Northern papers of the 28th have been received, from which we make the following extracts:
The battle of Saturday--Another Dispatch from Grant.
Grant transmits to Stanton the following dispatch, summing up the results of the operations of last Saturday at Petersburg: The battle of the 25th resulted in the following losses on our side: Second Corps.--Killed, 51; wounded, 462; missing, 177. Sixth Corps.--Killed, 47; wounded 401; missing, 30. Ninth Corps.--Killed, 68; wounded, 338; missing, 506. Our captures, by the Second corps, were 365; by the Sixth corps, 460, and by the Ninth corps, 1,049. The Second and Sixth corps pushed forward and captured the enemy's strong entrenchment, and turned it against him, and still hold it. In trying to retake this, the battle was continued until eight o'clock at night, the enemy losing very heavily. Humphreys estimates the loss of the enemy in his front at three times his own, and General Wright, in his front, as double that of ours. The enemy brought in a flag of truce for permission to collect his dead, which were between their picket line and their main line of fortifications. Permission was granted.Newspaper accounts of the battle.
The Herald correspondent gives the following account of the battle of Hare's hill: ‘ For several days past the corps commanded by the rebel General Gordon has held a position in front of the right and right centre of the line of the Army of the Potomac. To-day, some two hours before daylight, this corps was silently and promptly formed for a charge. Everything being ready, and the proper disposition of the several divisions and brigades having been carefully made, the order "Forward" was given. At this time, the first streak of dawn appeared in the east. It was not one of those bright, golden tints that are found when a smiling sun is rising to cheer and warm, but a dull, heavy light — the usual accompaniment of cloudy weather. ’ Without arousing alarm or suspicion, the rebel troops got safely out to the line of works thrown up for the protection of their skirmishers. At a given signal, they bounded over these, and, rapidly cutting gaps in their own chevaux de frise, pressed on with a yell towards our line. That portion of the Union line attacked was occupied by troops of the Ninth army corps. The attack being sudden and totally unexpected, and made in almost overwhelming force, caused our skirmish line to give way before the reserve could be got up to support it. The rebels, noting their success, pressed on with vigor, and succeeded in breaking our line at a point just this side of Fort Steadman. This side of the Appomattox river, on the front line, are two strong works; then comes Fort McGilvery, and to the left of the latter are batteries Nos. 8, 9, 10, Fort Steadman, battery No. 11, a mortar battery, and Fort Haskell.--This embraces a frontage of about one mile and a quarter in length. It was on this line that the whole of the fighting was done. Reaching our abatis, the enemy poured in a terrific volley, while their pioneers, under a heavy return fire, cut it away — that is, they made many large gaps in it, sufficient in size and number for the easy of large bodies of troops. It was but the work of a few minutes for them to force our main line, which they did, making a breach at a point not far to the left of Fort Steadman. The same is located on a rise of ground nearly opposite to Cemetery hill. Breaking through on the left of this work, the enemy passed round to a traveled road, and captured the fort by charging from the rear through the regular entrance. So rapidly was this accomplished that the officer in command of the fort, Major Randall, together with General McLaughlin, and a number of men, were taken prisoners. Immediately succeeding the attack, General McLaughlin, who had command of the line just to the left of where it was forced, hurried into Fort Steadman, and was giving orders and cheering the men up to the last minute before he was captured. On gaining possession of Fort Steadman the enemy extended a line of battle, facing west by a little south, from the fort along the hill, over to a line of breastworks, and behind the latter. At the same time, the guns of Fort Steadman were turned upon battery No. 10, and with effect, for our men were hastily driven out. Battery No. 10 was commanded by Captain John M. Twiss. In it were four eight-inch mortars and three cohort mortars. These the enemy got, and for a short time held possession of them. When the rebel line was formed, and the enemy still in possession of Fort Steadman and the mortar battery, he was also busy extending his line in the direction of Meade station and the railroad. Another rebel line was also formed and charged against batteries Nos. 8 and and 9, both in charge of Lieutenant Azrow. This rebel advance was checked. The enemy got within two hundred yards of battery No. 9 and five hundred yards of battery No. 8. During the attack just referred to, a telling fire was poured in from Fort McGilvery. It was to a great extent an enfilading one. This was about 7 o'clock. At this juncture our position was not a flattering one. The enemy had broken our line, captured two or three works, taken some four or five hundred prisoners, was threatening our forts close to the Appomattox, and attempting to extend his line over to the railroad near Meade station. Reinforcements were now brought up. So far, but a small portion of the Ninth corps were engaged. The reinforcements were from General Hartranft's command, Third division, Ninth corps. Some time was consumed in forming and arranging, not merely to check the rebel advance, but to regain the captured forts. During this period no less than three general officers (rebels) were in Fort Steadman, giving orders, urging their men up, while no small number of the rebel privates gave more attention to plundering than to obeying orders. The reinforcements having been promptly formed in readiness and position for action, General Hartranft received orders from General Parke to move on to the recapture of the lost ground. On the left of General Hartranft was a portion of General Wilcox's division. This materially contributed to the success of the day. General Hartranft made the advance as ordered. As he did so, a terrific fire was opened on Fort Steadman and battery No. 10 from one of our reserve works, and from batteries Nos. 8 and 9 and Fort McGilvery. The charge of the infantry was admirably executed, and the firing from the batteries remarkably precise. The rebels could not remain under the heavy fire from our guns, and when at last they commenced to fall back, the infantry flanked the fort and cut off a large body of the rebel troops, who, including many officers, fell into our hands as prisoners of war. We also took several battle- flags. The rebels suffered terribly. Our men literally slaughtered them as they retreated for their works. By half-past 8 the engagement was ended. The total rebel loss will reach between six and seven thousand. This includes killed, wounded and prisoners. We have taken many officers, some of them high in rank. Also, five or more stand of colors. Our loss will not exceed one thousand.The fighting on our right on Saturday.
Another of the Herald's correspondents gives an account of the fighting on our right on Saturday, which was brought on by the enemy to prevent our massing in front of Fort Steadman for another attack, and, at the same time, to ascertain whether our works on the right were fully manned. We make a summary of this account: ‘ Just four hours after the repulse of the rebel attack on the right of our lines, the thunder of artillery and the crash of musketry again rolled loudly on the chilly March air. This time, however, everything was reversed. The sounds come from the left, not the right; we were the attacking party, not the rebels, and the ground we won was not recovered by the rebels, and is now held by the Sixth corps, which knows no such word as fail when ordered to the assault. ’ From the parapet of Fort Fisher the blue crossed flag waved, and from the thousands of brave men about to risk life and limb came back a ringing cheer, and as onward they swept many a "God speed" followed them. The batteries on both sides were hard at work, and not many minutes elapsed before the sharper ring of small arms was heard. The line was fast closing on the rebel position, and a few minutes would serve to show what our success would be.--Another cheer from our troops, and a simultaneous volley of musketry from both sides, and the works were reached. An entrance gained, the rebels started, and the works were ours. At 5 o'clock the enemy made a simultaneous assault on the First and Third divisions, and on the Third brigade of the Second division (General Smythe's), occupying a position on the left of the Third. The assault was made in gallant style, and demonstrated that these still remained some fight in the rebel soldiery. It was successfully met and repelled, however, and in a manner to call forth the highest praise from General Humphreys, who witnessed it. The rebels soon reform, and again advanced, only to be driven back with great slaughter. Four assaults were thus repulsed, when the enemy, apparently satisfied that our troops could not be driven from that line, withdrew. The rebel line which we took, and now hold, is considerably in advance of our main line. They had erected an elaborate series of rifle-pits, behind which, and outside of their main line, it would have been quite possible, had they so desired it, to have massed twenty thousand men, as they are built much further from their main line than are our own works of a similar character. Our position from which the attack was made was at the extreme left angle of our works. At this point our lines are only about two miles from the Southside railroad. The ground in front is more level than is usually seen in this part of the country, and the wood has, to a great extent, been cleared away.--From the nature of the position, the rebel batteries, to a certain extent, enfilade our works, and many of our camps are within easy artillery range. One of our largest works at this point is Fort Fisher, to the left of which are a number of 30 pounders, which did great execution within the rebel lines to-day. To the left of this heavy battery is Fort Welsh, which is at the extreme angle, and the first fort on our reversed rear line is Fort Gregg. The left of the Sixth corps here connects with the right of the First division of the Second corps, which advanced simultaneously with this corps.Sherman's movements — his losses, captures, &c.
The following, from Grant, is given to the Northern press by Stanton: I am in receipt of Sherman's report of operations from the time he left Fayetteville up to the 22d instant. It shows hard fighting, resulting in very heavy loss to the enemy in killed and wounded, and over two thousand prisoners in our hands. His own loss, he says, will be covered by two thousand five hundred men since he left Savannah. Many of them are but slightly wounded.The Herald's correspondent, writing from Newbern on the 22d, says: ‘ General Sherman has also reached the line of railroad running through Goldsboro' and Raleigh, and a wagon train has come through from his army to Kinston. Some opposition was presented to him a short distance south of Goldsboro', but it was readily overcome, and it is believed that he is now pursuing the retreating rebels towards Raleigh. If there is to be any fighting of consequence in this State, it will be somewhere in that vicinity, or, as I last advised you, still further west, in the vicinity of Hillsboro'. The enemy are, evidently, shying off towards the mountains, so that, if they must accept the dread alternative, they can make those fastnesses their refuge. The same course will be pursued, I think it will be found, by Lee in case of a similar necessity being forced upon him. ’ General Sherman is said to have informed prominent officers, on leaving Fayetteville, that if he reached Goldsboro' without much trouble the game was then up with the rebels. He apprehended after that no particular diffculty; for, with a concentration of his forces with those of Schofield and Terry, nothing could withstand their momentum. At last accounts, General Sherman was at Smithfield — nearly midway on the railroad between Goldsboro' and Raleigh. The weather is superb, the roads must be in the very best condition, and everything augurs well for the most glorious success of our arms.
