The fight at Petersburg.
[from our own Correspondent.]After the fight of Friday evening our forces fell back again to the entrenchments just outside of the town. The enemy at once threw forward their picket and skirmish line, and occupied the ground which we had abandoned. All of Saturday passed, and, for reasons which, it would be injudicious to state, no renewal of the fight was made. This morning, however, everything being in readiness, Major-General Heth attacked the enemy vigorously in front; i. e., those confronting him and facing up the railroad towards Petersburg, whilst Major-General Mahone having passed down the Squirrel road until his forces reached the Vaughan road, turned square to the left, in order, as was supposed, to strike the enemy in flank and rear just back of the Davis House. The column attacking in front drove the enemy back some half a mile, taking his line of breastworks and over three hundred prisoners. Here, however, they halted, owing to the strength of the enemy's next line of works, which was literally lined with artillery. The column engaged in the flanking programme was, however, not so successful. The skirmishers having been deployed and started forward, our line of battle soon formed and moved on in support. In a few moments the enemy's skirmishers (a line as strong as our line of battle) is encountered, and our men dashing forward, press them back towards their line of breastworks. And now the enemy, from a number of guns, pour a raking and destructive fire of round and grape shot and shrapnel. For awhile our brave boys press boldly forward, but in an evil moment a brigade of ours give back, and despite the efforts of their gallant commander, refuse to rally. The contagion spreads; other troops give away, and soon the whole mass comes rushing back pell- mell, exposed to as murderous a fire in retreat as that to which they were subjected whilst advancing. Hagood's (S. C.) brigade, however, nothing daunted, actually press on amid that heavy fire of shot and shell, and reach the enemy's works. When General H. reached the works he found that one of his colonels had surrendered his regiment, of his brigade, without consulting him.--At once repudiating the act of his subordinate, he ordered the men to fire and then to save themselves, his supports on the right and left having both long since fallen back. General H. himself escaped, though two horses were killed under him whilst retreating.
The engagement lasted about two hours, ending about 11 o'clock, and has not been renewed since that hour.
It was ascertained, beyond all doubt, by the attack that the whole of the Fifth and Ninth corps were massed on the railroad, and also two divisions of the Second. Prisoners say that Grant and Meade were both present at the fight. The enemy were doubtless expecting an attack, and were advantageously posted on both sides of the railroad, with their lines forming a crescent, with their area fronting us; hence Mahone found no flank to strike.
Some cavilling cities will doubtless take occasion to animadvert upon this failure. In order that the failure may be perfectly understood, I will give the reason which, in my judgment, led to it. In the first place, the enemy were present in overwhelmingly strong force when compared with our numbers. In the second place, they were admirably posted and very strongly fortified artificially. In the third place, to the eternal discredit of one of our brigades, be it said that they broke and ran, and refused to be rallied by their gallant commander, though he did all that a man could do. And finally, if the enemy were not apprised of our attack, it was not because the plan and time were not known, even to the very urchins of Petersburg. Whose fault it was that these matters leaked out, I do not know; but I know that eighteen hours before, the time, place and character of the fight were on the lips of all, soldiers and citizens. Our loss will, I think, foot up about one thousand, the greater part of which was borne by Harris's Mississippi and Hagood's South Carolina brigades, both of which acted with conspicuous gallantry.
Among the names of the gallant officers who fell to-day are Brigadier-General Saunders, Alabama; Captain Spain, Adjutant-General of General Finnegan's brigade; Colonel Lamar, Florida. Colonels Council and Thomas, and Major Bell, are missing, but are supposed to be prisoners. Lieutenant Davis, commanding sharpshooters, Sanders's Alabama brigade, one of the most gallant spirits in the Army of Northern Virginia, was killed. He had just been recommended for the majority of his regiment, and would, doubtless, have received the promotion had he Nave lived. --Other brave and gallant spirits without rank, but full of patriotism and bravery, yielded up their lives on that ensanguined field; but, of them all, none was more beloved, or will be more regretted, than the gallant commander of the Alabama brigade, John C. C. Sanders; a thorough soldier and an officer without a superior, he was yet a gentleman and a patriot. Devoted to his duties, modest in deportment, of no unselfish disposition, it was literally true, that "none knew him but to love him, none-named him but to praise," He was just twenty-four years of age when killed.
The enemy, fighting behind entrenchments, did not, I think, lose heavily. We captured near four hundred prisoners.
The enemy still hold the road, but it will avail them very little. It may yet be to them a very Pandora's box of evils. At least, so let us hope.
Monday August 22.--To-day all is quiet. The fight of yesterday has not been renewed. Both sides are lying on their cars.
