The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-04-13
IH0E1s SCorT,
JvRx B LAsKroRp.
Rr-rf7e II Itrrronn
Grant,s Last snlenaId Mannnrre

OAaAe : INST EIduA operation - W0F
thy TO stand by the best Of his former
achieyemenis--not merely In the re-
suits Tor in thet respect i surpasses
them gil, but in the simplicity and dis
Hnctness of its plan, IN the admirable
arsang cement in all its details, and in
the promptitude and efficiency Nth
which the separate blows that were
parts Of the plan were sent home. AS
the smoke Of the great battle clears
away, and we can see it as 8 whole and
judge Of II in that way, the glorious
lighting done on each particular part Of
the field Is almost forgotten In this CON
templation of the admisabie rnanlseF
n which the master mind had dover
tailed each particular fight into his
plan, and mace ali serve the common
and splendid purpose. which. from the
commencement, was the utter destruc-
zion of Lees army. e Is
On Wednesday, March %. Sheridan
moved out from Grants lines towards
DinHiddie Court House. Lee appre-
headed AZ once another movement of
Grants left. He had at that time 3
considerable fcrce. pear to his own left,
where the attempt had been made
against Fort Steedman He imme-
diaiely began to rearrange his line,
heavily strengthening his right once
more TO meet the advance Of Grants
lett He was favored in this respect
by the weather. The heavy rain Of
Thursday Of course delayed the move
ment Of Sheridan, bat it did not delay
the march Of Lees troops within his
own lines, and thus il gave him time 70
get ready Consequently when Sheri>
dan was ready TO go ahead On Friday he
was confronted BY very heavy force,
and had the hard fghtingss alluded to
IN Mr. Lincoln's first dispatch. lie
did not gain any decided advantage,
and perhaps did not believe that 50
much was done as might have been
done By the infantry. On Saturday he
seems 70 have taken the infantry ia
more immediate charge, as on that day
General Warren was sent to the rear.
Lee row had two divisions on that part
e the held and dared not send more,
IS il must have been obvious to him
that there was still a large force in onr
lines on the Petersburg front And Oh
Saturday, therefore, Gen. Sheridan,
with cavalry and infantry, gsined the
victory at the Five Forks, the extreme
right of Lees Inns on the Southside
Railroad.
Ga Saturday night the prospect was
blue for Lee Grant had held all his
lines in front Of Petersburgh, and had
unancsuvred troops 20 far to his left
that they had fairly turned Lees right
and were in rear OF that right, under
the indomitable and energstic Sheri-
dan, who was capturing Lees regi-
ments and guns almost without resis-
lance. From such q condition any re,
suit might fcllor', and Lee had every
reason 70 suppose that on that Satur-
day night Grant would very heavily
reinforce Sheridan, and that with the
peep Of dawn the hero of the valley, at
the head Of two or three corps, would
come sweeping down the reverse Of the
rebel lines, scattering their defenders
pell,mell and capturing everything
That appeared to be the prime danger
to guard against, and more force went
thai way. On Saturday night also, az
midnight, . demonstration was made
on the Petersburg front BY our troops,
and il was 50 obviously a demonstra
ton that it no doubt confirmed Lee in
the impression that the real battle Of
the morrow ves 20 be where She.idan
was away on his right ~
! By dayhght0 on Sunday, therefore. Lee
bad sent towards his hight every man
that could possibly be spared from his
/ lines, and &c that hour his hines were
assaulted IN three different places By as
many different corps and pierAea ID
/ every place. The Sixth corps went
through fret at point about opposite
the western extremity of Petersburg
the Twenty fourth little way further
west, and the Ninth corps further east,
near 70 the Jerusalem plank road, acS
tualiy capturing one Of the largest forts
in the Petersburg dsfencea. The sue
cess Of the sixth corps cut of the
troops that were not in Petersburg
and, - that place was supposed 70 DC
their pivot OF manoeuvre-as Il was
supposed they could not cross the Ap,
pomatiox except through the city,
| their capture seemed ceftain. since
they were hammed in between Sheri-
dan, the Sixth corps, and the river
But they found means 70 cross the rit
e, and thus 3 large body Of 1uen slib-
ped through oar fingers
But much Is she success Of the Sixth
and Twenty corps seemed 10
promise IN that respect. the success Of
the Ninth corps appeared to promise
hardly less; for the possession Of Fort
Malone rendered il for a short time
probable chat no organized pari of De
enemy then in Petersburg could get
away. The rebels in the PETERSBURG
defences. however, commanded per.
haps By A. T. Hill, rallied AMI made z
very desperate struggle Tor Fort Ma
hone, which was protracted through
the day. a0d BY that means they saved
the few that finally got away under co.
yer Of the night
IL Is worthy as especial note how ina-
mediately the fall Of Petersburg caused
that Of Richmond, and how freely Lee
thus assents 70 the fact that the lsttar
oannot be held without the former. In ]
view Of this fact the country should not
forget that i was part Of Grants oriri-
nal plan % cut the communication be
tween those cities and That one year |
ago General Butler vas sent ap the /
James with q column Of troops for that
purpose How grandiioquentiy be man.
aged % do nothing every one must. re-
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