The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-04-06
THE SECOND CORPS.
MIR. VIM. J. starks' Despatch.


THE SECOND CORPS.
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MIR. VIM. j.. Starks' Despatch.
HEADQUARTERS, SECOND CORPS, April 2, 1865.
Ere this despatch reaches you the telegraph will have
borne through the North the Of this dayone OF
the most glorious to the Union since the began
DETAILS oH1HE FIGHTING or SECOND THE %
-@.1a INSTANT.
During almest the entire of last night heavy and
tinuous firing Of artillery heard along the lines,
mostly in front Of the Sixth and Ninth The order for
the assault upon the enemy had been given for early
morn, and every SOLDIER he laid down with his
ket resting his ARM felt that the coming
big with fate.
= The right of the Second corps, held by the Second
division, rested Hatchers rum about mile above
Armstrong; ford at the close of yesterdays operations
formidable line Of works, with an admirably con-
struced fort lay in their immediate front Two lines of
abas and several thick slashngs rendered the
approach thereto almost impossible On the left of the
Second was General Turner's division of the Twenty
fourth corps. The rebel works well manned and
contained several very fine pieces of artillery Orders
were given To charge the works at daylight and all the
requisite preparations made an hour before that
time
THE Posr HONOR.
To the First brigade Of the Second DIVISION under
Colonel William A. Olmsted, Of the Fifty ninth New York
Volunteers, was assigned the post Of honor. Promptly
Ut the hour the advance began preceded by heavy FIRE
Of artillery by battery stationed Mr.. Armstrong;
house In such position a. to ding an enGadng FIRE
upon the enemy. The condition of the country In front
OF the Second division such TO render imposs
bio TO bring artillery to the front The Nineteenth Mas
sachusots Captain Palmer and the Seventh Michigan
Lieutenant Colonel Lapon in the immediate front
Of the fort.
TIE CHARGE.
On receiving the order the charged with deter
mined yell, and plungng through the slashings and
over the abats amid heavy fire, drove the enemy from
tie works. capturing three brass ned pieces and about
TO hundred prisoners. The advance of the Twenty
eh was equally successful, and the entire line Of
fell into possession The Twenty fourth con-
tnusd the advance while the Second division was moved
BY the left 70 tho support Of General Miles, who had
strong force Of the enemy intrcnched short distance
from the Southsds road and os being heavily pressed
MILES ATTACKS ENEMY IN rHE FLANK.
During tho night General Niles was ordered to report
70 General Sheridan with hts command and after toll
march through the thick woods succeeded doing
%. He YVES informed BY that gallant oficsr that his
ssrvices wore not needed whom he oounermarched his
troops and coming down upon the flank Of the rebel
works the Claiborne road succeeded compelling
ther evacuation. The enemy fell back some two miles
CLOSELY followed BY troops which had been placed In
bis 'front.' when within mile and half OF the South
eide road the enemy discovered In line Of works.
and fierce skirmsh began and continued for about
hour was soon demonstrated that the force in front
OF u was superior 10 own, and STAFF officer was
sent 70 General Humphreys for reinforoements
Tho state Of the roads and condition OF the country
such that the troops to the support Of General
les could mot got up in time and at about three o'clock
General, fearing that the day would pass and leave
him this sdo the railroad, determined TO charge the
ncmy, and Immediately made dispositions for that pur
pose
rm REuL WORKS cAPruRrD
The position hold by the rebels very strong one
u being eminence from which an open field sopcd
nearly half mile. Bnt nothing seems impossible to
bravo troops and they sweeping across tho
open space regardless Of the hail storm of bullets and
shells which met their advance II not In (rebcD
human nature 10 Withstand the onslaught spd as our
lines reached their works they broke and ned though
many remained behind, waving their haudkerchiefs in
token OF surrender Our troops Immediately advanced
across the railroad whore they halted and dspo
sitiOns made TO hold It,
CAPTURES
We captured in the affair four hundred and thirty six
prsoncrs including thirteen officers among whom was
Colonel Brown, Of the One Hundred and Forty eighth
North Carolina
In the meantime the Second DIVISION led BY General
toward tho road and striking some distance below the
First division, moved up road running parallel with
d and connected with the right Of the First Upon
m ,eting General Miles, General Humphreys shook him
heartily by the hand and Congratulated him upon his
splendid success
The battle nag Of the Forty seventh North Carolina was
captured by private Franklin d. DEMO, Company NJ,
Fourth New York heavy artillery Private James Began
Fourth New York heavy artillery, the rst TO reach
one Of the rebel guns and, wheeling around, loaded
and fired at the retreating rebels
Captain Charles r. Shorter, Of the rebel engi.
nocrs, serving on the STAFF Of GeneraILec was among
the number captured He intmated that the loss Of the
southsids road was something like "a blessing in dis
susc, and stated that the rebels expected to win their
Independence within month. "Ccrtanly," says bold
private standing near and listening TO the on
1--WE intend TO give you your liberty In that time -
TIE DIVISION
The Third division General Motts up to three O'Clock
occupied the centre OF the corps line and had not been
engaged to any extent during the day At that hour IL
was ordered 10 report TO Geocral Wright Of the sixth
and will doubtless on the do liz part In finishing
the work necessary to place Petersburg In our
auERIfLAs
The advance Of lines has left omen som. nj tho
roads 10 the rear and the gueras are Operating with
their IA ia rccklcssncss Two wagons were CAPTURED
this evening within a mile OF Hachcrs run ON the
Vaughn road, and sergeant accompanying them, who
escaped, was severely wounded in the arm
Tng DAY's OPERATIONS
To sum up the days opcrations:--rhe corps has adj
vanccd to the southside road which now holds; cap
tured ihrsc limos Of the encmys works, ave guns aud
about ON thousand prisoners
Our loss all told, is about four hundred Among the
wounded regret TO mention the Of Brcvet Briga
der General hsdil, commanding Third brigade OF the
First division, who was struck while CALAMITY leading
his troops In the movement upon the flank of tho enemy
which compelled the evacuation Of their works before
rnsutionea