The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-04-07

I0DlQly LILO lIOuU VI Uu0 lfbu wi 20 0uO
on to the 9th, then away to the right until
it reached. the 9th about II o'clock, at
which time the fighting was at its height.
Presently cheers broke out on the front
of the I'd corps, the fire slackened, and by
$3.50 the fire had nearly ceased along the
whole line, but by 4 in the morning it
suddenly broke out again, nearer than ever
to the I'd corps, while sharp artillery prac-
tice was heard far to the right, and again
the crash of battle spread from end to end
of the line. At o'clock the battle was
raging fercely, but our colors are advanc-
ing all along the line.
The World correspondents account of
the attack on the Petersburg defences says
it was to take place on Friday morning at
four O'Clock, but the failure on our left
was doubtless the cause of the postpone
ment. The plan of this last phase Of the
action wss this:
Gen. Grant, on receipt of news of
Sheridan's victory, Immediately dispatched
couriers in conjunction with the telegraph
leading to bis headquarters to each Of the
corps commanders, desiring them without
loss of time to open with both artillery and
musketry upon the works of Petersburg.
Sheridan, it will be remembered attained
his success by halfpast seven Saturday
night and at nine, Grant hearing it, be-
fore ten our column had passed the picket
line and were on their way to the rebel
entertainments. Parke on the right,
Wright in the centre, and Ord on the left
marched almost st the same instant. The
9th corps (Wright'O were arraigned in
double line of battle and without ceremony
they threw themselves en- masse in the
ditch and up the parapet. The contest
was short though terrible, and desperate
hand.to-hand conflicts occurred. The
deathly bayonet lunge, the impulsive and
fttul crashes of musket and revolver, the
crossing of swords, the volley now and
then when our troops poured an enfilading
fire down the inside of the parapet, the
yells and groans, the galloping of couriers
to and fro from end to end of the lines.
In places the bitches were heaped with
living and dying combattants piled to-
gether promiscuously, but every now and
then Northern cheers told how the con-
flict went On each side of the 9th corps
the scene was the same. Opposite Fort
He'll the rebels had fort called Fort
Heaven, at which they fought like Satan's
legion.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE PoroMAc,
April 1-Midnight.-A courier from Gen.
Sheridan has just arrived with the most
cheering news. The combined forces Of
cavalry and Maj. Gen. Warrens infantry
advanced against the enemy this afternoon
driving them several miles and captur-
ing about 1000 prisoners and number of
pieces Of artillery.
They retreated to Five Forks, where
they were fanked by portion of the 9th
corps which moved down the White Oak
Road. It was here the large number Of
prisoners were taken.
The rebels then retreated south along
the White Oak Road and were vigorously
pursued by Gen. Sheridan, while McKen-
zie's cavalry, from the Army of the James,
advanced on the Ford Road towards the
South Side Railroad, and when the mes
senger left was only about three miles
from it, and would undoubtedly reach it
before morning.
. Thus the last great line of Railroad the
rebels have to supply their capital and
Lees army by is about being severed, and
it is firmly believed they will Immediately
leave their present position at Petersburg
and Richmond.
Sharp cannonading is now going on
near the centre of the line, held by the
left of the 9th corps