Letter from the 55^th Regiment P[ennsylvania]. V[olunteers].

From a letter addressed to a friend in this place under the date of Vicinity of Petersburg, Virginia, July 8^th, 1864, we make the following extracts for the benefit of those who have friends in that regiment:

“It is so very warm here now that a man can hardly breathe. I am now, and have been for the last week, in the rear making out Pay Rolls and Descriptive Lists. We expect to be paid off in about two weeks. The cars run from City Point to this place; once in a while they run up to the trestlework about twenty yards from the front.¹ You would have laughed this morning had you seen the engine hitched to an old mortar gun weighing nine tons; she throws a hundred pound ball.² The conductor of the train said we might look for 50,000 more troops inside of two days. “Old Grant” has the “bag,” if he can only get the rebels into it; if he does, he’ll pull the string mighty tight on them.

It is a very nice thing to see two armies entrenched, and having a small duel every day. We can go up to [Eighteenth Corps commander] Gen. [William F. “Baldy”] Smith’s headquarters and get a fine view of both armies. We can look right into Petersburg, and with a glass see people walking the streets. Our battery that commands Petersburg throws shells right into it. We set it on fire two nights ago and after some exertions on the part of the “rebs,” they put it out. We could hear the alarm bells very distinctly.³

Our regiment has lost very heavy during the campaign. The boys are all worn out, but they have the hope that this will be the final blow to Rebellion. Everything looks favorable so far. I suppose that you have heard by this time that Adam Carn’s Company [Co. A, 184th Pennsylvania] was taken prisoners-all except Adam and a couple of his men. I saw Will. Filler of the 138^th [Pennsylvania], their regiment lay on the extreme left of our line. He says that their line advances some every night. Our regiment went out into the rifle pits last night-they are relieved every forty-eight hours. A person dare not “poke” his head above the pits in the daytime, if he does, he can look for a dozen of bullets to come at him. The rebels have the advantage of our right wing. They have an enfilading battery across the Appomattox, which they open now and then upon our pits., but when they commence, our fellows stop them. The battery at Gen. Smith’s headquarters throws right into her, so that they have to leave.

We have one good institution in the army and that is the United States Sanitary Commission; if they did not furnish the boys with paper, they could not write. They give it out every day. The Eighteenth Corps received a very fine lot of vegetables from the North, such as onions, cabbage, pickles, potatoes, and a great many other articles.

I suppose you folks in Bedford had a nice time on 4^th of July. [A very quiet time, indeed!.  Editor] We in the field had a poor 4^th, nevertheless, are willing to sacrifice all holidays for the Country.

Yours very respectfully,
D. W. Radabaugh [maybe Radebaugh]⁴.”⁵

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THE WAR NEWS.

The intelligence from Atlanta, contained in official and press despatches, constitutes the most important news of the last three days.  It is very cheering, and goes far to relieve the publick anxiety on the subject of the situation in Northern Georgia.  The following despatch from General Hood, giving an account of a battle on Friday [July 22, 1864], in which we obtained an important victory, was received at the war office Saturday evening¹:

“HEADQUARTERS ATLANTA,
“July 23d, 1864.

“HON. J. A. SEDDON, SECRETARY OF WAR:

“The enemy shifted its position on Peach Tree creek last night, and General Stewart’s and Cheatham’s corps formed a line of battle around the city.

“General Hardee’s corps made a night march and attacked the enemy’s extreme left to-day.—About one o’clock he drove him from his works, capturing sixteen pieces of artillery and five stands of colours.  General Cheatham attacked the enemy, capturing six pieces of artillery.

“During the engagement we captured about two thousand prisoners.

“General Wheeler’s cavalry routed the enemy in the neighbourhood of Decatur to-day, capturing his camp.

“Our loss is not yet fully ascertained.

“Major General Walker was killed.  Brigadier Generals Smith, Gist and Mercer were wounded.

“Prisoners report that General McPherson was killed.

“Our troops fought with great gallantry.

“J. B. HOOD, General.”

This despatch confirms, in the main, what we stated in Saturday’s paper [July 23, 1864], as to the position occupied by the enemy.  Facing Atlanta from the north, his right, as we were then advised, rested on the Chattahoochee, near the railroad bridge, while his line stretched away to the eastward, his left being opposite and near Decatur, which is six miles east of Atlanta.  He had, on Thursday [July 21, 1864], probably advanced his right from the river towards Atlanta.

Hardee’s corps made a wide detour eastward and northward, and at one o’clock, P. M., on Friday [July 22, 1864], fell upon the rear of the enemy’s left.  When Hardee had, by this rear attack, thrown the enemy’s lines into confusion, Cheatham, who was in line of battle opposite the enemy’s left centre, near and north of Atlanta, Wheeler, who confronted the enemy’s left at Decatur, made simultaneous attacks.  Our combined attacks were all successful, and the result, besides the capture of guns and prisoners, must materially have altered the respective positions of the two armies, although of this General Hood says nothing.  We should judge that the enemy’s entire left had been huddled back upon his centre, that is driven to the west of a line drawn north and south through Atlanta.

General Hood says “prisoners report McPherson killed.”  If this is true, it is more important to us than the capture of all the prisoners and cannon.  McPherson was, and, if he lives, is the most dangerous man in the whole Yankee army.  He was regarded at West Point as a military genius, and in the field has fully sustained his academic reputation.  He was the very brain of Grant’s army, and his genius led it to victory and won for Grant all his glory.  Grant took leave of his luck when he parted with McPherson, and has never had a military success since.  McPherson then took the place in Sherman’s army that he had occupied in Grant’s, and his genius has carried it on its wondrous campaign through the mountains and valleys of Georgia, to the gates of Atlanta.  Most devoutly do we hope he may be dead.²

The General Walker mentioned as killed is General William H. S. Walker.

So much for the official despatch.  Two press despatches from Atlanta will be found under the telegraphic head, and are very interesting, though the agent being dependent upon hearsay for information, his statements are less to be relied upon than General Hood’s.  The first press despatch gives an account of a sanguinary battle on our left, that is, northwest of Atlanta, which was brought on by the enemy’s attacking General Stewart’s corps.  As General Hood makes no mention of this fight we take the liberty of believing that none such occurred, and that the press agent is referring to the battle described by General Hood, which, as we have seen, took place on our right, and not our left, and was brought on by our attack and not the enemy’s.  The press agent knew there had been a battle, and that was all he knew about it.  This, however, did not deter him from describing it graphically, and throwing in the usual stereotyped phrases which have now, by long abuse, become meaningless, of our receiving the enemy with “a galling fire,” and causing them “to falter,” our troops “charging with great gallantry” and “inflicting immense slaughter,” &c, &c.  He then gives us the gratifying intelligence of McPherson’s death, (“shot through the heart,”) to which we should attach more importance if the agent had not been so lamentably far out the way in the matter of locating the battle.

The second despatch is dated on Saturday [July 23, 1864], and by this time the agent having had more time to inform himself as to the occurrences of the previous day, his statements are more entitled to credit.—The most important news contained in this despatch is that the battle was not renewed on Saturday.  The next, that when Wheeler routed the enemy at Decatur he took five hundred of their wagons, loaded with supplies.

From the information so far obtained we feel safe in concluding that the battle of Atlanta, fought on Friday, the 22d of July, was a very important Confederate victory.³

RICHMOND AND PETERSBURG.

Saturday [July 23, 1864] and yesterday [July 24, 1864] it was rumoured that Grant was abandoning his position in front of Petersburg and re-crossing to the north bank of the James at Deep Bottom and Malvern Hill.  Though this report is pretty generally believed by the publick we have been unable to obtain a single fact that would justify us in giving it credit.  We think it likely Grant may have thrown a division over to the north bank.⁴

The only incident of interest on the lines which we have heard of in the past two days occurred Saturday night at twelve o’clock [midnight between July 23-24, 1864].  At that hour one of our artillery battalions on the north bank of the Appomattox opened on a portion of the enemy’s lines on the Prince George side of the river and kept up a terrific fire for an hour.  The enemy’s guns replied feebly.  There was no casualty on our side.  The object of the cannonade was to disturb Grant’s men and keep them from sleeping too comfortably, and we feel authorized in saying that our object was fully accomplished.

On last Friday [July 22, 1864] several hundred of our cavalry rode down into Prince George to look after some Yankee cavalry who were said to be prowling about.  Our men came upon them ten miles from Ream’s station [on July 23, 1864], and charging them suddenly put them to flight.  We killed two and captured three.  No casualty on our side.⁵

Cannonading was heard down the river yesterday [July 24, 1864].⁶

FROM THE VALLEY.

The city was ringing yesterday [July 24, 1864] with reports that Ramseur’s command had been cut to pieces in the Valley.  The story was that Ramseur being sent on a reconnaissance was surprised and ambuscaded by the enemy and most of his command cut to pieces or captured, and he himself had lost an arm.  No official information of any such affair has been received, and we do not believe that any such has occurred.  We think it much more likely that the report is based upon the affair which took place at Snicker’s Gap [on July 20, 1864], when, it will be recollected, the enemy took some of our wagons, which were afterwards recaptured.⁷  Some straggler, who has walked across the country, has brought an account of this, which has been seized upon and made into a new thing.⁸

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REBEL ATTACK AT WHITE HOUSE.

Generals Fitzhugh Lee and Hampton Attack Our Forces—They are Driven Back by the Gun-boats—Arrival of General Sheridan at White House—General Getty Succeeds General Abercrombie.

FORTRESS MONROE, June 22.—The steamer Iolas has arrived from the White House [on the Pamunkey River], which place she left yesterday morning [June 21, 1864] at six o’clock.

On the morning of the 20th [of June 1864], [Confederate cavalry] Generals FITZHUGH LEE and [Wade] HAMPTON made an attack on our forces, intrenched there under General [John J.] ABERCROMBIE, and charged upon our works, but they were repulsed and driven back by our gun-boats there.¹

The COMMODORE MORSE [sic, USS Morse] and CAPTAIN [Charles A.] BABCOCK and two others [sic, one other, the USS Cactus] also opened a heavy fire on the Rebels. At seven o’clock, the Rebels, having succeeded in planting a battery of three guns within range, returned the fire upon our gun-boats and land forces.

This artillery firing was kept up, as we learn by a subsequent arrival, until four o’clock, P. M.

About noon, the COMMODORE MORSE [sic, USS Morse] threw a shell that exploded a caisson in the enemy’s battery, causing great confusion, and having the effect to slacken their fire perceptibly.  Their loss was comparatively heavy.

Some of the prisoners captured say they mistook our gun-boats for transports, and had expected to capture our troops at the White House before General [Philip] SHERIDAN’S command arrived, and then intercept his force, and, if possible, prevent his safe arrival at the White House, in all of which they were defeated.  Our loss was only three wounded—one mortally.

At three o’clock, P. M., SHERIDAN’S advance guard arrived at White House, and at five o’clock the General arrived there with his entire command.

Yesterday morning, the 21st [of June 1864], there was some skirmishing among the pickets, and it was expected that there would be an engagement.

General GETTY had arrived and relieved General ABERCROMBIE, who had been previously ordered to report at Washington for duty. During the continuance of the Rebel attack, General ABERCROMBIE received a despatch from General GRANT to hold his position at all hazards till assistance arrived, which, by the aid of the gun-boats, he was enabled to do.

The General arrived here [at Fortress Monroe] to-day [June 22, 1864], bound for Washington.

During the attack at the White House, a Rebel shell penetrated the telegraph office, but the operator, Mr. BLISS, had escaped.²

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HEADQUARTERS 55^th [P[ennsylvania]. V[olunteer]’s.
IN FRONT OF PETERSBURG, VA.
June 25, 1864

MR. EDITOR:

Thinking a short communication from this quarter might interest some of the readers of your valuable paper, and more especially those who have friends in this regiment [55th Pennsylvania], I shall give a short sketch of the operations of the regiment since our return from Cold Harbor. We reached Point of Rocks on the Appomattox on the evening of June 14^th [1864]. After landing and taking supper, we spread our tents upon the ground, and covering ourselves with our Indian [sic, India]-rubber blankets, we were soon enwrapt in that sweet repose which none know better how to appreciate than the weary soldier.¹

At 2 o’clock A.M., June 15^th we received orders to be ready to move at a moment’s notice. At daylight we took up the line of march, crossing on the Pontoons, to the south side of the [Appomattox] river and moving in the direction of Petersburg. Our Division, the 2nd [2/XVIII/AotJ], moved direct toward Petersburg, while the First [1/XVIII/AotJ] moved off to the left². The object of this was not then understood by us, but was afterward fully and satisfactorily developed. Skirmishers were thrown out and we moved forward slowly and cautiously, our Brigade [1/2/XVIII/AotJ] taking the advance³. We came up with the enemy’s skirmishers at 9 o’clock A.M. [on June 15, 1864], and drove them about two miles, or until we were within range of the enemy’s batteries, and in sight of Petersburg. Here we halted and lay in line of battle until near sundown, when the First Division, commanded by Brig. Gen. Brooks came around our left and, flanking the enemy’s right, drove them from their works. The whole of their first line was then in our possession. Fifteen pieces of artillery, two hundred and fourteen Prisoners together with three or four colors and quite a large number of small arms were captured.⁴

Night set in, and all the troops of the 18^th Corps Bivouacked for the night except the 55^th P[ennsylvania]. V[olunteers]. and the 23^rd. Mass[achusetts]. Vol[unteer]s, which were deployed in front of our lines as pickets. The next day June 16^th, everything was quiet until near sundown when we received the order to advance and engage the enemy. We moved forward until within two hundred yards of the enemy’s second line of works and held our position under a heavy fire till 10 o’clock P.M., when we were withdrawn and went into camp for the night. The 2^nd Division rested on the 17^th [of June 1864]; on the night of the 17^th the enemy evacuated his 2^nd line on our front and left.

At early dawn on the 18^th [of June 1864] we again received orders to advance. But orders come generally a few hours previous to moving. So it was this time; we did not get started till about 8 o’clock A.M., moved slowly and halted at intervals, still following our skirmishers, and still looking for decisive orders. Such orders came at last; we were ordered forward in a charge under the most terrible fire. Our brave boys fell thick and fast, but they still pushed stubbornly on, and established a new line nearly a quarter of a mile toward Petersburg. Here despite the heavy fire of the enemy, we went to work and entrenched ourselves and held the position. The loss of the 55^th in this charge alone was 95. The other regiments engaged suffered proportionately.⁵

At daylight the next morning June 19^th we were relieved by fresh troops and moved back to the 2^nd line where we remained until 9 o’clock P.M., when we marched back across the Appomattox and rested on the 20^th [of June 1864]. On the 21^st we re-crossed the river and moved up to the front where the regiment is still lying. Nothing of importance going on now. We are in full view of Petersburg. The City is at our mercy, and could be blown to atoms by our batteries; but Gen. Grant’s object does not seem to be to destroy but to capture.

Enclosed I send you a list of the Causalties [sic, casualties] of Co. H since coming to Virginia and also a congratulating order issued by Gen. Stannard, previous to his taking leave of this Brigade to take command of the First Division.

Yours &c., [1^st Lieutenant] Ja[me]s. H. Miller.”⁶,⁷

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THE SITUATION AT PETERSBURG.

________

A Petersburg paper of yesterday [July 22, 1864], (for which we are indebted to Mr. William C. Barnes,) says that it has positive information that Grant is not dead.  A prisoner taken near City Point night before last [July 21, 1864], and brought into our lines, states that the first time he heard it hinted was from his captors, and that is certainly not so.

Profound quiet has prevailed around the lines during the past three days.  During Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday [July 19, 20, and 21, 1864] scarcely a picket gun was heard, and the discharge of cannon was almost as rare.

The sharpshooters on both sides have not relaxed their vigilance.

The idea that the enemy was contracting his lines by withdrawing his forces from our right, was removed by the clearly ascertained fact that he still confronts us on every portion of the lines with increased rather than diminished forces—Other movements of the enemy indicate that he is placing heavier guns in position and increasing the number of his batteries.

There has been some mortar firing along the lines, but the casualties, so far, have been unprecedentedly small.¹

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ASSOCIATED PRESS ACCOUNTS.

News from the Army to Yesterday Morning—Artillery Firing and Picket Skirmishing—A Shell Explodes Among the Rebel Gunners—General Hancock Recovering—Visit of President Lincoln—Capture of Prisoners.

HEAD-QUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, June 22, 5 A. M.—Artillery firing on the right and picket skirmishing at various points along the line occupied the day, yesterday [June 21, 1864], resulting in the wounding of a few men, but causing no change in our position.

A battery stationed on an elevated piece of ground in front of Petersburg kept annoying one of our batteries on the left for some time, when we opened in return.  One of the shells exploded in the midst of the Rebel gunners, causing a cessation of their fire.

General HANCOCK is recovering from his indisposition, and expects to resume command of his corps in a few days.

President LINCOLN paid a visit to General GRANT, at City Point, yesterday [June 21, 1864].

Colonel [John A.] BAKER, of the Third North Carolina [Cavalry] Regiment, and a dozen men, were brought in last evening [June 21, 1864] by the Second Corps pickets.  All the prisoners collected since the army arrived in this neighborhood, have been sent to City Point for transfer eastward.

Petersburg Bombarded on Monday by General Birney.

HEAD-QUARTERS SECOND CORPS, NEAR PETERSBURG Va., Monday, June 20.—At eight o’clock this morning [June 20, 1864] General BIRNEY, occupying the nearest position to the city, lying between the City Point and Norfolk Railroad, at a range of about twelve hundred yards, opened his batteries on the place, and for five hours kept up a constant bombardment, which must have rendered Petersburg anything but an agreeable place of residence for a time.

The city is full of lofty shade trees, and the steeples of the churches are the only prominent objects on which to take effective range.  The effects of the shelling have not yet been ascertained, aside from the burning of some of the buildings.

This evening [June 20, 1864] General BIRNEY’S Division [3/II/AotP] is to be relieved from its arduous duties at the intrenchments, and a portion of the Sixth Corps, with another from the Ninth, including some of the colored troops, takes its place.

During the five days which this veteran division has been at the front it has suffered severely, while it has accomplished much of actual advantage gained.  General BIRNEY still commands the corps, while HANCOCK is fast gaining, and expects to be in the saddle within a few days.¹

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LETTER FROM CAPTAIN EVANS.

—–

BATTLE LINE, NEAR PETERSBURG, Va.,
June 22, 1864

EDITOR BEDFORD INQUIRER:—

I have no doubt but the friends of the members of my Company [Company A, 184th Pennsylvania] are very anxious to know of our whereabouts and how we are getting along since we have joined the grand Army of the Potomac. Therefore I will pen you a few lines which you may insert in your valuable paper if you think it worth the room.

We landed at Belle Plain, Va., on the 18^th of May [1864], where we remained until the 21^st [of May 1864], and then we took up the line of march for the Army of the Potomac, where we arrived after six days’ hard marching [presumably May 27, 1864], and joined our Corps (the 2d, 2d Division and 2d [sic, 1st] Brigade) [1/2/II/AotP]¹ on Sunday evening the 29^th of May, and on Monday morning [May 30, 1864] we were sent to the front line of battle, but were only engaged as skirmishers, until Friday morning the 2d [sic, 3rd?] of June [1864], when we were ordered to charge on the enemy’s works at Cold Harbor, which was done with a good will, but we did not succeed in carrying the works and were compelled to come to a halt and entrench ourselves, in order that we could hold the ground that we had bought so dearly. I do not know what our entire loss was at that place, but it was very heavy for the time engaged.²

We held our position at that place until Sunday [sic, Monday] evening, the 13^th inst. [June 13, 1864], (all the time under the fire of the enemy’s sharpshooters and part of the time his shells) when we were ordered to steal out of our works, as we supposed to take a few days rest, but alas! There was no rest for the 2d Corps. When we got out of our works and our Regiment formed, we got the command forward, to halt on the banks of the James River on Monday [sic, Tuesday] evening the 14^th inst [June 14, 1864]. On Tuesday [sic, Wednesday] morning [June 15, 1864] we crossed the river and took up the march for Petersburg, and about eleven o’clock the same night we found ourselves in the outer works of the enemy, about two miles from Petersburg.³ Since that time we have been under fire all the time, gradually closing in on their inner lines, and we are now about one mile from the city, with a very strong line of works in our front.⁴

I will append a list of the killed, wounded and missing so that the friends of the unfortunate may know something of their loved ones, who are battling for freedom and right. The health of the troops, as a general thing, is very good, and all seem to be in good spirits. My company numbers 46 men (present) for duty.

KILLED. Mathias Mock [Mauck], David R. Snowden.

WOUNDED. W[illia]m. Yester, Simon S. Lutz, John Whitman, James Potter, C.W. Johnston, John F. Cook, Geo[rge]. W. Reighard, George Bowers, John G. Stephens, Levi Berkhimer, John Hagen, Thomas [Theo.] Snowberger, Geo[rge]. D. Brown, Michael H. Price, Sergt. Robert M. Skillington, Corp. David Barnett.

MISSING. Josiah N. Smith.

Very respectfully,

N[athan]. C. EVANS
Capt. Co. A, 184^th P[ennsylvania]. V[0lunteers].⁵

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THE WAR NEWS.

Yesterday [July 22, 1864] passed without news, but not without a rumour.  It was reported that our forces in Northern Virginia had again encountered and beaten Hunter, this time somewhere in the neighbourhood of Winchester.  This account, we learn, was based upon an unofficial telegram from some point north of Staunton.  No information of any such fight reached the War Office yesterday.

A report was in circulation last night, which came by telegram from Staunton, to the effect that instead of our gaining a victory we had sustained a defeat in the affair above alluded to.  In the absence of all official or authentick information, we have nothing to say on the subject.¹

OUR VICTORY AT SNICKER’S FERRY LAST MONDAY.

We have received authentick intelligence in regard to our victory at Snicker’s Ferry, Clark county last Monday [July 18, 1864].  Previously we have been under the impression that Hunter advanced against our forces from towards Winchester.  This, it seems, was not the case.

Our forces, in returning from Maryland, crossed the Potomac into Loudon, thence taking the stage road due west to Winchester, which crosses the Blue Ridge at Snicker’s Gap, twenty miles west of Leesburg.  The Shenandoah river runs on the west side of the Blue Ridge, about four miles from the west end of the gap.  As we were passing through the gap on Sunday, the 8^th [of July, 1864], the enemy, pursuing from towards Leesburg, attacked our rear and captured thirty wagons.  Our columns halted, and, in turn, attacked the enemy, re-taking all of our wagons, capturing two guns and driving the enemy back some distance.  We then resumed our march towards Winchester.

On Monday [July 18, 1864], when we had crossed the river and gotten several miles beyond, the enemy crossed also in heavy force.  About three o’clock in the evening we attacked and routed them, and drove them across the river in confusion.

The enemy’s loss in killed and wounded in this affair is estimated at one thousand men; our loss will not exceed two hundred and fifty.²

Our forces now hold the entire Shenandoah Valley, from the Potomac to Staunton.

FROM PETERSBURG.

The telegraph informs us that there was great mortar firing in front of Petersburg Thursday night [July 21, 1864], and some musketry skirmishing up to noon [of July 22?], at which time it ceased and unusual quiet succeeded.  The Petersburg papers which have come to hand tell us nothing more, in fact not so much.  These papers claim to settle the vexed question of Grant’s reported death on the authority of a Yankee who was taken prisoner near City Point on Wednesday night [July 20, 1864], and who says if Grant “has died, he has yet to be informed of it,” and who is of opinion that “if it had occurred he would have heard of it.”

FROM GEORGIA.

There was nothing from General Hood’s army yesterday by private, press or official telegram.—We shall not be long without news from that quarter.  At last accounts Sherman was threatening to envelope Hood’s army, Atlanta and all.—Whatever General Hood intends to do must and will be done quickly.

THE LATEST.

An official despatch, received at the War Office last night, states that on the 21^st [of July, 1864], the enemy attacked Cleburne’s division, of Hardee’s corps, and a portion of our cavalry on our right, but were handsomely repulsed.³

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ASSOCIATED PRESS ACCOUNTS.

Skirmishing Along the Line—The Enemy Throwing up Works—The Wounded Sent to City Point—Arrival of Colonel Tippen and Colonel Neeper from Richmond—The Rebels Shelled by our Gun-boats—Supplies Sent to General Sheridan at White House—Execution of the Negro William Johnson.

HEAD-QUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, June 21—5 A. M.—Some skirmishing took place along the line yesterday and last evening [June 20, 1864]; but no change of position has been made by either party during the last two days.

The enemy are busily engaged in throwing up works at different points, and, although our lines reach within three quarters of a mile of the city, they seem determined to hold it till the last.

The wounded have nearly all been sent to City Point, where the hospitals are arranged for them.

Colonel [Andrew H.] TIPPEN, of the Sixty-eighth Pennsylvania, who was lately released from captivity at Richmond, arrived here on Sunday [June 19, 1864], and will assume command of his regiment.¹

Lieutenant-Colonel [William B.] NEEPER, of Fifty-seventh Pennsylvania also arrived to-day [June 21, 1864].  He was captured at Gettysburg, and has only been recently exchanged.²

BALTIMORE, June 22—A letter received from Fortress Monroe says that up to 10:30 on Monday morning [June 20, 1864], there had been no general engagement.

Skirmishing was all the time going on along the lines.  The rebels have made several efforts to throw up earthworks near the James River, in the vicinity of Turkey Bend and Malvern Hills, but have as often been shelled out by our gun-boats.³

Supplies have been sent to White House to Gen. SHERIDAN, his command having arrived in that vicinity.⁴

Execution of William Johnson.

Private William Johnson of the 23rd USCT, was executed for rape on Jordan’s Farm at 9 am, June 20, 1864.

WASHINGTON, June 22.—A letter dated at the head-quarters of the Army of the Potomac, June 20th, says:—

The negro WILLIAM JOHNSON, who was tried and convicted of an attempt to outrage a young lady at New Kent Court House, was hung this morning, at 9 o’clock, in front of the Jordan House, on a hill, in full view of the enemy.⁵

A battery, close by, had been shelling the Rebel lines just previous, and they opened in reply, throwing a number of shells rather closer than was desirable, one of which struck GEORGE POLLY [sic, Polley], Sergeant-Major of the Tenth Massachusetts, who died in a few minutes.⁶

When JOHNSON was arrested by some cavalry, just after his crime, he stoutly denied his guilt, and have his name as ROBERT HENRY HUGHES, and said he belonged to the Quartermaster’s Department, but after being sentenced acknowledged his guilt and gave his real name, confessing also, that he enlisted in Baltimore on the 3d of March [1864], in the Twenty-third United States [Colored] Infantry; that he was twenty-three years of age, and had deserted.

He also said his punishment was just, and hoped others would take warning by his fate. He appeared quite collected during the whole time, meeting his fate with great resignation, and died apparently very easy, although his neck was not broken by the fall. His pulse ceased to beat at the end of seven minutes. His body was left hanging till afternoon, and was then buried near the spot.⁷

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