Editor’s Note: This article was transcribed by Jackie Martin.
THE WAR NEWS.
During the whole of yesterday there was no news of importance from any part of our lines south of James river. About one o’clock, P. M., a report was put in circulation that a small body of our troops had been surrounded and captured near Deep Bottom. The story originated in a foolish brain, and had but a short run. It was soon contradicted by persons arriving from the locality where the disaster is said to have occurred.
DEEP BOTTOM.
The force thrown across the river at Deep Bottom by the enemy would seem to be keeping quiet.—They are believed to be still at work intrenching, and there was some talk of their laying pontoon bridges across the river. This locality takes its name, not from the character of the ground, which is in fact a bluff, but from the great depth of the river in this vicinity. It is twelve miles from Richmond by the New Market or Charles City roads, which leaves Richmond through Rocketts. Immediately east of this hill Four Mile creek and Bailey’s creek come together and flow into the river. Malvern Hill is four miles further down the New Market road. Chaffin’s Bluff is three miles nearer the city. Our rams are lying on the west side of Dutch Gap, not more than two and a half miles this side of Deep Bottom. Howlett’s battery, on the Chesterfield side of the river, south of Dutch Gap, is distant from the point at Deep Bottom, held by the Yankees, about six miles.
NAVAL OPERATIONS.
It was expected that our rams and the battery at Howlett’s would, on yesterday morning, renew their fire upon the Yankee monitors—lying east of Dutch Gap; but no cannon were heard in that direction up to a late hour last evening, and there were no rumours of an engagement. Our people have learned to expect little from our ironclads, and naval affairs occupy very little of public attention.
From dusk until nine o’clock last night the sound of heavy guns was heard in the direction of the hostile fleets in James river.
PETERSBURG.
As mentioned incidentally above, we had nothing of importance from this locality. The occurrences near and south of the town on Tuesday may be learned by reference to the extracts from Petersburg papers, to be found in another column.—Persons who came over yesterday evening report that nothing of special interest had occurred up to the time of their leaving. Shells were constantly dropping in different parts of the town, but produced no great excitement. The ladies moved about the streets much as usual.
THE LATEST.
We publish in one column to day Yankee accounts of the capture of Petersburg, and in another a telegram announcing the FACT that, yesterday evening, we attacked the enemy in front of that town, driving them out of their intrenchments and taking two thousand prisoners, several stand of colours and four pieces of cannon.1
Source:
- “The War News.” Richmond Examiner. June 23, 1864, p. 2 col. 1 ↩