freshet of the in the
James River became serious yesterday after
noon. when the waters got into the lower floors
OF downtown business houses. This frcshct
will rctard military operations down the river.
The Virginia Legislature met yesterday in
supcr-cNtra session. What they expected
to do outside OF official circles seems to
know. The suggestion is that the best thing
they can do is to adjourn and go home.
There is special from North Caro-
lima. Sherman Is still inactive. and If Johnston
Is doing anything he is not letting any body
know about il.
Gold is said now to he selling in New York
at 152. 1t cannot be bought at any price in
Richmond. for the simple reason that there is
here for sale.