FROM GEN. BUTLER’S COMMAND.
Destruction of an Important Bridge and Four Miles of Railroad—Butler’s Forces in the Enemy’s Works—A Steamer Fired Into—Blockade of the James River.
BERMUDA HUNDRED, June 18, via Baltimore, June 20.—In all twenty-one pieces of artillery have been captured from the enemy in our assaults upon the works at Petersburg [from June 15-18, 1864], besides a large number of prisoners.
When the enemy withdrew his forces in front of General BUTLER to reinforce Petersburg [on June 16, 1864], General BUTLER immediately sent out a force under Generals PERRY [sic, Terry] and TURNER, which succeeded in destroying an important bridge and four miles of railroad track near Walthall Junction.
EARLY’s [sic, Anderon’s] [First] Corps (late LONGSTREET’s) [First/ANV] crossed the James River, near Drury’s Bluff, in strong force, and was soon coming down the Petersburg turnpike as General Butler’s forces entered their works [on June 17, 1864].
Last evening [June 17, 1864] the dispatch steamer Amanda Winants, whilst passing Wilcox’s wharf, was fired into from the north side of the James River by a Rebel battery.
Ten shots were fired at her, one of which passed through her hull near the water line. No one was injured.
The James River is blockaded a few miles below Drury’s Bluff, to prevent a surprise from the Rebel rams.1
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Sources/Notes:
- “From Gen. Butler’s Command.” The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA), June 21, 1864, p. 1, col. 3 ↩