The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-04-05
TIE SIXTH CORPS.


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Mr. Charles III. Hn nnam's Despatch.
HEApQUARTER,, SIXTH ARMY CORPS, /
NElE PETERS juRG, April 2, 1865.
PREIIMlNARY
Although severe fighting has taken place the
rene left Of line nearly the whole of the past week.
this corps has not been in action since Saturday last
This was account OF the work VIII ca had been cut out
for 1t by General Grant 1t reserved for this corps
to divide the formidable rebel army which has now for
so many months deGed our power TO GUST from the
city Of Petersburg and whom the hour arrived the word
went forth for this corps to move, and noby has it
tainrd It's reputation and at the same time justified the
confidence rcposed in it by our General Lint Chief
TIE REBEL
Before giving detailed account OF the important
operations of to-day, it will be necessary to explain the
position held by the rebels fore the attack Our line
Of intrcnchmcns, forts and batteries runs from the
Appomaitox river in circular form to within abot two
miles OF the Southsde Railroad the south side Of
Petersburg The line then reversed and runs back for
considerable distance, forming what is known as our
rear line. At tho angle where the line is reversed
we have a heavy fort, called Fort welch. To the
right of this about three hundred yards a still heavier
work, known Fort Fisher Tho line at this point is
almost straight one for distance The main rebel
line was about three quarters Of mile off, and in front
they had two ntrenched picket lines Ono of these
took from them last Saturday and from what learned
on that occasion General Wright fot convinced that by
massing strong body of troops under the Of
night breach could be made and the Souhsde Railroad
reached. This plan laid before tho commanding
generals who took the matter into consideration and had
1t acted on at daybreak this morning. 1t Of
those instructive perceptions of military genius which
make the true soldier; and the affair." when chroncled by
future Napier. will be viewed as one Of the most
brilliant operations Of modern warfare.
TIE OBJECT
Generals Grant and Meade had in view on giving
their concurrence to the plan tworod The first
was TO create diversion In favor Of General Sheridan
and secondly TO cut tho rebel army in two and destroy
the far-famed Southsde Railroad. All these were Of
course but subordinate parts of the grand plan
crush the rebellion which has been long in maturing
by General Grant and being brilliantly carried
out by the veterans of the Army of the Potomac
ORDERS TO MASS ASSAULT.
Our first notice Of the intended movement was received
about nine O'Clock last night, when a despatch came
from General Meade telling of the which had
finally crowned the efforts Of General Sheridan also
Of his heavy capture Of prisoners General Meade d.
rccted that for the purpose Of further facilitating the
operations Of General Sheridan the Sixth corps should be
massed at four O'Clock this morning opposite the left
angle of works, and charge the rebel ne The
batteries entire front ordered to open i'm
mcdiatsiy tho rcbels. This carried out under
the direction Of Major Andrew Cowan, commanding the
First New York independent battery but now tempo
rary mandng the artillery brigade OF the corps
For several hours last night guns pouring sold
shot and shell into the rebel works. and they made but
feeble response to this unusual demonstration
part
FErLISG THE ENEMY.
The picket lines In front Of the different divisions
also ordered To advance aud feel the cnemys strength
bat it did succeed In annoying them very much and
from suspccting any very serious demonstration
part by calling out to know whether we were cele-
braag 'Au Fools day In that noisy manner
THE TROOPS MA
The order given for the assault TO bo made at four
O'Clock was carried out very punctualy Many prepsr-
lions had however, TO be made In the interval between
The receipt OF the order and the time appointed for it's
execution Major Cowan detailed battery H. OF the First
Rhode Island artillery, TO accompany the First division;
battery H. Fifth United States 80 with the Third d.
vision and the Third New York Independent for tho
Second division These TO accompany he columns
and BIO used circumstances should dictate Other
batteries masscd in the Of main line and
when tho attack succeeded they ordered forward
and participated In the subsequent engagements The
troops formed echelon by divisions the First
being on the right the Second in The centre and the
surprise the greater would DO chances OF success the
began TO move outside the works by about
O'Clock The moon had gone down, and the ght an
Intensely dark one. thin chilly mist from the
ground, which served still further to conceal
ment from the enemy.
The result proved that the attack was complete sur.
prise the rebels and every officer Is entitled great
credit for the despatch and secrcsy with which Their
placed In position On the extreme left of the line
the First brigade Third division, Colonel Truck
handing; thon the Second brigade OF the DIVISION
General j. Warren Keifer commanding The brigades OF
the Second division arranged followsThe Yer
brigade General L. A. Grant, the eft the First
Brigade Colonel James ~ Warner the centre; and the
Third brigade, Colonel Thomas W. HYDE on the right.
The First DIVISION holding tho right Of the column,
formed with the Third brigade, General o. Edwards on
the Left the Second General Joseph r. Hamhin, IN The
centre, and the RIGHT OF the Division and consequently Of
the column, was held by the First brigade General w.
II. Penrosc commanding The Second division was
slightly In advance Of the other two and the attacking
column consequently bore wedge like shape and this
similarity was eth further carried out by tho fact that the
division holding the centre OF The column TO attack
FIRST Tho troops formed and In petition By half
past three and no disturbance had awakened the sus
PIGEONS OF the rebels In our front
GENERAL wKonrs PLAN.
In making the above formation " was General Wright
idea to attack such overwhelming force that failure
would no impossible. Then when the column had made
good its into the rebel works. he believed that
Che divisions on the right and LETT might dcpoy in both
aheHe directions and drive the fenemv rom thor works
almost effectually fresh corps had attack ed
simultaneously.
To cooperate with this attacking column, General
rarkc was also 10 attack the rebcs on the right and
General Ord was 10 do the the ort while Sher
dan away 10 the left, was laundering their left
flank.
Through the darkness and mist troop Of nearly City
horscmen riding ABOUT two o'clock this morning
Al tho head Of tho column were two men vastly
different In physical appearance tall and stout or
brusque manner; tho other slightly built, with
dash o, comical hnuteur In ms depor,men,
whtesey, his assistant adutant general Those fol-
lowing different members Of the stan and ordcrlies,
one OF whom carried tho headquarters 6aga blue sws
how tail with white IN the centre which was
Inscribed the figure six In red thus giving the three
sional colors-red, white and blue. From corps head
ouarers the place where the troops formed was
distance Of about two miles On reaching the breast
works General Wright rode out 10 the picket line,