New-York daily tribune., 1865-06-15
GEN. sHERIDAN,s REPORT.
The Hattie Of Five Fevks-Why General
Warren Was Believed.

The following extracts from Gen. Shendans
report of his operations near Richmond eegraphed
to The Boston Advertiser,
Gen Sheridan has made his report of the operations
OF the cavalry and such other forces as were unner US
command in the closing mpagn 10 Virginia ~ pears
date Nav l6 wond make about three and bali columns
Of this paper and written In his usual clear pointed
and spirited sSle He says the effective ca'a1y iofce
He saws bis first orders to make raid on the
Souhside Railroad, and theuce to cin Gen. sherman
or return TO Petersburg the eircumstances mignt
dictate But after he had started and during the nlsn
of March 90 Gen Grant sent him Instructions 70 apai
don the contemplated raid and act with the .n,au!
nnder his immediate command and II possible tui Ine
right flank Of Lees army. ten. SDeruan ,nen ue's
The oneraticns Of March 30. which resulted In ihe
forcing back and partial discontinue o our iofces' o
then continues; . >,, - h..3
! ouarters were nc Dinwiddie Court House, and tue
Lieutenant General notified me that the fiitn Corls
would report TO me ard should rcach me py nun,sn, h &
This cors had been offered 10 on the 3Oth but very
much desiring the Sixth Corps which had been WIN me
in the Shenandoah Valley, asked for it; but on ac
count of the delay which would occur IN moving tn'
corps from It's position IN the ne ID ihe rohl VI ic~is
burg il could not be sent 20 ne.
Al three O'Clock on the morning Of April 1st, Gen
Sheridan issued his orders to General warren the
had Cen Warren moved according 10 the expectations
of the Lieutenant General there would appear TO have
been hut little chance for the escape OF the enemys In
f1ntrv in front of Dinwddie Court House. Gen.
Sherdsn's report of this DAYS operations known as the
hattie of Five Forks written in his best style ana Is
most graphic picture. His plan Is best toid Ill niS
Il determined that would drive the enemy with
tbe cavalry 10 the Five Forks press them inside OF
their works and make ient to turn ther rght Mann,
and, meanwhile quietly move up me llIlh 'orps
a view 20 attacking their left flank crush me Whole
force if possible and drve westward those who might
escape, thus isolatlDg theih from tpeH aii" ~ '
burg"
parply this conception was successfully executed.
Afer speaking Of the operations of the cavalry he
continues ,,,., ,,.--. .uo. mn
ing into position and found them coming up very slowly
Twas exceedingly anxious TO attack at once Tor the sun
was getting low. and We had to hght or 20 paek. IL
was no place ntrench and II would have been shame
ful 10 have gone back with no results 10 compensate
for the loss OF the brave men who had iaiien
during the day. In this connection WIZ m say ina, IA;
corps as rapidly as he might have done and his man
ner gave me the impression that be wished the sun 20
90 down before dispositions for the attack coud De
completed. AS the corps was IN position or
dered an advance The Fifth Corps, on reaching the
White Oak Road made left wheel and bnrst on the
cnemy's left flank and rear like tornado and pnshed
RAPIDLY on orders having been given that II the enemy
az routed there should be halt 10 reform broken
lines As stated before the firing OF the Filth Corps
was the signal 10 Gen. Merritt TO assault, which was
promptly responded 10, and the works OF the enemy
we're soon carried at several points by our brave
cavalrymen. The enemy were driven from their
strong jne Of works and completely routed Inc fIth
forps doubling up their leh flank IN confusion. and
the cavalry Of Gen. Merritt dashng on 10 the White
Oak Road capturing their artillery and turning II upon
them and riding into their broken ranks so demorai
iyed them N AZ made serions stand after their
line was carried bat took TO fight IN disorder lie,
tween 5000 and 900 prisoners TEL into our hshds ana
the fugitves were driven westward ana were pursued
until long after dark by Merrtts and Mckenzies cay.
alry for a distance Of six miles. During this attack
again became dissatisfied with Gen. warren daring
the engagement Portions Of bis line gave way when
not exposed 70 a heavy fire, and simply from want oi
confidence the part Of the troops. which Gen ar
ren did not exert himself To inspire therefore re-
,lo Inf he
horiiy for this action having been sent 10 me before
the battle unsolicited go
/ In these extracts Gen Warren will find the answer
to his late letter In the newspaper, IN wmch ne pro-
tossed Ignorance of the cause his supcroedurc. Gen
sheridan speaks In the warmest terms OF the ! Hh
Corps as well Of his cavalry force saying they
all seemed to realize that the OF the campaign
and the Of Lees army depended the result OF tat
day nj hting The report then details at considerable
length. the pursuit Of Lees army. The opening para
graph Of his account Of the operations OF Apf so Is ns
follows:
"Oi arriving at Jetiersville learned without doubt
that Lee and his whole army were at Amelia Court
House. The Finh Corps was at once ordered 10 ID ID
main army could come up. IL seems TO me that ms
was the only chance the Army Of Northern virginia
had TO save itself which might have been done had
Gen Lee promptly attacked and driven back the com
paravely small force opposed TO him, and pursued his
march TO Rurkesvile Junction"
In continuing the report, Gen Sheridan expresses re-
grei al having on the 3d. given up the command OF
Wles Division Of the Second Corps the 9TH Of the
Fifth Corps and expresses the belief that he cou have
accomplished decisive results had he been above ed
retain control Of these troops He taxes occasion 70
speak in the highest Of the Sixth Corps. which
Was ordered to report TO him On the night Oh tnc on
And he adds "OD the arrival OF Major General Wright
he reported his cofp 10 and from that time unt
afer The battle received my orders and Obeyed them;
| hnt after the engagement over and Gen Meade
| had communicated with Gen. Wright, the after ds
cned make his report to me until ordered 10 DO 80
Dy the Lieutenant General"
1