Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-04-11


nected account of the great military movement
which il now passing into history, to stand as
one of the grandest on record. Like all the
movements which Gen. Grant has made snce
he assumed cAmmand Of the army at Culpep-
per, Just one year ago, it has been movement
by the left d4nk but before giving u narrative
OF the movement will eodeavor 20 make plain
the geograp phicIl features Of the country south
west Of Petersburg.
HATCHER sRUH,
Several battles have be1n fought on o small
stream called Hatohers Run, which is an aiHu-
ens to Rowanty cieck, brlLca oil the NOtt.-
way river. To- general eo rse IS southeast. IL
is crossed by three main highways, which lead
out OF Petersburg toward ths southwest-the
Vaughn road iArthesl east Squirrel level road
next, and the B0ydLown plank road. The
Squirrel level road forks seven miles out-one
fork running to tho Vaughn road anI the
other to tho plank road. II IS nine miles from
Petersburg to the toll gate % tho plank road, g,
which IS situated south Of tho run. The stream
above the crossing Of the plank oai tends west
and southwest, 50 that II u fisherman with bis
rod and lly were to start at the head water Of
tnc creek he would travel northeast, then east,
then at the bridge On th plank road, sou lheast,
then after reaching the Vaughn road, soutb.
Were We to stand upon the bridge at the
plank road crossing and look northeast, we
should look along the inside Of the rebel lines.
The bridge is in their possession, a's) tho toll
gate on the south ride, also portion OF the
White Oak road, which branches from the
Plank road, near the toll gate and leads West
midway between the run and the Plank fVad.
During the winter they held nearly all the
ground south OF the llne-aong the plank road.
Warren with the Filth eorps haG fight at
Dabney's Mill in the winter.
The country is densely wooded, mostly with
pine. There are dearings here and there Sew
eral steam sawmills have been erected in this
vicinity which cut out timber for the Peters
burg market One owned by Mr.. Dabney stood
in tie forest between tbs Vaughn and Plank
road. There the rebels had line OF BREAST
works which they held against Warren be.
lieve, but from which they retired upon our
advance day before yesterday. They fell back
to another line efworks a .ong the White Oak
road. Both the Plank road and the Vaughn
road lead to DinwlddIe Court House, which Is
fifteen miles from Petersburg just beyond is
Stony Greek, which flows southeast, the same
as Hatcher's Run A branch Of Stony Greek,
called Chambellaln's bed, comes down from the
north, having It's rise in swamp uear lhe head
OF Hs,chets Run. Now to understand the
course Of the rebel line OF works, let us 10 im-
agination start from Petersburg and walk down
tho Plank road. We face southwest and We
walk in rear Of fort alter iort nine miles to
Hatcher's Run. There is a strong work on IN.
north bank OF the stream. We cross ,he bridge
and fad another on the south bank near tue
toll house and Burgess tavern. Here We leave
the Plank road, anu facing west walk along the
White Oak road with Uatchers Run north vi
US mile distant. Four miles from tho town
We come to what is called " The Five Forks"
place where hye roads meet, midway the head
OF Chamberlain b'd and Hatchets Kun. FMS
is an important p1lu.-the key Of Pe,essbIrg-
which, although 50 far away from the teWn
and apparently Of no importance, Is in reality
the most vital point Of all. There 10 no stream
behind or before it. 4 mile south Is the swamp
ot Chamberlains run mile north, the low
lands Of llateher's run, but here is hrm, hard |
ground. Ii Grant can break through TINS gate
way be eau tear up the ais Of the SOuthsIde |
road, and Richmond and Petersburg are his in |
time. Lee knows IT, ana Grant knows 1t, and !
Sheridan knows It, II Is SIX miles from the |
fort north, to the railroad, but that is the |
place ~ face Grant that the strong post tl0n- |
the best oil all. There, then, Lee establishes |
strong line Of works. We have been walking
west from the bridge, across Hatcher's, but now
we turn south aud walk to the head OF Cham
berlAins run, and Down that to Stony Greek. |
Ii Is long line for Lee to hold, bus It ls hls
best.
rHR PLAN on OPERATIONS
On Tuesday last, the cavalry under Sheridan
crossed the James aud Appomatox and moved
to the line Of the " WedOn road, south Of Peters.
burg On tue sam day Two divisions Of the
Gath corps VI the army Of the James commanded
by Maj Gen. Glbbon, crossed the two rivers
and marched to Hatoher's Run. 1t Was long,
hard and tlresome march, but made iu good
time. On Wednesday morning the Second
corps lett their log nuts and at daybreak
crossed the Run on the boush road ami came
into llne OF battle on the south side of Tie Run.
The Fifth corps crossed further down and came
into pOstlon On the left, while the olyalry, un.
der Sheridan, moved to Dnwidde Court House.
forming against tue rabols GA Cham 1erlAin's
Run The Second and Filth faced north, Sher-
idan wost.
Gen. Grant might have sen. Sheridan farther
south to Burkes7ille, and 1t was generally sup.
posed that he would d. 50, but he preferred to
make his army uult-that ii the movement
was successful the cavalry would bo near at
hand 10 harass the enemy. The movement was
as ii Grant was stretching u seine TO make
haul OF fishes. lis kep' one end of the seine
irmy fastened 10 the bank of the Appomattox,
while Sheridan dreH the other end Iast Dnwid-
die Csurt House, across Chamberlains 5 Run,
sweeping among the FIy5 Forks dragging
It up TO the railroad, across it--up 10 the Ap.
pomattox west Of Petersburg, 10 hem in, Il
possible, the entire rebel army. Such was the
noyement-grand in its concertion-5us gram
der in its execution.
On Wednesday night Lee made leint OF an
attack on the 9th corps, which brought on a
terrible cannolado from both sides, which lasted
all night II was an attempt on Lees part to
scare Grant and compel him to send back pos
non OF the force engagsd in tho increment, but
not man went back.
Kan began to fall at midnight, and continued
70 iall through Thursday and tIll Fiday noon
olt sheridan kept on and came in collision with
:, division Of rebel Infantry on Chambcrlans
nun nun Inc dlvson engaged used up It's ammu-
hitlon the ram made the ground solt, aad vheu
We attempted to charge his horses stuck in the
mud there was some want Of Gu operation on
Inc part OF Gen, Warren, commanding the 5th
corps. Tne rebels from the s" Five ForEs, came
upon Sheridan's right flank and forced him back
and captured large number OF men from Shefi.
dan and from the 5,h, which was also dtiyon.
Miles division Of the % came upon the reblls
es they we're advancing AMI captured several hua
AredI' which partly made up the loss, but the AZ.
TACK was failure, and Gen. Warren was prompt.
y relieved of bis command and Gen. 6rifin as.
slgoed to the position. Tne % corps did excel.
lNMt EnrNlnn an ihn 4.