Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-04-05
Army Ofthe Potomac.

| ARMY OF THE OTOMAC,
| April 2.-The most important victory
the Army of the Potomac has ever
| gained in Virginia was won to-day; and
| the outer line of works which we have been
| trying in vain for months to overcome has
at last yielded to our victorious arms, and
the greater portion of this army are to-
night within mile and half of the city,
| on the southwest side. The struggle made
| by the enemy to retain these works has
been of the most desperate character, and
for the success obtained to-day, we are in
debted not only to the strategy exercised
by the commanders but to the overwhelm-
ing numbers and bravery of the troops that
did the work.
The orders for an attack on the line east
| and south of Petersburg by the 9th and
daylight, the artillery having been ham
mering away the greater part of the night
| along the entire line held by the above
corps. Such furious cannonade has very
| seldom been heard during the war, not even
surpassed by that which was heard on the
occasion of the mine explosion in front of
Petersburg. The 9th corps troops engaged
in the action were the I'd and Sd divisions,
and Col. Sam Harrman's brigade of the 18th
division.
The charge was made in front of Forts
Hale and Rice, on the Jerusalem road, and
were so far successful that, by s A. NJ, we
were in possession of three Notifications,
Fort Malone being the most elaborate and
| extensive. These works contained IA guns,
some of which were at once opened on the
enemy by men belonging to our infantry
regiments. just inside and about one
hundred yards from Fort Malone was
another work, to which the rebels re-
treated and from whence they threw
most destructive fire upon our men,
causing them to retire from the
north end, when the rebels made dash
thinking to recover it entirely, but the guns
in the right wing, as well as in the center,
had been manned and shotted and the as
sailants were driven back. From this time
till late in the afternoon the struggle con-
tinued, the enemy using every effort to re-
cover the fort, while our men were as de-
termined to retain possession Of it. About
noon the chances seemed that we should
lose it. But soon after the Provisional
Brigade, under Gen. Coliss, and the engi-
neer brigade, under Gen. Benham, with
Gen. Hamlin's brigade of the 9th corps
came on the ground, and by their timely ar
rival saved the gallant men in the fort from
capture and caused the enemy to retire.
The scene on the ground and around the
fort was of the most terrible and fearful
character. AT dark the position of the con-
testants was the same as during the day.
Gen. Wilcox with part of his division
made an attack in front of Fort McGilvery,
near the Appomatox, and took part of the
line, but was soon after ordered to retire to
his former position, owing to lack of sup
ports. The loss of the 9th corps will reach
from 800 to 1000 killed, wounded and pris-
oners, among whom are Gen. Potter, COM
manding the I'd division, who is badly
wounded in the groin, but not fatally. It's
thought Col. Mitchell, and Major Balton,
3lst Maine are severly wounded. Colonel
Gregg and Lieut.. Col. Winslow, 10th N.
Y, wounded; Maj. Gross 25th Penn, lost
leg. Lieut.. Alexander of the same regi-
ment was killed. This corps has taken Ia
guns, about 200 prisoners and 2 battle flags.
The latter were taken by the 2l8th Pa. The
9th corps struck the enemy's line in front
of Fort Welch, near the celebrated lead
works, and carried them with very slight
loss. They at once pushed for the South
Side road, which they reached about 8
o'clock and in very short time, several
miles OF it were torn up and destroyed.
They then moved on down towards Pc
tersburg, driving the rebels before them
across, toward the town and into their inner
line close to the city. They took large
number of prisoners, about 1000, and some
20 guns.