In the city yesterday there was little of interest to note.
The city troops assembled at 6 o'clock in the morning and were marched
to their respective positions, and beyond the amusement afforded by
squads of provost guards going around picking up stragglers, there was
very little to amuse the few who remained in Richmond.
The York River train arrived about 12½ o'clock, and brought the
particulars of the fight below Bottom's Bridge, in New Kent.
From an intelligent gentleman, who was in the fight, we gather the
following particulars.
Gen. D. H. Hill advanced a portion of his force to feel the enemy,
and found him about 6 ½ o'clock P. M., Thursday, at Dr. L. Crump's
farm, just this side of the Cross Roads.
Our troops formed in line of battle.
Gen. Jenkins's South Carolina and Gen. Ransom's North Carolina brigades
took position across the Williamsburg road, at Mrs. Crump's farm, with
Major Branch's Virginia artillery in the centre, and Col. Shingler's and
the Holcombe Legion cavalry on the right and left.
Skirmishing speedily and actively commenced with the infantry, and the
artillery opened an accurate and incessant cannonading.
The enemy, consisting of three regiments of infantry, a force of
cavalry, and four pieces of artillery, under Colonel West, commanding,
at first presented a bold front, but as our infantry advanced in
splendid order, at the double quick, they retreated.
Gens. Jenkins's and Ransom's onslaught was bold and fearless, but as the
enemy retired rapidly, Gen. Hill ordered Col. Shingler, with his
cavalry, to the charge, which was executed in gallant and impetuous
style, driving the enemy to Tunstall's, four miles, when darkness put an
end to the pursuit.
The enemy two or three times took an ambuscade, and poured heavy volleys
upon the cavalry, but, most providentially, without inflicting any
injury.
Our loss was only one killed--a member of the 24th North Carolina
regiment.--Four of the enemy's dead were found in the woods where there
line of battle was formed, and we captured six prisoners, one of whom
was mortally wounded.
The enemy ran off in great confusion, strewing the road with knapsacks,
haversacks, blankets, oil cloths, and sabres.
The prisoners stated that the number of troops under Dix was about
22,000.
They think that there is not much fight in the troops.
Two of them who arrived at the Libby prison say that the force which
fought our troops numbered 4,000, and was the advance of the army.
There were, they said, 20,000 troops in their rear, and they were being
reinforced.
There were five or six Brigadier Generals with the force.
They did not know what point the army was marching on, but, from what
they had heard their officers say, thought Richmond was to be taken.
General Corcoran, with his force, from Suffolk, was with Dix.
The train which came up on the York River Railroad yesterday
afternoon brought the intelligence that there had been no fighting
yesterday morning, and that the Yankees had disappeared from the Cross
Roads, taking the route towards Hanover Court-House.
Also, that a large force from the White House had crossed the Pamunkey
into King William, and, were making for the same point.
A citizen of King William county, who lives near the centre of the
county, sent. He informs us that on Wednesday afternoon, about 4
o'clock, some 1,500 of the enemy's cavalry passed his farm.
They had with them two pieces of field artillery and one caisson.
Two hours later in the day they were followed by an infantry force,
estimated to number from 1,000 to 1,200, with sixteen pieces of
artillery and about twenty wagons — whether baggage or ordnance wagons
our informant could not tell.
The next morning, about 6 o'clock, a squadron of cavalry--two
companies — passed up in the same direction.
The force that passed up on Wednesday evening stated that their
destination was Hanover Junction.
At sunset they stopped for an hour at the intersection of the Hanover
Town and New Castle Ferry roads and fed their horses.
Leaving there, they went in the direction of Nelson's Bridge, on the
Pamunkey, and halted for the night in the neighborhood of King William
C. H.; where they destroyed the harvested crop of Mr. Richard Pemberton,
on the alleged ground that Mrs. P. had insulted them.
The next morning they crossed the Pamunkey, either at Nelson's
Bridge or Taylor's Ferry, and proceeded in the direction of Hanover
Junction, about twelve miles distant.--At different points along the
route they declared it to be their purpose to destroy effectually the
railroad communication between Richmond and the army of Gen. Lee, and to
capture the city, or so threaten its capture as to require the
withdrawal of Gen. Lee's forces from the North.
They are represented by all who had an opportunity of talking with them
as being exceedingly impudent, and boastful of their prospects of
entering the Confederate capital.
Yesterday, early in the day, a report reached the city that this
force had tapped the railroads at Hanover Junction, and were threatening
the bridge on the Fredericksburg road over the South Anna.
In the afternoon this report received a seeming confirmation in the fact
that the train which was due at 5 o'clock did not arrive.
Upon inquiry we learned that the Central train had stopped at Beaver Dam Station, having been apprised of the threatening presence of the enemy.
The information received at the War Department at 8 o'clock in the
evening was not such as to justify the belief that they were really in
possession of the Junction, and it was hoped, at least, that our forces
at that point would be sufficient to repulse them.
Regarding the number of troops the enemy has, there is of course
much doubt.
An exchanged prisoner who came by the last flag of truce boat laid off
Fortress Monroe on Tuesday, and while there saw on board a Federal
vessel an old acquaintance whom he had known, in Baltimore.
The Federal told him that Dix had taken almost every man able to carry a
musket on this expedition to Richmond, including Peck's troops, and
that he had about 20,000 men. Some of the men belonged to companies
whose time was up, but their regiments time not having expired, they
were forced to accompany it on the march.
Our informant, while lying off Fortress Monroe, saw several transports
plying between Norfolk and there, which he was told had Peck's troops on
board.
There were ten transports lying in Hampton Roads with regiments whose
time was up going North.
The Yankees still picket up as high as Tunstall's.
