THE WAR IN VIRGINIA: Official Dispatch from Secretary Stanton; Butler’s Lines Assaulted by the Rebels (10/9/1864)

New York Times - Times Machine ^ | 10/9/1864

[Homer_J_Simpson]

[OFFICIAL.]

FROM SECRETARY STANTON TO GEN. DIX.

WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON,

Oct. 8, 1864 -- 12 o'clock M.

Maj.-Gen. John A. Dix:

This department has received the following reports of the enemy's assault yesterday upon Gen. BUTLER's line, their subsequent repulse, and Gen. BIRNEY's brilliant action, driving the enemy to their inner line of intrenchments around Richmond.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, Friday, Oct. 7 -- 6:30 P.M.

Lieut.-Gen. U.S. Grant:

At 6:30 A.M. the enemy, having moved FIELD'S and HOPE'S Divisions from the left at Chapin's Farm road round to our right at Darbytown road, they attacked with spirit KAUTZ's Cavalry in their intrenchments, and drove him back with small loss of men, but with the loss of his artillery.

The enemy suffered very considerable loss in his attack.

The enemy then swept down the intrenchments towards BIRNEY, who, having thrown back his right, waited their assault, and repulsed it with very heavy loss on the part of the enemy.

The enemy in the meantime advanced towards New-Market, but were met by a force at the Signal Tower.

At 3 P.M. I took the offensive, sending BIRNEY, with two divisions up the Darbytown road. The enemy retreated as he advanced, and BIRNEY has reached and occupies the intrenchments which the enemy took from KAUTZ, and were fortifying for themselves. Our loss has been small -- not one-eighth that of the enemy. We have about one hundred prisoners. B.F. BUTLER, Maj.-Gen.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, 12:20 P.M., Friday, Oct. 7.

Brig.-Gen. Rawlings:

The following has just been received.

B.F. BUTLER, Maj.-Gen.

HEADQUARTERS TENTH ARMY CORPS -- 10:15 A.M.

We have repulsed the attack of the enemy on our light flank, with great slaughter. The troops seem to be FIELD's and PICKETT's divisions.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1861-1865: Seminar and Discussion Forum
The American Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts

First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: May 2025.
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[Homer_J_Simpson]

The War in Virginia: Official Dispatch from Secretary Stanton – 2
Army of the Potomac: Important Events May be Expected – 2-3
From the Shenandoah Valley: The Valley Cleared of Bushwhackers – 3
From Nashville: Fort Nagley – 3-4
From San Francisco: Steamship Firemen’s Riot – 4
The Blockade of Wilmington: Rebel Testimony to its Effectiveness – 4-5
The Sanitary Commission – 5
Veteran Soldiers for Lincoln and Johnson – 5
Naval Accident – 5
The Rebels at Elmira – 5
Our Cavalry – 5
News from Washington – 5-6
Movement of Rebels Into Kentucky – 6
Movements of Gen. Warren – 6
The Soldier’s Vote – 6
Is It So? – 6
Editorial: Early’s Losses in the Shenandoah – Rebel Confessions – 6
Social Science – 6
On Their Travels – 6
A Soldier’s Opinion – 6