FIGHTING NEAR FORT FISHER.

Colonist, Volume VIII, Issue 799, 23 June 1865, Page 3

FIGHTING NEAR FORT FISHER.

Below are Despatches from the Federal General Grant to the Secretary at War, Mr. Stanton :—-

City Point, March 25ih, 10.30 a.m.—To Secretary Stanton :—The following despatch of General Parke has been received from General Meade. (Signed) Grant.—The enemy attacked my front at about 4.30 a.m., with three divisions, under command of General Gordon. By a sodden rush they seized the line held by the Third Brigade, First Division, at the foot of the hill to the right of General Steadman, and overpowering the garrison, took the fort. They established themselves upon the hill and turned the guns of the fort upon us. Our troops on either flank stood firm. Afterwards a determined attack was made on Fort Haskell, which was checked by a part of M'Laughliu's Brigade, with great loss to tbe enemy. The first brigade of- HartsufPs division in the reserve was brought up, and a check given to any further advance. One or two attempts were made to retake the hill, and were only temporarily successful until the arrival of the Second Brigade, when a charge was made by that Brigade, aided by the troops ofthe First Division on their flank, and the enemy were driven out with a loss of a number of prisoners, estimated at 1600. Two battle flags have been brought in. The enemy lost heavily in killed outside of their lines. The whole line was immediately recrossed, and guns retaken unimpaired. I regret to add that General M'Laughliu was captured in Fort Steadman. Our loss other-

wise is not heavy. Great praise ia due to General Hsrtsufffor the gallantry displayed in handling his division, whioh behaved with skill on his first engagement. (Signed) J. G. Parks, Major-General. City Point, March 25th.—To Secretary Stanton. —The number of prisoners received by the Provost Marshal is 2000 taken by the Ninth Corps, and > 600 hy the Second Corps. There may be more brought io. (Signed) Grant. City Point, March 25th, 7.30 p.m.—To Secretary Stanton.—l am not yet able to give the results of the day accurately, bot tho number of prisoners captured proved larger than at first reported. Tlie slaughter of the enemy at the point where they entered our lines and in front of it, was oot less than 3000. Our loss is estimated at 800, aod may prove less. General Humphrey attacked tbem on the left with promptness, capturing nearly 1000 men, and causing the enemy to return their troops rapidly to that part of the line. (Signed) Grant. City Point, March 25th.—After the fight between the enemy and the Ninth Corps, orders were given to the Sixth Corps to make so attack on the left ofthe line in front of Fort Fisher. The line of battle was formed, and the order to advance given, and some of our men had the entire line of rifle pits of the enemy. Over 600 prisoners was the result of this engagement. Our loss was trifling. (Signed) Grant. Another fight took place at Hatcher's Run, in which the Second Corps was engaged. The attack was made about dark, and over 400 prisoners fell into our hands-making in all, to-day. 2875 — among whom are 100 commissioned officers, the highest rank being Colonel. It is reported that . General Gordon was seen urging his men to fight, and at times swearing at them for cowardice, ending with the exclamation, "By —, just as I thought; these men won't fight;" after which he was not seen. Lieutenant Nye, of the Fourteenth Massachusetts Battery, was killed. He was ordered to surrender his guns, but refused. Six bullets were found to have entered his body.

The Commercials special despatch says that 150 rebel officers, captured iv the fight before Petersburg, on Saturday, arrived there to-day. Head-quarters Army of the Potomac, March 26th.—The engagement yesterday, no doubt, was the most important and successful for the Union armies that has taken place since the arrival in front of Petersburg. The enemy were defeated at every point, and lost heart in their cause The number of prisoners brought in by the Ninth Corps is reported at 1800. The loss in this Corps is not far from 600. The number of prisoners in our hands, the result of the day's operations, is 2200, and 71 enlisted men, and 68 officers, besides 150 wounded in our hospitals.