Editor’s Note: This article was found by Brett Schulte at the free newspaper site Historical Newspapers of the Rochester, New York Region and transcribed by Jackie Martin.
The War.
The federal forces have recently met with fair success in all directions, and the news from Mobile is very gratifying. The following are late items of news:
WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON,
August 28th.To Maj. Gen. Dix:
A dispatch from Gen. Grant just received, states that the Richmond papers of yesterday, (27th,) announce that Fort Morgan is in our possession. It is not stated whether the fort was surrendered or whether it was blown up. Another dispatch gives the following extract from the Richmond Examiner of yesterday:
“Fort Morgan is in the enemy’s possession, whether blown up or evacuated is not known.”
[SOPO Edtor’s Note: A portion of this article was removed since it was not about the Siege of Petersburg.]
(Signed) E M. STANTON,
Sec’y of War.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 29.—A letter received from the Army of the Potomac dated yesterday says all is quiet except usual picket firing in front of the 9th corps. Firing on our right on Thursday and Friday was occasioned by a movement of our troops from one position to another which the enemy did not understand, and the enemy, fearful that it meant another attack on the right, at Ream’s Station, on the Weldon Railroad.
Our total loss in the fight of Thursday will not, it is said exceed 2,000, while that of the enemy is at least 5,000.
We still hold about four miles of the railroad, and the position abandoned by the 2d Corps was effectually destroyed.
Deserters who came in yesterday say that Gen. A. P. Hill’s corps, with two divisions of Gen. Longstreet’s corps and Gen. Davis’ legion, were the rebel troops engaged Thursday. They also state that since the Weldon Railroad fell into our possession, pork had advanced to $6 and beef to $8 per pound in Richmond. The railroad must be recaptured at all hazards.
NEW YORK, Aug. 29.—The Tribune’s special sums up the result of the fighting on the Weldon Railroad as follows:
1st. That the enemy was successful after repeated and impetuous assaults, in compelling the abandonment by our forces of the railroad below Ream’s Station.
2d. That although attacking in vastly superior numbers he received a bloody repulse in three successive instances.
“That his loss in killed and wounded must have exceeded ours by twice the number, and finally by an overwhelming assault he succeeded in forcing us back from our intrenchments on the other side of the railroad, below the station which we had already decided to abandon. We fully accomplished the special object in view, viz: the destruction of the track, three miles below the station; and although our withdrawal from our entrenchments was somewhat hastened by the attack of the enemy, it is natural to conclude that the severity of the blow inflicted on the enemy does not begin to compensate him for a few miles of railroad embankment.1
Source:
- “The War.” Brockport (NY) Republic. September 1, 1864, p. 2 col. 3 ↩