The News.
Grant's movement southwest of
Petersburg turns out to have been no feint, but a serious attempt to extend his left, and plant it in closer proximity to the Southside railroad.
Up to the latest advices, he had succeeded in intrenching himself on
Hatcher's run, and held that position Monday night. This is an acquisition of ground.
Whether its possession is of much importance, or whether he was able to hold it yesterday, we have yet to learn.
The following official report of
General Lee was received at 11 o'clock Monday night:
The enemy moved in strong force yesterday to
Hatcher's run. Part of his infantry, with
Gregg's cavalry, crossed and proceeded in the
Vaughan road — the infantry to
Cattail creek.
The cavalry to Dinwiddie Courthouse, when its advance encountered a portion of our cavalry, and retreated.
"In the afternoon, parts of
Hill's and
Gordon's troops demonstrated against the enemy on the left of
Hatcher's run, near Armstrong's mill.
Finding entrenched, they were withdrawn after dark.--During the night, the force that had advanced beyond the creek retired to it, and were reported to be recrossing.
"This morning,
Pegram's division moved down the right bank of the creek to reconnoitre, when it has vigorously attacked.
The battle was obstinately infested several hours, but
General Pegram being killed while bravely encouraging his men, and
colonel Hoffman wounded, some confusion occurred, and the division was pressed back to its original position.
Evans's division, ordered by
General Gordon to support
Pegram's, charged the enemy and forced him back, but was, in turn, compelled to retire.
Mahone's division arriving, the enemy was driven rapidly to his defences on
Hatcher's run.
"Our loss is reported to be small; that of the enemy not supposed great.
Persons who came over on the evening rain report that the fighting had been known yesterday morning in the neighborhood of
Hatcher's run, and was still going on when the train left, at 2 o'clock P. M. As yet, we have no official intelligence on the subject.
The situation, as it stood Monday night, was such as to justify the expectation that the most serious fighting had yet to come.
Brigadier-General Pegram, who fell to nobly at the head of his men on Monday, was from
Richmond.
He had been at the army since the opening of the war, and had borne a distinguished part in many hard-fought fields.
He was a man of the most unflinching gallantry and a high order of intellect.
General Pegram had been married not two weeks at the time of his untimely death.
Among the casualties that we have, as yet, heard of, are:
Captain Floyd,
Finnegan's brigade, and
private George A. Spence, Twelfth Virginia regiment, killed;
Colonel Scott,
Finnegan's brigade, and
Captain Young, of
General McRae's staff, severely wounded.
A number of private and army wagons and teams were picked up by the enemy in the various roads, which they occupied on Sunday, between the Weldon railroad and Dinwiddie Courthouse. --Several fine teams, belonging to
General Bushrod Johnson's division, were captured while starting on a foraging expedition towards
Weldon.
Prisoners and deserters report
Grant's object to get possession of some wood and on the
Vaughan road, fuel having become very scarce within his lines.
Sherman has not yet made his appearance at
Branchville.
There was, on yesterday, notwithstanding the storm, telegraphic communication with
Augusta and points beyond.
The Secretary of War.
General John C. Breckinridge entered upon the discharge of his duties as
Secretary of War on yesterday.
General John B. Hood was expected to arrive in this city last night.
