The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-04-03
VIC 7 0 R Y.



ss column In two and then assmpt the capture Of
Che party cut on Any person ~ al acquainted with
MILITARY matters knows how cavalry command will
ssng out NO matter how close the column ID marched
xAe road necessary for travel narrow and
hing through hickly wooded and very swampy section
- country BY the time the head Of column could
AAEs got well In the direction II not quite mp
- Five Forks the would have been back near the
Bsyon plank road Had the enemy then made an attach,
sud we been compelled to front into line 70 meet him,
she advantages would been greatly in the snemys
AveE We could not charge the enemy mounted, for
she ground heavily wooded besides being swampy
Again. had men been dismountsd and sent into nght
ne long range rnes and muskets Of the enemy's in
fAntry would have driven on boys with their
chart range cabnes The disparity between the ranges
- che two arms would soon have settled that matter
puEcULrD MARCH
Another thing be taken into consideration u the
Aaocng up Of the only road ef TO retreat with led
hoscs As stated in another part Of this despatch tho
eoaa in awful condition Mounted mon could
hardly get along In single ae certainly not BY fourshs
proper and usual mode Of marching The rain had rem
dered the ground sof that the men were thrown from
their horses while walking them over ploughed fields
ON going through the fields the horses sank up 70 their
seies We could not well cut loose from the LEFT hank
Of the infantry for then that flank would left
Boydton plank road and made effort TO turn the left
q the infantry line Our object was hold the position
~ Dinwiddic and the Boydton plank road. BY keeping
che enemy of of this we him off from the Of road
which has been of great service 10 him In getting sup
Plies ever and which Ia necessary 70 hold for other
seasons that IL IL not now deemed prudent 10 make
pablio
AWAITING COOPERATION
UDder the circumstances referred to above we retired
the force thai had been sent out In the direction Of
Eve Forks, and awaited . special movement on
the part Of the infantry intended TO aid US in
ahs execution of our part of the general plan.
That movement to strike the enemy on the White
Oak road gam possession Of 1t in order TO enable
General Sheridan TO 20 on Such the rainy condi
ton Of the weather and the state Of the ground that the
had 10 be delayed until the following morning
INQUIRIES THE TRAINS
Cur generals passed another night without provisions
yAer Diet like Buffers resolutions, ''pure and sim
pas 1t consisted principally Of hard tack and partially
Of coffee Many inquiries made TO the where
abouts of the rains but the usual given,
''Senck in the mud; II has not budged an insh."
TIE OPERATIONS 31sr.
This now brings TO the morning of the 31st. The
day opened CLOUDY and rainy and the roads and ground
generally were in no wise improved. The smallest runs
were small creeks and the creeks rapid streams
Every hollow noted for a puddle marked
By q miniature lake. Travelling along any road was at
tended with constant sounding for bottom.
ADVANCING rHs WHITE OAK ROAD.
Between eight and ten o'clock in the morning ad
made tho right Of the cavalry line down
che White Oak road by portion Of the Fifth army corps
From cause, yet not fully explained the move
snt proved failure. The cause Is attributed by some
% the troops being overmatched in numbers and by 9TH
sss to widely different causes At any rate the
mont was not success and hence the cavalry could
not 70 on in the direction Of Five Forks
on suERIDAN's LEFT.
About an hour or 30 after the Fifth corps troops had
been rcpused spirited attack made by the cnemys
cavalry on portion Of the ie Of Gepera Shedans
Tine held by General Charles H. Smiths brigade The
enemy came up in good style, but was repulsed with
considerable loss Al soon possible General Smith
made counter charge driving the enemy back and TAX
eng over thirty prisoners in this charge Major Paul Chad
Bourne commanding second New York mounted rifles,
uas wounded In the shoulder. Gen. Smith had horse
shot under him. besides receiving trng wound in the
leg The wound slight that General Smith con-
sinued the field during the remainder Of the day.
We killed in this movement q rebel colonel named
Neal, belonging North Carolina regiment Had the
ground admitted Of anything like q steady charge we
would have captured very many prisoners before
NE rsbes reached and covered by their Infantry
GENERAL DAVIES SUPPORTS skiIH
While General Smith was fighting General Davies
uoved across with portion Of his command and en-
eagcd the enemy on Smiths right Under Davies, the
tenth New York, Colonel NJ. H. Avery; Twenty fourth
Now York, Colonel W. Newberry, and First Pcnnsyl
vanla Major II. s. Thomas we're engaged The First
Maine Lieutenant Colonel jonathan p Cilley; Sixth
Ohio Col H. H. Cryer, and Second New York mounted
rincs and Thirteenth Ohio Colonel Stephen r. Clarke,
were siso engaged.
THE ENEMY MOVES ON RIGHT
Having failed 10 gain any advantage our lef the
snemy turned his attention to discover what Roadway he
could make against our right On his right the enemy
Ma his cavalry and moved Picketts division along our
Aunt over to some lowlands thickly wooded on both
ssdea We discovered the movement, and attempted TO
check IL at fording place the line Of Chamberlan's
run The Twenty fourth New York and the Tenth New
York were again engaged, this time very heavily.
CASUALTIES
In this particular part of the fight Colonel W. New
berry was wounded-shot through the leg Lieutenant
0slonel scsva was also wounded-shot the abdomen.
golsne Newberrys wound Is painful but not danger
ous one Colonel 5cevas wound Is dangerous one and
may prove fatal Major Doran, Of the Twenty fourth
New York. killed. and II Is reported that his
BODY was left the Geld, and that fell
into the hands Of the enemy. Captain Pratt, Of
enc Tenth New York, wounded In the arm.
Lenscnant washburne, Of the same regiment received
suhs wound In the head The lighting at the ford was
ssvsye and before behaved better; but,
- ths snsny's infantry too much for them they
IA . dive way and the enemy pressed on
uuRRyra RxiSyoRcEsEyrs.
A shs time no man portion OF the cavalry command
was asck the Vaughn road, about three miles Mat
ter threatening TO be serious, an officer was sent
hack with orders 10 hasten upa portion Of said COM
and as reimbursement He did 40 and the reinforce
mont arrived In good TO participate After the
enemy had gotten the ford he continued 10 demon
strate against ef centre with view To deceving
N TO what other movements he then making He
OF ned against with artillery, but neither eared
injured any Of our men,
TIE ovrRAuoxs TIE LKyv osrwk
Eoremou among the troope the left centre the