ginia cavalry and 34th Ohio infantry established a fine which the enemy had reason to respect and remember. Great credit is due to the brigade commanders, Brig.-Gen. Duffie and Col. Schoonmaker, for the energy and skill they displayed. While the conduct of all was admirable and deserving the praise of the Brigadier-General commanding, he desires, without making invidious distinction, to express his high appreciation of the steady and skilful evolutions of the 2d Virginia cavalry, under Col. Powell, upon the field of battle. It was a dress parade, which continued without disorder, under a heavy fire, during four hours. Gen. Crook moved from Charleston, Va., at the same time with Gen. Averill. His object was to strike the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad at Dublin Station. His force consisted of the 23d, 34th, and 36th Ohio, forming the first brigade; the 12th, 91st Ohio, 9th and 14th Virginia, forming the second brigade; the 3d and 4th Pennsylvania Reserves, 11th and 15th Virginia, forming the 3d brigade. He proceeded without opposition nearly to Princeton, where two companies of the enemy, one of cavalry and one of infantry, were encountered and driven off. Near the southwestern base of Lloyd's Mountain, about four miles from Dublin depot, a more considerable force of the enemy was found. These were under the command of Gen. Jenkins. When he was killed, Gen. McCausland took the command. After some skirmishing and manoeuvring for a position, the enemy were attacked in front and flank and driven through Dublin to New River bridge. The Union loss was one hundred and twenty-six killed and five hundred and eighty-five wounded; and that of the enemy was severe, but unknown. On the next day an attack was made on the enemy's position near the bridge, and it was destroyed. The expedition proceeded as far as Newberne, on the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, ninetynine miles from Bristol, destroying the railroad for some distance. The resistance of the enemy, with the approach of a strong force under Gen. Morgan, caused Gen. Crook to abandon the design of the expedition against Lynchburg and withdraw to Meadow Bluff, in Greenbrier County. The force in the Shenandoah valley, numbering about fifteen thousand men, was placed under the command of Gen. Sigel. He advanced to the vicinity of New Market, about fifty miles from Winchester, on the west side of the Masanuttan range of mountains, and nearly midway between Mount Jackson and Harrisonburg. His command was designed to cooperate with Gen. Grant, as before mentioned, up the She nandoah valley, and occupy Gordonsville and Lynchburg, and thus destroy the western com munication of Gen. Lees army, and aid to isolate Richmond. On the 13th of May Gen. Sigel's advance encountered the advance of Gen. Breckinridge. Some skirmishing ensued, which was renewed on the next day, and also on Sunday. Gen. Sigel, however, continued to advance, and brought a part of his forces into position, one division still being in the rear. About 3 P. M. the enemy moved to attack. A hot contest ensued, which resulted in the defeat of Gen. Sigel, with a loss of a thousand stand of small arms, six pieces of artillery, and seven hundred men. The loss of the enemy was also large. Gen. Sigel fell back in disorder, abandoning his hospitals, and destroying a portion of his train, and retreated to Cedar Creek, near Strasburg. The enemy failed to pursue in force. These results to Gens. Averill, Crook, and Sigel, caused a suspension of that part of the plan of Gen. Grant which consisted in destroying the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, and the occupation of Lynchburg. The next important movement in cooperation with Gen. Grant, was made on the southeast side of Richmond, from Fortress Monroe up the James River. The 18th corps, under Maj.-Gen. M. F. Smith, and the 10th corps, under Maj.-Gen. Q. A. Gilmore, composed the military force of the movement, under the command of Maj.-Gen. B. F. Butler. These forces were concentrated at Yorktown and Gloucester as if designed for a movement up the York River. At the same time a brigade under Col. S. F. Alford, 3d New York, landed at West Point, up the York River, and commenced building the wharves, &c. On the 4th of May orders to move were issued, and the troops embarked on board the transports. After dark on the 5th, the vessels began to move down the York River, and up the James River, preceded by three army gunboats under command of Brig.-Gen. Graham; by the doubleenders Eutaw, Mackinaw, and Osceola; four monitors, the Tecumseh, Canonicus, Saugus, Onondaga, and the iron-clad Atlanta, and by the smaller gunboats Commodore Morris, Hunchback, Commodore Jones, Dawn, Delaware, Putnam, and Sheshonee. At As the fleet proceeded up the James River, a regiment of negro troops, under Gen. Wild, were landed at Wilson's Wharf, on the north bank, below Charles City Court House. This was done for the purpose of preventing the interruption of water communication. Fort Powhatan Landing, a little above on the south bank of the river, two regiments of the same brigade were landed for the same object. At City Point, the division of Gen. Hinks, with some other troops, and a battery were landed. At this place the flag of truce boat was lying with four hundred and fifty prisoners brought up on the previous day for exchange. The remainder of the force proceeded up the river, and landed on the south bank at Bermuda Hundred, which is three or four miles above the mouth of the Appomattox River. Immediately upon landing, the troops intrenched themselves, with the gunboats covering their flank on the water. On the same day, Gen. Butler sent the following despatch relative to his proceedings to Gen. Grant: OFF CITY POINT, VA., May 5, 1864. Lieutenant-General Grant, Commanding Armies of the United States, Washington, D. C.: We have seized Wilson's Wharf Landing. A brigade of Wild's colored troops are there. At Fort Powhatan Landing two regiments of the same brigade have landed. At City Point Hinks' division, with the remaining troops and battery, have landed. The remainder of both the 18th and 10th army corps are being landed at Bermuda Hundred, above the Appomattox. No opposition experienced thus far. The movement was apparently a complete surprise. Both army corps left Yorktown during last night. The Monitors are all over the bar at Harrison's Landing and above City Point. The operations of the fleet have been conducted to-day with energy and success. Gens. Smith and Gilmore are pushing the landing of the men. Gen. Graham, with the army gunboats, led the advance during the night, capturing the signal station of the rebels. Col. West, with eighteen hundred cavalry, made several demonstrations from Williamsburg yesterday morning. Gen. Kautz left Suffolk this morning, with his cavalry, for the service indicated during the conference with the Lieutenant-General. The New York, flag of truce boat, was found lying at the wharf, with four hundred prisoners, whom she had not time to deliver. She went up yesterday We are landing troops during the night-a hazardous service in the face of the enemy. morning. BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj.-Gen. Commanding. A. F. PUFFER, Captain and A. D. C. Gen. Kautz, above mentioned, left Suffolk on the 5th, and forcing a passage over the Black Water, advanced to Stony Creek, on the Weldon and Petersburg Railroad, and burned the bridge over that stream. A part of the force of Gen. Beauregard moving from Charleston to Richmond, had previously crossed over, and contested the further progress of Gen. Kautz, who then moved through Surry and Prince George counties to City Point, which he reached on the 8th. On the 5th, also, Col. West, with two regiments of cavalry-the 1st and 2d colored-made a demonstration on Williamsburg, above Yorktown, on the Peninsula. He advanced to the Pamunkey River, stopping at the White House, and returned to Williamsburg on the next night. On the 7th he advanced over nearly the same ground again, but met with more opposition, than on his previous expedition. Subsequently his force was embarked on transports, and landed at Bermuda Hundred. . On the 6th, Gen. Butler caused reconnoissances to be made of the position of the enemy. On the 7th, an expedition consisting of five brigades under Brig.-Gen. Brooks was sent forward for the purpose of cutting the Petersburg and Richmond Railroad. When within two miles of the railroad, the cavalry advance came on the enemy in a strong position, from which they opened fire upon the mounted rifles. The cavalry fell back to the infantry line, which deployed as skirmishers, and slowly advanced with a strong support in line of battle. The enemy were now steadily driven, with some loss to both sides, back to their main line in front of the railroad. Here a sharp contest took place, during which some of the railroad was torn up, and a railroad bridge, crossing one of the tributaries of the Appomattox, was set on fire and totally consumed. The increase of the force of the enemy finally compelled Gen. Brooks to retire, leaving some of his dead and wounded on the field, and with an estimated loss of two hundred and fifty. At the same time when Gen. Brooks' main column started, a brigade under Gen. Heckman, with Belger's Rhode Island battery, moved out on another road, and meeting a force of the enemy, drove them back on the railroad, but were unable to penetrate far. The Petersburg and Weldon Railroad was supposed to be an important route by which supplies were brought to Richmond. For the purpose of disabling this line more effectually, another advance was made on the 9th. Three divisions from the 10th corps, under Gens. Terry, Ames, and Turner, and two from the 18th, under Gens. Weitzel and Wistar, moved from camp at daylight, and reached the railroad at four points without opposition. Gen. Terry's division occupied Chester station, about fourteen miles from Richmond, and destroyed the track. Gen. Turner moved on his left toward Petersburg, until he came up with Gen. Ames' division, each destroying the road. Four miles was thus finished before noon, and the column began to move toward Petersburg, the division of Gen. Weitzel leading the advance. The enemy were met near Swift Creek. A desultory skirmish began, which was continued until the line of battle was formed and pushed forward. The fire on both sides then increased, and artillery was brought into action. Gen. Ames' division formed on the left, then Gens. Weitzel's, Turner, and Terry in the order named. The enemy were steadily driven back, with considerable loss on both sides. At night the enemy had fallen back to their batteries across the creek, and the skirmishers confronted each other on opposite sides. During the night the enemy formed in a column, and advanced about one o'clock, either to test the strength of the pickets, and to determine if the force had been withdrawn, or to capture a battery. The pickets on their approach fell back to the main line; and as they came well up, a destructive fire of musketry was opened upon them. Three charges were thus made in the dark, and repulsed, when the enemy withdrew, leaving sixty dead on the field. In the morning they made an attack upon the right flank, for the purpose of turning it, but without success. In the afternoon a similar attack was made on the left, which was repulsed with some loss on both sides. At night the forces had returned to their original position. The 11th was a day of quiet and rest to the army save that portion engaged in strengthening the intrenchments. On Thursday, the 12th, a heavy force from both corps was sent out, under Gens. Gilmore and Smith, and at the same time an expedition of cavalry, under Gen. Kautz, for the purpose of cutting the railroad communication between Richmond and Danville. Leaving a sufficient force under Gen. Ames to watch the enemy at Petersburg, Gen. Gilmore advanced on the left up the railroad toward Chester station and Richmond. Gen. Smith, with the 18th corps and a division of the 10th, advanced in the same direction on the right, up the turnpike between the railroad and the James River. A little above Werbottom church the skirmishers in advance met the enemy and drove them back a mile or more. They then made a determined stand in a strong position, and a sharp engagement ensued. Finally the enemy retired slowly to a new position, where they again made a stand, and were again driven from it. The skirmishing continued until dark, when the command of Gen. Smith had advanced to Proctor's Creek, within about three miles of Fort Darling, and within sight of that work. The weather during the day was hot and sultry, and a number of cases of sunstroke occurred. Meanwhile Gen. Gilmore moved from his position to Chester Junction, and thence up the railroad toward Richmond, reaching Chesterfield Court House, on the enemy's right, without any real opposition. Continuing his advance, and diverging still further to the right, he reached a formidable earthwork, stretching from west of the railroad across to the James River, which was strongly constructed, and well supplied with embrasures for artillery. This proved to be the outer line of defence about Fort Darling. The movement of Gen. Smith had caused the enemy to concentrate in his front, so that no heavy force appeared before Gen. Gilmore. Throwing forward the 24th Massachusetts and 10th Connecticut as skirmishers, with some sharpshooters and a battery or two in position to annoy the enemy and occupy his attention, Gen. Gilmore sent the brigade of Col. Hawley through the woods on the right, which surprised the enemy and entered the right flank of the work in the rear. The enemy made a sharp resistance, but were driven to the rear by the brigade of Col. White advancing and occupying the line. Finding their position turned by this movement, the enemy on the next morning-Saturday, the 14th-under cover of a vigorous demonstration, abandoned the whole line, and withdrew to the second, a stronger line of works, about threefourths of a mile distant. A despatch of Gen. Butler on the morning of the 14th says: We are still before the base of the enemy's works at Drury's Bluff, Fort Darling. The enemy are here in force. Gen. Gilmore, by a flang movement with a portion of his corps and a brigade of the 18th corps, assaulted and took the enemy's works on their right. It was gallantly done. The troops behaved finely. We held our lines during the night, and shall move this morning. Two hours later he added: Gen. Smith carried the enemy's first line on the right this morning at 8 A. M. Loss small. The enemy have retired into three square redoubts, upon which we are now bringing our artillery to bear with effect. The redoubts into which the enemy had retired commanded the outer line of their defences, and it was necessary that Gen. Butler should obtain possession of these to enable him to secure his position. His artillery was therefore brought to bear upon them, and with the aid of the sharpshooters the enemy's guns were silenced. About 9 P. M. the enemy attempted to advance on Gen. Butler's line near the Petersburg turnpike, but after a short engagement they withdrew within their work. On the next day, at noon, they again advanced, and attacked Gen. Heckman's brigade; a contest with musketry ensued, which continued for four hours, when they withdrew within their works. On the next morning, Monday, May 16th, under cover of a thick fog, the enemy made an attack on the line of Gen. Butler. The attack was made on the right, with cavalry, artillery, and infantry. The extreme right next the James River was held by Gen. Heckman's brigade. Next the river were two squadrons of colored cavalry, then came the 9th New Jersey infantry, then the 23d Massachusetts, then the 25th and 27th Massachusetts, all of Heckman's brigade, of Weitzel's division, of Gen. Smith's corps. Gen. Gilmore's corps held the left and left centre. The line of battle was the fortifications, except on the extreme right, where they did not extend down to the river. Prominent among the batteries on the right was battery E of the 3d New York artillery, of twenty-pounder Parrotts, and the 1st Rhode Island battery. On the right, in reserve, Col. Drake's brigade of the 10th corps was temporarily posted. A narrow belt of timber screened the reserves from the view of the enemy on the right. The advance of the enemy reached the rear of the 9th New Jersey before the attack was made. Gen. Heckman finding he could not hold his position, began to fall back. The enemy, however, charged upon him in overwhelming numbers, and his force was broken and driven from the field, and he was made a prisoner. At the same time a force of the enemy moved down the turnpike, and attempted to surprise Ashby's battery of twenty-pounder Parrott's. Most of the guns were saved, but the loss was heavy in men. The Rhode Island battery also lost one gun. Having forced back the right, a heavy attack was made on the entire line of the 18th corps, with feints along the line of the 10th corps; and the entire right was forced back some distance after several hours of severe and sanguinary conflict. The loss was severe |