The New York Herald Newspaper, June 30, 1864, Page 1

THE NEW YORK HERALD. | WHOLE NO. | GRANT wees Tho Left Wing in Possession of the Weldon Railroad. PETERSBURG STEADILY SHELLED, 10,149. Sharp Engagement Between the Rebel and Union Batteries. Hancotk Again in Command of the Second Corps. Reinforcementof Rebel Troops in Petersburg. Narrow Escape of the Rebel Generals Bragg and Ewell. The Rebel Attack on the Second Corps. Interesting Account of the Whole Affair. HOW WE LOST THB GUNS AND PRISOVERS. @he Brilliant Achievements of Hancock and His Corps, as, aes THE HERALD’S DESPATCHES. THE SECOND CORPS, aa Mr. Finley Anderson's Despatch. Oamr Near Prrerssura, June 27—Evening, PICKET BHOOTING SUSPENDED. Baring the last two days there bas been an enusual @tiiiness prevailing im our front, Upon the cessation of the weual picket fring yeaterday it was ascertained that (@e soldiers occupying the advanced picket posts on otther side had entered into an agreement ‘‘not toahoot , St eae another,’ and that We the reason why everything * qm this vicinity has been. so very quiet. It was also as- @ertained, however, that this convenient srrangement ‘was abused by too free acommingling of the pickets, and Oemsequently General Birney directed that, while the or. @oery picket Gring should be allowed to conse, there (Must be nocommunication between the opposing pickets. Geace, with the exception of an occasional shot, there es been no fring in Sie ne ee two days, eum nape cour mm Yo view. ‘The robele have pitched their tents in full view of our (mont advanced positions on the line, It is said that «Shoes touts belong to Hill’s and Longstreet’s oorpe, of Lee's ermy, and that Loe is operating op our left, while Rean- gegard holds the town, MOVIE: —SHRLTER TENTS ‘A Gome dispositions were made in the Second corps to- tay to anticipate the operations of the enemy. Gibboo’s @ivision participated im @ mevement for the perfect pre- S teotion of our flank, Our treops along the. established fees bave put up their shelter tents, which in the night (Bield them from the dampness, and tn the day from the scorching gum, The few days of rest which they ave bad bas done them a great deal of good. ‘RETURM OF COLONEL PULFORD. Lieutenant Colonel Pulford, of the Fifth Michigan regi- ment, returned to-day and reported for ectivedaty, He bes been absent on account of wounds received in battle. Fret be was wounded at Malvern Hil!, where he was (truck in the head by a spent cannon ball, the shock of @hieh rendered him insensible, He was taken @ prisoner f Richm: nd, and returned (o Detroit, after the lapse of six weeks, being all the time utterly emconscious of bis im- Prisooment, He was wounded again at Fredericksburg end Gettysburg, and last io the battle of the Wilderness, ‘where it was supposed he was mortally wounded; for the passed in at his neck, and, going through the body, out in the shoulder. But be nas completely recov- wed, and has come to rejoin bis command. main, A Golightful showor of rain this evening has cooled the gamosphere, iaid the dost on the ground and greatly*con- qziduted to the comfort and benefit of the troops. (EwERAL BARCOCK AGAIN comnehxD or W18 CORE IN THR. © General Hancock resemed command of his corps this pvening. His wound having closed, be is ready agaia for ative service in the field, Gen. Birney, who has had temporary command ef the corps, returns to the com- ‘4 quand of his own division, mr. L, A. Hendrick’s Despatch. Heapquarrens, Fier Anny Corrs, } Brvone Parenenura, Jane 26-10 P. M. Bothing to report to-day except that while the lei! in fighting continues the heat and depth of dust increases, fie aiternoon we looked for a good rain storm, this being the thirty-first day without rain; but after a good fon! of fuss of wind and muttering of thonder there was | eet rain enough to lay the dust, ‘ CanDaLriEs, ‘4 Tend with shia @ Met of casualties for the past two faye, ocourring from eheliing ond skirmiehing, aod as IT have be/ore bad orcasion to remark, i) constant picket and interebange of artillery is beving » steady and active effect on our men. Pay}! Theobeld, Gy 87th RY, leg, severely; iar Con Davi! Tho , , severely; Jax Concer, Toth Pa, thigh, peverely ; Firat Liout Jous 8 Williame: 7 101th Fa, abdumen, severely; J ( sullivan, k, 30th , leg, whctey; Henry Ford, ky sain Pa, arm, sigh. Bis John McGregor, O, 2d-N Y art, hip, ‘ei \omors , sitar, mock, mighuy viva, B me Pa, wrist, severoly, David Sonem, 1, 107th I wens tie ise ral, i or ry Rhover, iy nes Pennsyivante, died; First 97th N See esta thigh, nevers heen ‘Gi i aban np od mater Bik is ae i Teeaotph M Graeiy, ‘i cei 1, coon NY, ate? slight tin Gill, F, 13th Maes, tly; Chas Pa H, 97th N'Y. doger, slightly; ory ‘ABpenr, thorax, suightly. Jno is Puller, E, 89ti Mase, Brier, F, 97th N ¥, maheerey | i Rowecraus, 107th Pa, arm yes aati wich, 2d Fa, ‘igh Leeti, a Paj te Ate 906h Pa, foot, $ Henry sich ho7th Pat Moron soverely; wm Seven Ist Pa, arm, severely; ‘Corp Jobo gies, K 90th Pa, arm, severely; Green Perryman, K, 94th NY, log, 80- vorely; Lieut Ed Greenfield, 'B, 1st Pa, Rhacuan severely; Juo Kelly, H, 107th Pa, leg, severely ; “£ Ste- vens, a RT Pa, a tks severely ; bia nnd Ff, st BRS tly, B Oakes, a, 97 back, slightly, ton, % ~ Isaac Cornelius, A TRS Morrow, 6, 2bth Mn 1, 12th fa0e, shoulder, severe verely; P W Bradt Winslow, G, Téth. ae, 104th NY, foot, slightly; Geo S pias betas a knee, seveteiy; Corp @arrattB Davis, 'B, 24 sasha aiemers F, 97th N Y, thigh, Hever! 4 Le ©, 97th NY, pe, apaverely Corp Jee Mass, de sy My ath Mass, arm, slightly; Sergt J J. Rai severely; Jom Whitely onb Knee, }, severely; B Watros, EF, 971 'Y foot, ‘goverely ; SW aneaea’ I, lat Pa, leg, a hia Wm MoKiamel, D, 11th Pa, eo lightly ; Wm 1 saree, }, 107th rat Orax, ort ni B Roath, E,Ao7th te shoulder, slightly; Cor Lee Lewis vUhampney, H, 12th Mi haem slightly; ate a if berts, D, STth NX, arm, severely; face, 3 ebtly Sy Jno oath, Ay NY in city severely; Cor Patri lovooven. G, 97th N Y, shoulder, severely: Serg 7 ‘Aitgon’ B, 80th Mass, thigh, severely: Corp Jos Weaver,!. 2d Pa, arm, slightly; Orloa Wilson, E, 13th Mass, shoulder, slightly’ Levi Denny, A, N'Y, shoulder, shightiy: Wm H Bartoll, K, “12th Maze, shoulder, severely; P Warren, H, 97th NY, thigh, sevorely: F P Horton, 2d Pa, thigh, siightly; JJ Biealer, K, 14th Mass, hip, slightly. TOE WINTH CORPS, Mr. James C. Fitzpatrick’s Despatches, Nints Agwy Ou Bavorp Peterssurc, Va. “it Sine 26—Noon, 4; ‘The position of affairs on our front has undergone no very material change within the past few days. Botb Sides confront each other with heavy lines of breast- works, well supplied with artillery. The intermediate space is occupied by tho pickets in thetr little pits, which hold from one to a dozen soldiers, whose sole aim, object and ambition for the time being’ are the obtaining of a shot af a vis-a-vis in the pits opposite, To effect this they Tesort to all manner of devices, One watches with his rifle aimed at the rebels white a comrade draws fire by showing his hat or apart of his clothing. The ‘'reb”” res; but simultaneously with the shot comes a discharge aud a bullet from an unexpected quarter. INDIAN STRATEGY. A very curious piece of strategy which took place the other day shows that the wonders of Cooper's Indian heroes have not coased. Une of the Fourteenth New York artillory—a Seneca Indian, I believe, from the Western’ Part of the State—undertook’on a wager to bring in alive & rebel sharpshooter, who was perched in a tree in front of our Hine, considerably in advance of his own. His manner of accomplishing this was as ingenious as suo: cessful,-and rivals the ‘‘deviltry” of any of the Leatner- stocking redskins, Procurjng a qnantity of pine doughs, he onveloped himself with them from head to foot, at taching them’ securely to a © branch, which he Inuhed lengthwise of his body. When completed, he was indistinguishable toa casual observer from the surrounding foliaze, and tesembled a trée as closely as it was possible for bis really artistic efforts to render him. ‘Ibus prepared, and with masket im hand, concealed like- wise, be atole by almost imperceptible movements to be- Beath thé tree where the sharpshooter was lodged. Here he patiently waited until bis prey bad emptied bis piece at one of our men, when bo suddenty brought his musket to bear upon the hon” giving him no time to reload. The was taken at a disadvantage. To the demand t0 come down he readily assented, when the In- dian triumpbantly marched him a prisoner into camp and won his wager. a. slightly ; UP axD pow. ‘The straggle for the upper hand .between the pickets is mods amusing, despite its’ ofttime sanguinary character, Ie our boys have the “reba” under subjection they, of Course, strive to keep them so. Some chance im the game haggiven tham the anpostenter of “aime Btluwes Henea, while they can look over the breastworks with impunity, no rebel dare show bis head. Some turn in ‘the wheel of chance, or perhaps a vigorous shelling from Whe rebel batteries, drives them to,cover again, when up spring the rebels and resume the mastery, Our batte- ries now shell the rebels, compelling them to “duck,” when the vigilant ‘Yank’? is ap again and the ‘‘reb” is Gown. So the struggle goes on from hour to hour and day to day. CAPTAIN. M’KIRREN WOUNDED, Captain McKibben, ef General Potter’s staff, while in- specting the lines last Wednesday, was sfiot by a sbarp- shooter, the ball prssing through the lower part of his fooe, inflicting a most painful, but we sincerely hope not a dangeroas, wound, I would have recorded the fact be- fore, buton learning that Captain McKipben was wounded supposed that reference was had to an officer of General Ledlie’s ataff of the same name, who had been wounded a few days previonsiy, It is a singular coincidence that two staff officers of the samo vame and same corps should have been wounded, and in the face in both instances. Captain McKibben gradnated at the Now York Free Academy, and on tho breaking out of the war changed from the Seventh regiment National Guard to the Fify- first Yolunteers, with which he served until after the battle of Newbern. He rose to the rankof gaytain, served ss atd-de-campon the staff of General Ferrero until he was appointed exsistamt adjutant gene- ral of volunteers by the Presidont, when" he was as» signed to thé Secend division of the Ninth corps. He bas served with this division ever since, Cool and couragoons, he was an invaluable aid upon the battle flold,, The; atmy foca not contain af officer more gal- Jant—and I tne the term in ite full sense~than Captain McKibben. Wo al! wish bim a speedy recovery from his severe but honorab!e wound, REVIEW OF THR COLORED TROOMS. ‘This afternoon Genera! Burvside reviewed the eolored tviaton of General Forvero. The troops went through ‘the evolutions in a most creditable manner and evinced » high dogree of discipline. Thetr marching was particu- larly noticeable for its regularity and précision. General Burnside, after the review, visited the bospi- ta’e and went through the diferent wards, bestowing a cheering word as bo passed along to the wounded heroes who have delighted to bleed under his leadership. June 28—A, es } ‘THE ONR AUNDRED-TOUNDINA OPEN YIRR ‘The music of the siege is now enitvened by the more senorous voloes of sone husdred-pounders, which were Pat in position yesterday, So (ar they have been fred buteoldom, and that with the object of obtaining range aod elevation. Last night they burst a shell over the city every Gtteon minutes, with’ the jatention, no doubt, Of disturbing the sinmbers of the garrison of Petersburg, AN ARTILLNRY MCIDENT. You may form ao idea of the lively nature of the artil lery firing from the following ineident, During the gale whieb accompanied the rain a large number of trees were blown down, On examination it was observed that @ach one had been perforated, or Boneyoombed, by shot and ebeil, Hence their feeble resistance to the force of the wind, Ninra Akay Conrs, Bayory Permxanuna, QUT AND coor, With the exception of a deaultory cannonade it te quiet thie moraiog, We are enjoying eome deliciously oom weather this morning, thanks te # rain storm yes- terday afternoon aod last evening. ‘WOUNDED. Lieutenamé Bbidell, Sesond New York rifies, was lightly wounded on the skirmish line yesterday. we For the last two Gaye wothing of moment bas varied the mosotogous stave of thivge in existence on eur front, | Picket fring costinnen, of eonres, oocasionally terminat- ‘Img eB general diecbarge atong our whole line of Battle, AN tied the ariBieny Joine in the fight, and, efter the Aischarge of 2 faw shelle from Parroite, brass pieces and Mmortare, silence again reigoa eupreme, eUBLIKG rETeRERORG, ‘The only 40 UDie plate of phings is the regular five minnion diacbarpewt a tntyipotiider Parrott, whore dorvoralizing contents @xplide, with what eect we know RO In tho strnote of bak\amnered Petersburg, The rebel NEW YORK, THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 1864. PRICE THREE CENTS. THE REBEL ATTACK ON THE SECOND CORPS. The Fight on Wednesday, June 22, When the Second oon” was Flanked. SS JEMYS ADVANGE MAHONES DIVISION BILLS CORPS pts ysH ELE ZINE: Of OF ae SET, (spo WeSkiy Se, ‘ < a % ‘ ENEMY sp SADVANCE ANDERSONS DIVISION NLS CORP: DENSE ES Wo00LSE eo, NE “eS ENEMYS ADVANCE His @eTHs DIVISION BILLS CORPS . , papers bave spoken in terms of merriment of the appear- ance of these destructive missiles; but it is exceedingly probable that their tone has by this time changed, and will probably be still further changed, as our gunners have now a perfect range, and the opening of our splen- did and numerous guns, when they commence a bom- Dardment, will prove to be anything bots subject of mirth, BARTRWORKS Cover our entire front, no as to render it utterly impossi- dle for the rebels, by massing troops on our front, to carry our lines. The scientific skill of Capt. Farquhar bas cov- ered our advance with a line of earthworks impregnabie to any attack, and even our field batteries are enabled to advance almost to the extreme front. Lieutenant Beecher has run bis battery almost up to the rebel line, and the bullets of the eharpehooters are constantly striking the parapet that protects his guns; but he has been enabled to bold his position and inflict serious damage on the evemy. For the Jast thrce days he has been occasionally dropping bis ebells into the city, and is likey before jong to make bimself as disagresable to our misguided brethren of the South inthe field as his father bas ai. Teady done te the pulpit, THE SIGNAL CORPS, The services of the signal corps at present are extreme. ly ardvous, The constant fluttering of flags by day and the waving of torches by night sre too monotonoura labor © continue day and night without exhausting all en- gaged, Lieutenant Theodore ¥. Patterson, chief signal Officer of the corps, has mace arrangements 90 ad. |, mirably that tho slightest inovement of the enemy onany part of the front of this cerps is communicated ‘te General Smith with remarkable rapidity, To accom- piish this It has become necessary to eatabiieh every signal station of the corps under fire of the enemy; but so far no casualties have occurred, and the revels have be- come tired of shelling and shooting at thew, WORKING PARTIEA, Tt ts abi easy when a king party har been sent ‘W the front to make some alterations and improvements 0 our works to discover the fact by the endden volleys of musketry that startle the soldiera from their heda at midnight, Ar soon as 9 party is discovered working the rebels open on them without hesitation. ‘THR REBEL, WORKS OF THR TROY, The rede) works that lie between thie corps and Peters. ‘durg harély deservo a more elevated title than rife pits Intrenchments Js almost too large a name to apply to the piled up earth they have been enabled to place before them on tho level conviry they now oeeupy. Only ove @ievation Of ground Row remains In thelr possession, and ‘that Je far enough to the lett of General Amith’s com- mand to enadie the latter to march over every work they Dold toto tho city were it not for thelr numerous batteries and lotrenchmente thet Mne the heights on the oppecite wide of the Appomattox, which entirely command the city, When Baldy Smith carried the works @ofending Petersburg aotbing remained beiween dim and the ely, and baa be then bad sufficient troops at bie command he would have had litle or po difficully tm 00. ‘oupying the sity and carrying the works that command 04 AG the north side of the Appomatiox, ‘view OW PevERreURG. ‘The view of the otty of Peteraburg from the Reig@tn ve Dy General Beith, te probediy one of the foes 10 South, The hille in the rear of Ate position tower Gaventy five feet above tho level Gouniry shat atretches em iRevight without a single obstruction to the Buite of the city Theeo-qeariers of this level Hneof meagfews ‘We our porseston; but eo admirably are our troupe eou- eenled that one might stand and view the ground from the hilltops for hours together without disesvering any. ‘Vhing (hat would create the slightest suepicion that an ‘army was before him, Every guilty, even cinmps of trees ‘oF Dunhes, and every possible freak ef nature, are taken Rdvaninge of, The sudden discharge of a rifle, however, ananges “the whole nppenranes of affeira; bob sides immediately awake from their apparons lethargy, and ihe ranid voiloye of manketry, ihe Uonder 5 AEBEL BATTERY, 5 = SIN of the artillery, and the volumes ef er-oke that mark the line of either army, change what but a moment before was a peaceful landscape into ‘‘such as may not find comparison on earth.’ these evidences of the.presence of ‘war—the sudden starting into existence of so many grim warriors—bring forcibly to mind the lines of Scott: — And every bracken bush gave life To plaided warrior armed for strife. SUNDAY. The rebols have always made it a point to evince a peculiar respect for the Sabbath. It perhaps seemed necessary to their leaders to bolster up a bad cause with all the outward observances of religion, Thoroughly ac quainted with this tect by experience, we always feel per- fectly satisfied here that there will be no action om that day, unless it becomes necessary for us to isaugurate proceedings. To-day bas been no exception te the geve- ralrule, Picket Gring throughout the day almost en- tirely ceased, and the sileuce was only broken by the five minutes discharge of our thirty-pounder. DEOKRT RUS are constantly arriving within our lines, One cri in this morning frem Hoke's division, aad anotber reached un to-night. From the stories of these deserters it ap- pears that Hill in at Richmond with Ris corps, Ewell in front of the line of works drawn around Butler, while Longstreet and the Third corps of tne rebel army have reinforced Beauregard within the lasttwodays. They state that the firing of our artillery is remarkably acev rage, and great astonishmont ts caused in the rede) army ‘by the unusual number of their men killed by our shells. ‘The greater part of the deserters arriving over to us are from Georgia and South Carolina regimenta. Corn meal and bacon are wsued without atint, snd occasionally coffee ‘end four, Rasnqnaserens, Rawrtartm Anwy Conve, In tae Freuo, June 27, 1864. } ome PicKer, Thin morning Opened with every Indication of aquict day along the lines. There seemed to be a tacit under standing between the skirminh lines on the front of the corps not to fire op each other; and tm fact throngbout the w 7 thie implied agreement was religiously ob. served, save when & mounted officer or orderly presented too tempting a mark i be resisted. Through tho early part of the morning ne gonnd broke the monotonous silence,lexoept!ihe thirty-pounder Parrott shells that regu. larly every five minutes speed on their mission of de. struction to the city. fo regular has thie firing been car. Pied eut that the yun executing it bas received the name Of the Petersburg Expres. YOR RATIIRIRA RROACRD, About cleven o clock the rebels, tired of witnessing these diecbarges, sadeen|y opened om this battery with their heavy gune ow the other side of the Appomattox. The Get nbell fired ntruck the parapet of our battery, ‘Tne rebels, however, hadgoalculated without their host, The heavy thirties were immediately turned npon it, and Howell, Ragem and James pened, followed ina fow minutes by Ashly with hie twenty-pounders, In the midet of the firing Beecher commenced a furious sheliing of the ely with his ten-pounder Parrott, at bors range, stopping oaly occasionally to poer showers ef cnae chot into the rehe! okirmish pita, to avenge the Perpetos) pasting of musket Dalle through the embra- sures of bis battery, 8 OEE Hm aNcED. After many roneda of ammasition had been spent the emy was evecinally silenced (or the time being, and Quiet again reigned mpreme. MOVEMENT OF REAM. TROOTS INTO TRTEREETHE. Chovds of dunt were observed rieing from the Peters. Dorg and Richmond turnpike, giving incontrovertible Proof of the movement of rebel troops into the former eiy, A train of care wae alse observed to be in a stare of considerable activity. ‘VETr OF GENERA: PUTLER TO GKOENsL MTR —THP AAT, Gonerad Butler and iad vinited the headquarters of Vaine Genoral Smith to day, and remained several bourne, General Butler enjoyed the opportunity, for the first time, of thoroughly examining the rebel works carried by the Kighteenth corps, He bad along conference with Gene ral Smith, and set outon his return just as the first shower we bave bad for s month came to modify the wonderfully hot and dusty weather which we have been Acoustomed to, At one time this morning the thesmome- ter stood one hundred and five in the shade, Hrapguanrane, Exonrrentn Aruy Corre, ‘In rue Fistp, June 28—Day break. 4 YAUaE ALARM. ‘This morning, at about one o’clock, # courier from the Fiver reported that the rebels were crossing, and had drive in our pickete, The corps was instantly under arms, the guns double shotted, and everything prepared to give the rébelaja reception that would have made many desolate bomes in the confederacy, The report, however, Proved untrue, and the mon wore again dismissed to their slumbers. AFFAIRS @N THE APPOMATTOX. s H, Han smean Despatch. Arromatrox River, Ove Pe hleri7 iad June 26, 1964, TRE SITUATION. ‘The Unitedstates gunboat Commodore Perry, Captain Amos P. Foster commanding, is the advance guard of the gunboats on the Appomattox river, She has occupied the same honorable position since her arrival. The place ‘where we now lie at anchor is in the right branch of the Appomattox, about ove bundred yards below Port Wal- thal. A fow turns of her wheels and we should be under the fire of the rebel Fort Ciltton. The rebel pickets are im their pits, about three quarters of a mile away, to our Tight, The battery of light guns with which they throw abelis into Generai Butler's lines is about one mile and a half away. My, Ch THR PERRY'S SRNVICES, ‘Since the bursting of ber heavy gun ue fring has been done by cither the Perry or any other guvboat on this river, General Grant's forces are closing around the rebel lines, and thoy have but Jittle time and less incli- nation to draw the fire of our gunboats, The Perry has now another gun mounted, similar in size to one which burst on the 17th inet, LSE AROARD jg pow very monotonous, Occasionally a shell whistles through the air, and a cloud of duet tells where it has struck, Capt, Foster last night received information that the rebels had got possession of a dugout, and intended to come down after dark and endeavor to seize bis vessel. Proper precautions were taken to prevent anything of the kind, and the might passed over im quiet This moraing tho men were all mustered aft, and, in accordance with the regulations of the Navy Department, Captain Voster read the Articios of War. The men presented a fine, safiorlike appearance, and their admirable state of cfliciency and discipline reflects the greatest credit on Captain Foster and the other offi- cors op board the Perry, VYORT WALYHALL was at one time the great distributing depot for coal, A singte line of rails ran down to the river. There are now about half a dozen dilapidated and ruined houses, The Piers where coal vessels were loaded are wormeaten and fast falling to'decay. The rails have tong since disap. peared, and the houses are inhabited by a few colored people who are now employed: doing washing for our sol- diers. BERMUDA HUNDRED. Mr. Wm. H. Merriam’s Despateh. Grvghat Bortra’s Heanquanraes, } Nean Port or Rooks, Va., Juve 27, 1864. AYOUD CALL, YOR TWO PRICE Raves, Two distinguished and relentless rebels catue near to their final doom on the 25th inst,, from the firing of the gunboats Hunchback amd Mendota—so we are reli- ably informed. While shelling the enemy on that day, in the direction of Four Mile creek, one of our shot Ianded near the persons of Gene ral Bragg and staff, whe wore accompanied by wone legged general, ers gree be Lieutenant General Ewell ly mear the arch Freel aa to cuise'thets aod thelr sta oticers to. seater toall points of the compass. The Hunchback has been ‘vigorously sbetling the enemy, ia the same direction, all this afternoon. THR AITUATION AND NUMMERS OF TAR BNET ON GEN. B. 8. YORIR'S FRONT. Some important changes hat ken piace tn the move- ments and numbers of the enemy on General R. 8. Fos- ter’s front within the past twenty-four hours, They are now tn increased force iramediately on bis front, on the line of the Newmarket road, and an uncommoniy intelli- gent und earnest deserter—earnest to get away from the rebel thraldom—reports them to be under command of the rebel General Kangom, and that they consist of three large brigades, under command of Gracie, Crooks and An- derson, torether with a large force of cavairy, supposed to be a portion of Fitzhugh Tee's forces, Gracie’s bri gade has lately arrived from Tennessee, leaving there some four weeks since, It is @ very large brigade, owing to the fact that, thongh it has been a long time in the ser- vice, it hawscen but little fighting. The enemy are be- yond all doubt extremely puzzled to know what Foster's movement means. I can assure them that they will find out in due time to their sorrow. It is really one of the most significant movements of the campaign, and Fos ter’s forces know no suck word as *‘dislodgement” from their strong position on the James. GENKRAT. CARR'R RW COMMAND, Generai Joseph 1. Carr’s command upon his return from Yorktown will consist of the negro troops now under command ef General Hiwks, who retires from the field on account of the nature and continued severity of the several wounds ho has received in battle, General Carr will certainly make an appropriate uve of this new clement of the service. (CONTINURD SHFLLING, The usual friog infront of Petersburg and elsewhere has been kept up since my last, This feature of war ife in the field is as common to us as the ceaseless omn) bus din on Broadway is to you of the motropolis. It is never remarked, unless by some citizen fresh from Northorn quiet, who hears it for the first time, and, with a shudder, thinks he is bit. PERSON Ate ‘Major General Butler and a Jarge portion of his staff have been absent at the front today nines early in the morning. THE denen ON THE a CORPS. iP NEAR Parensncna, Juve 26, 1864, ‘There ts a good deal of interost still manifested through- out the army concerning the reverse sustained by the Second corpe om the 224 inst. The number of men re- ported missing is gradually growing leas by the arrival Of soldiers who became separated (rom their regiments to the confusion of the hour, ‘Ibe number reported as prisoners is consequently materially reduced, and, while tome who were supposed to have heen captured alive have been found among the dead, others who were marked as minsing were scatiored through the woods, and have now joined their several commands, The reason tho affair created so much interest ia be- cause the honor of the second oorps is intimately Involved, Before setting out on tbis campaign it was ite proud ietinction and ite boast that in all the bloody battles hich it had fought and in which {t won ite honorable name it vever loat a color or s gun, Hens the recent un- fortunate engagement, io whieh it lost both some colors and some guns, invites a careful review of the circum wtances under which, with the loss of them, the corps bas Yoat a portion of tbe preatige inseparably asaveiated wile ite pama The corps has justly enjoyed the reputation ot being finest in the army. Ite heroic achieve mente will be immortalized in history, It would be do ing sojostice to the gallant men in other corps to assume ‘iat they are inferlor aa mento those in the Second oorpa. But the brilliant micoesses of the corps are ine rons meaaure due to the labors of its yalnable oMcers, who enforced strict obedience aad discipline among the men, And chief of all the officers le Hancock bimself, the popniar commander of the eorpe, Ho bas contributed much 40 ite success and reputation, I have ofton noiioo! in the genius, caution, watehfatness and berotam of Man cook's bearing on the feild what ao tmapiring lofi once is jnfarod inte soldiers, especially in a trying moment, by the presence of a man in whom they have full woldence | bavye seon the same to tome Ox- tent in the conduct of division, brigade and regimental oMcers, When the campaign commenced this corps was ominentiy fortunate in its personnel, 1n- cluding both officers and men, But fifty days Rave ‘Wrought @ surprising change. In seven weeks the corpa bas experienced a change something similar to thas whic We are told is wrought in tho human body in seven years, In many instances where the fleld officers are gone, regi ments arec ommanded by captains avd brigades by regt- mental officers of the fleid and line, This was the condition of the corps wheo it arrived im the vicinity of Petersburg on the evening of the day on which General Smith carrfed some of the forts om the ememy’s outer a aive line, But, notwithstanding these internal disadvantages, it has repelled repeated assaults of the enemy, stormed his intreucbments and carried portions of his line. General Hancock, being disabled by his wound, and baving, at bis own requent, been temporarily relieved, Mojor General Birney was ad signed to the command, In Fflancock’s absence Birney as judiciously discharged the duties of corps com- mander, While the fact that the corps has bappened to ‘de unsuccessful under his direction {s an unfortunate circumstance, I know from personal observation—and i® is. but jugtice to un eificient officer to sxy—that no blame Can possitiy attach to him, I was on the fold duringtne Progreés of thove operations; the facts concerniog therm have received my careful consideration, and hence, though the main facts ware stated in my first dos, by the interest in the subject \»duces me to more critically review them here, The corps had withdrawn from is position near those of the main works of the enemy in ur posaussion, aud, marching by the flank, took up a new position on tho left of the Je: ursiom plank rad, with the F.fth corps on ite Tight and the Sixth corps on its leit. As tite lise of the Second corps was then established, the Second diy io under General Gibbon, tho right resting om the Jerusalem plavk road, was close to the enemy, and could not advance any. forther without bringing on @ general engagement. The fuird and First divisionsd under Generals Mott and Barlow, extended tho ling further to the oft and rear, On the morning of the 224 Inst, General Meade ordered Geveral Pirney to advance the le(t centre of his corps 80 as to envelop the enemy’s position, Birney accordingly ordered the advance of the First and Third divisions. Ag the Sixth corps, under General Wright, was to move im conjunction with the Second, General Birney, at half-pas® four {u the morning, informed General Barlow that the! Sixth corpm was about to move forward on his left, aod ordered him to conform Lo the movement, advancing bid Mine as Wright pushed forward bis, and at the same timo— as in the advance the line would be considerabiy cond tracted—closing in to the right, in order to give Geveral Mott an opportunity to contract bis line also and god some of his troops in reserve. General Mott was likewise requested to move forward to the position pointed out td bim. Though early in the morning a note was received from Gen. Wright, and sent by Birney to Barlow, stating that be was about to advance, and that the connection bed tween the corps could easily be made, it seems that the Sixth corps did not advance, and consequently noithes did the Second. It appears that the ove was waiting fot the other. . At length Gen. Meade, who dieplayed great energy ia pushing forward the invos movement, directed thas the Second and Sixth corps suould advance independently of ewch other, Accordingly Birney ordered Barlow to move his division forward, connecting with Gen, Mott om the right, and swing forward his line until it came im close proximity to that of the enemy. He said to Barlow, **You wilt pot be dependent on any movement of the Sixth corps,” and ‘1 if General Wright is not able to con- nect with you you will have to look out for your left." In the mesotime Gen, Meade bimecif bad been to Bar’ low and given bim a similar order. In obedience to these orders, Gen. Gibbon’s lime re~ maining !n the intrenchments, Gen. Mott advanced to the position shown bim, connecting with Gibbon on the right, and Bariow, following the movement of Mott, wheeled bis line forwara, The order of formation in the Barlow's division advanced through the dense woods i hie front, completely severing bis eonnection with the Sixth corps. The left of bis line was thus entirely ex “posed, aNd 10 draer vo pus he vory Judlciously hag two emall brigades follow the movement, in line, bat by the fank, Gon. Mott had taken hie position and intrenched it, and Gen. Barlow bad commenced intrenching his line, which nearly conformed to the ¢nemy's position, when a large body of the enemy came sweeping through the woods, preceded by « heavy cloud of skirmishers, who im- mediately opened brisk fire on the left and roar of the troops that were marching by the flank, It seems that Hill's corps, of Lee's army, had been marching out to turn the left flank of our army, and by mistake had come into the interval between the Sixth and Second corps. That space had become so iarge tm conrequence of the wheeling round of Barlow’s divi-! sion that there was room for one division of the enemy ta come in without the Sixth corps knowing anything about it, The skirmishers on Barlow's front were checked at Gret; but the fire extending to the left and rear, and com- ing, as it did, so sudden and unexpected, and from am enemy whom they could not see, our troups im that por. ton of the live speedily gave way and rapidiy retired to the rear, Most of them rallied in the breastworks, an@ showed a disposition t gallantly detead them. General Miles’ brigade, which was in reserve, was orderod by General Barlow on tho doubie quick back to the breast~ works to ro-establish the connection with the Sixth corps, This movement on the doubie quick, although executed finely, may bave crested an erroaevun impressiou on the minds of the scattered soldiers of other brigades, aud ed them to believe that it waa im retreat, The soldiers of beth armies have recently acquired the habit of Oghtiwg under cover, Their strong desire to do no ie aptly fitae~ trated by the fact that as soon as Barlow’: division waa thus struck in flat yy the enemy the troops made for their breastworks, and just as soon as the rebels took the the new line of rifle pits that Mott was digging they cominenced reverring them #0 a8 to use them as a cover for themselves, Barlow jost several bundred prisoners, ‘The enemy came sweeping on, and, when Bariow fel) back, strack the left and front of General Mott's division, which also fell back rapidly im considerable coniusion, with a loss of a few hundred prisoners. Other division of Hill’s corps, as indicated im the map, pressed down om General Gibbon's line, om the left and front, The move ment of each of the divisions of Hill's corps struck the whole of the Second corps in flank; end everybody knows that a flanking fire ts deadly and disastrous, It was at this time that the attack was made on Gib bon’s front, The memy were ropulsed om the right; bat the left of Gibbon’s division, consisting of the Socond brigade, under Muyor O’Brien, which was erpocted & port Capteia MeKnight’s battery of four three-tueb one, Tnding @ fire In front and rear, folt back and joft the guna exposed. MeKvight fought bis battery in the most gallant manver, not only in replying to the rebel batteries which in the meantime bed opened om him, bat Io turning bis loft piece and throwing canteter into tho rebel \ofantry that was feat closing ia upom Die flank, The left pice was the only one he cootd torn upon the Infantry, becxuse the embrasures ia tuo luhette had beeo couatracted with a view to meeting the enemy in tho (root, His lieutenants aod cannoneore worked tbe guns with great colerity, throwing canister into tho rebel ranks, even after being fepeatedly sum- moneu © Surrender, and the rele! fag deen planted on that immediate portion of our works. Finding 1 {m- poasibie to haul off the gua#—the battery belod io am cAvanced position and the horses in the rear—she artillery officers eacaped, with many of thee men, The enemy got the four guns, bat 414 wot got aoy horses oF caisgovs, Captain Clark’s batiery, om ‘fv right of the piank road, replied with effect to the enemy*s muskelry and artillery, But the disorder of the about Me- Kmight’ was fo great that many were captured, and three ‘or four emall rogiments he surrendered, [At this point, however, the tide was tnrned In our taxon ‘by the cootness, courage and skill of a god Iie CAtcor, It wae Captain HL, Patten, commending ihe oY Massachuserte fegiment, who, taking ad’ of an angio io the aigssg line of \brevtworks, exeovied @ change of fromi, poured some wel) directed volleys inte the onemy and checked his (arther progress, 1¥ tga prevalent opinion that bad ether commanders acted ao ho (id the enemy would have been repulsed im the commencenent, anda large number ef prisow. ‘ork bavo been drs, Bus that wae juet the time, ad What geition) period, What tho Lroops required the pregenea CONTINUED O8 FIFTH PACE.