The War News.
The excitement throughout our city on Thursday was intense. On Thursday morning we announced that an attack had been made upon our lines in front of Petersburg; but this appears to have been only designed to cover the crossing of a heavy force of the enemy to the north side of James river at Deep Bottom. It seems that the alarm was spread from brigade to brigade on the south side, until it nearly reached the Appomattox river; and solid shot and shell were thrown in great profusion. The firing continued throughout the entire night, and in the morning the reports of heavy guns were heard distinctly from Richmond, showing that a severe conflict was taking place between the opposing forces below Richmond. At about eleven o'clock the following communication was received at this office:"State of Virginia,
"Executive Department,
The Governor desires that you direct the employees of your office, liable to militia duty, to hold themselves in readiness to move at a moment's warning.
An hour or two afterward, whilst we were quietly awaiting further orders, and had made no communication with the Executive, we received the following emphatic order:
"Governor's Office, September 28, 1864.
"Editor of the Dispatch:
"I order your men to report at once to Captain Crump.
The enemy are approaching the city, and this is no time for delay or difficulties to be made when duty demands our presence in the field.
"Editor of the Dispatch:
Pursuant to there orders, every man employed in the Dispatch officer promptly reported for duty They each received a musket and a cartridge-box, and, in company with some forty others of the craft, were marched and countermarch for about four or five hours, when orders came for them to be dismissed. The consequence of this movement we that we were compelled to suspend the publication of our paper yesterday, which, we hope, will not occur again. On Wednesday night the Yankee gunboats opener with great spirit on our line north of James river — That is, from Deep Bottom to Chaffin's Bluff. Their force is variously estimated from twenty to thirty thousand strong. On Thursday morning they occupied Newmarket Hill, and from thence proceeded to attack Fort Harrison. This is about a mile cast of north of Chaffin's Bluff, and about seven miles below Richmond. It constitutes the outer line of Chaffin's Bluff. The force that attacked Fort Harrison is supposed to have been negroes. They mustered in heavy force from the east, attacked us and carried the fort. They afterwards moved up to Fort Gilmer, on Taylor's farm, near the "Nigger House."The attack was made between ten and eleven o'clock in the morning, and the enemy were handsomely repulsed by General Gregg. This officer is from Texas, and commands Hood's old brigade, Fields's division. The following official dispatch from General Lee tells the story of the day's work:
Headquarters Army Northern Virginia,
"General Gregg reports that he repulsed several attacks of the enemy made against the intermediate line of defences, capturing many prisoners. The enemy still hold Battery Harrison on the exterior line. Our loss is very small.Fort Harrison is an important position, and commands Dutch Gap. After their repulse at Fort Gilmer, the enemy's cavalry proceeded northward on a reconnaissance, and our guns shelled them when ever they came within range. They are reported to have visited Benjamin Roper's place, on the-Darbytown road, two miles from Richmond, and destroyed everything he had. On the Mechanicville turnpike they went as far as Mrs. Christian's farm, four miles from Richmond, They also passed through John P. Burton's place, two miles and a half below Richmond, on the Williamsburg road. At each point of their advance they were met by a sheet of flame from our batteries, and forced incontinently to retreat. Many persons were driven from their homes and the road on Thursday was filled with wagons, women, children, horses and cattle, all seeking a place of safety. Most of these unfortunate refugees indulge the hope of being permitted shortly to return to their homes. We hope and believe they will.--Families had their whole earthly possessions, except what was left to the mercy of the enemy, in a small cart, and in one instance eight little children demanded the care of their parents. Such are among the horrors of war. It is believed that the troops which assaulted Fort Gilmer were negroes, and, indeed, many of the prisoners, that were brought in were black. The Third Howitzers are said to have fought with exceeding gallantry. Waiting the enemy's advance to within fifty yards, they opened fire and literally mowed them down. Strange to say, on Thursday the battery did not lose a single man. At a late hour on Thursday evening intelligence was received of the enemy's repulse on Taylor's farm, and everything became quiet. It was generally believed that this was the end of the last movement" on the Richmond."
Last of Casualties in the twenty-fifth Virginia Battalion, Colonel W. M. Elliott, on the twenty-ninth of September at Fort Gilmer.
Field and Staff.--Killed — None. Wounded — None. Company A, Captain J. H. Greanor commanding.--Killed--Lieutenant R. E. Mills. Wounded--Privates Cornelius Graham, severely in hand — in hands of enemy; Dennis H. White, slightly in head. Company B. Sergeant John D. Hansom commanding.--Killed — None. Wounded--Privates J. F. Johnson, in hand; H. L. Poole, in thing; J. J. Gains, in hand; David Thomas, in hand. Company C, Lieutenant C. D. Anderson commanding.--Killed — None. Wounded — None. Company D, Lieutenant McIntosh commanding, Killed — None. Wounded--Private Morris, slightly in thigh. Company E, Lieutenant James L. Bray commanding.--Killed — none. Wounded--Privates J. W. Bradberry, severely in head; W. H. Hubbard, in hand; B. W. Palmer, slightly in arm. Company F, Lieutenant Thomas H. Harris commanding.--Killed — None. Wounded--Private H. M. Lee, slightly in arm. "Company G, Lieutenant F. R. Dalton commanding.--Killed — None. Wounded — J. C. Johnson, in thigh, and missing. H. C. Clark and Peter Cline, missing. Company H, Captain William H. Allison, commanding.--Killed — None. Wounded--Private Geo. Duncan, in hand. Missing — J. Blankenship.List of Casualties in the Powhatan Artillery, Captain W. J. Dance commanding, in the fight at Fort Gilmer, near Chaffin's Bluff, on the twenty-ninth of September.
Killed--Corporal J. T. Creole, Privates J. P. Smith, G. R. Miller and A. M. Tucker, Wounded--Captain W. J. Dance, severely in shoulder; Sergeant G. W. Bailey, slightly in arm; Corporal T. C. Miller, right arm shot off; Corporal W. W. Bragg, severely in side; Corporal B. P. Cox, severely in face and threat. Privates S. C. Hickman, severely in both legs; Joseph M. Mosely, left arm shot off; W. D. Tucker, severely in head; G. W. Taylor, severely in side; C. W. T. Spotts, right hand badly fractured; David W. Haskins, left thigh broken; E. N. Reams, badly in thigh; R. C. Flournoy, slightly in leg; D. J. Sledd, slightly in head; T. J. Stratton, contusion of shoulder; H. C. McLarine, slightly in hand, B. Ball, slightly in face; J. S. Jennings, contusion of leg (slight).The latest.
About one o'clock yesterday heavy firing was heard below the city, and much anxiety was expressed to learn the cause. It was generally believed to have been an attack upon Fort Harrison, but nothing could be definitely ascertained until night, when the following official dispatch was received at the War Department:"Headquarters Army Northern Virginia,
"An attempt was made this afternoon to retake Battery Harrison, which, though partially successful failed. We understood last evening that our troops gained some advantages, which they did not after wards relinquish.From the Valley.
Very little authentic intelligence was received yesterday from General Early's army. It was stated last evening that the enemy had abandoned Staunton. This is confirmed by the following official dispatch, the important feature of which is that there is no enemy south of Staunton; showing that they are not yet advancing on Lynchburg:"Headquarters Army Northern Virginia,
--General Early reports that after driving the enemy's cavalry from his front, near Port Republic, he moved to Waynesboro' and drove two divisions of cavalry from that place. This last force retreated through Staunton, and a portion of our cavalry entered that place to-day. No enemy south of Staunton. His main force is about Harrisonburg. "R. E. Lee."
We have authentic intelligence that Colonel F. T. Munford, commanding Wickham's brigade of cavalry, attacked one division of the enemy in Waynesboro' on Wednesday, and after a sharp encounter, drove them from the town in the direction of Staunton.
