Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1865-04-04
Interesting Account Of the
Battles Before Petersburg.
Brilliant and Heroic Conduct Of
the Sixth and Ninth Corps.

COFrsspondsnoo HatAonal Rspuoliean.
BEYoRH PETHRsBURo, April 9.--satur-
day night the situation was as follows |:
The 9th coTpS, Gen. PArke, on the right
Of the line, In their old position, stretch
ing from the Appomattox 10 the left OF Fort
Alex. Huger. Tho 9th corps extended
from the len Of the 9th 10 near Fort ssmp-
son. The command Of Gen. Ord, COM
posed Of Turner'S and Fosters divisions Of
the s4th corps, and Blrney's, (colored,) OF
the 26tb, lay on the len OF wright's. Tho
90, connecting with their LEFT, reached 70
the Boydton plank road, near Burgess
Mills, Niles division lying across Ii.
Gen. Sheridan had the left wing, com.
posed Of cavalry and the Fifth Corps. He
was operating on the rebel right without
keeping up connection with the rest of the
army. The Sighting had been principally
confined 10 the cavalry and the Fifth and
second Corps; the cavalry and Fifth hay-
ing suffered the greatest loss. The rebels
had hitherto confined themselves IN attacks
upon our left, seeming 70 fear an attempt
10 reach the South Side road In the dlrec-
ton OF Burksyille. The ground occupied
by our lines 10 the left OF the winter camps
10 gently rolling, wooded thiskly with see
ond-growth pine, and cut mp with devious
water courses, running through swampy
boltoms. In mont, beyond Burgeas' Mills,
stretching away toward PatsraburR, along
the Boydton plank, 10 open country.
During Saturday night the lines sesmed
very fsveriIh, volleys Of musketry being
beard at frequent intervals, sometimes
swelling into q continuous cracking roar,
while the popping Of skirmishsrs' rides,
and the slower discharges Of artillery were
incesSant. The theatre Of operations COW
ered front OF almost unexSmpled extent,
the tortuous line being hfteon or twenty
miles In length. -.1H ..r
Between 10 and II O'Clock, p. m, Gen.
Parke charged the rebel works In front OF
thecelebrated Fort He'll, with the divisions
Of Potter and Wilcox. The fortincatioDs
at this point are OF great strength, and the
approach rendered difficult by fornida-
BILE abattis. Upon reaching the Abattis,
they encountered Q tremendous fire Of
grape, canister and musketry.
For moment ths line recoiled and fell
back nearly 10 Fort He'll, but renewed their
effort, pulled away the distractions, poured
over the parapet and into tho works with
. dash worthy Of the Old Guard OF Napo-
leon. They captured four forts, including
Fort Mahone, directly In front Of Fort
He'll, turned the guns In the works aud
poured canister and grape into the retreat.
ing enemy. The Ninth corps continued
TO hold this position until thls morning.
Brevet Major General Potter, command.
ing the Second division, was dangerouslJ
wounded In the assault, and was succeedec
In command BY Brig. Gen. GTiiin, Of the
Second brigade. &c
The rebels yesterday made seven or elgh
desperate assaults upon Fort Malone
some Of them even reaching the ditch, bu
these were each time repulsed, with heAvI
loss. .F..-
At four O'Clock yesterday morning Gen
| Wright had masSed the whole 9th corps
and advanced IL TO within . hundred yard
OF the rebel ines In front Of Fort Fisher
Tho lst division, Gen. Wheaton, had Ih
right; the Sd diVislon, Gen. Seymour, IN
centre, and the ID division, Gen. Getty
the lett. Each brigade and division hS'
its own front and Supports. About hall
past four Il charged, through terrible 1rs
forced the abAttis, and carried the work
with irresistlblo gallantry. AdvanelDI
rapidly over several lines OF earthworkl
they moved forward, and about . O'CLOCK
four miles west Of Petersburg. They fol
lowed up their success BY AssaulunR an
carrying several Of the inner and rear d.
fsnslVe lines Of Petersburg, which her
successfully croas the BOydLon road, run
ming 1t right angles 10 the line of work
which We have held during the past winter
This charge was one Of the most mag
nihcent ever made In this or any othe
war. Owing 10 the rapldlty with Whicl