Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1865-04-04
By Telegraph.
REPORTED FOR THE DAILY EMPIRE
LATEST ME Ws.
FORENOON REPORT.
Tribune especial" Version OF Saturday,
Operations

in motion, passing to the left along White
Oak Road to Join Sheridan executing the
difficult movement Of marcbhg by flank in
presence of the enemy without drawing divs-
ions in the rear of each other, and marching
them off successivaly from right to left the
left division, Crawford's, executing the same
movement by brigade.
While this was taking place, the Second
Corps moved toward Whit Oak Road by a
more direct route, and established connection
with the right of the Fifth Corps.
Meanwhile Sheridan, with four cavalry di.
visions, passing around the left of the whole
army, went through Diuwidde Court House
toward the Southside Railroad with his usual
rapidity.
The force which drove Crawford and Ayres
across Gravelly Run, however, at once turned
their attention to him, moving rapidly to the
right and after a desperate conflict he also
was forced back within q mile of Dinwiddie
Court House, but being joined by Warren's
corps he again took the offensive and in turn
drove the rebels, captured q position known
as Five Forks, together with about 4, 900 pris.
oners aud several batteries of artillery.
He was then joined by Miles division ofthe
Second corps and pushed westward for the
South.side railroad
This be soon reached aud took position
upon it, the Fifth corps supporting the cavalry,
about fifteen guns and about 1000 prisoners,
enabling Sheridan to drive back the force
which on Friday afternoon checked his sd-
vance near Dinwiddie Court House.
On receiving this news it was determined
to give the rebels no time to send troops 10
their right, and at once a simultaneo .attaok
was ordered all along the lines by the Ninth,
Sixth, Twenty fourth, and Second corps
An order was given about nine clock at
night, and in less than an hour furious
assault began on the rebel iutrenchments in
front Of their several commands, resulting in
the enemy being driven in confusion from
their first line to their second line of works,
with the loss OF over 5000 prisoners, several
forts, and about twenty pieces Of artillery.
The Second corps was engaged all day in
their front, and in spite Of the terrible fire Of
musketry poured into their ranks behind their
works succeeded 10 maintaining their new line
several hundred yards in advance Of the line
they occupied in the morning.
The Twenty-lourth corps occupied the cen.
ter of our line, its left connecting with the
Second at Hstcher's Run, and its right going
to the left of the Sixth corps
Before daylight Sunday morning, the rebels
made furious assault on the position Of his
line, driving a portion Of the Third brigade
from their breastworks and capturing about
100 prisoners. Their success, however, did
GOT last long. The Twentieth Pennsylvania
Infantry made q gallant charge, driving them
back beyond their first battle line
A sharp fire was kept up all day by both
sides Owing to II hot FIRE by our sharpshoot-
ers, the enemy was unable to work his guns;
cons sequently very few casualties occurred to
our side from she lis. Our batteries however,
rGned incessant FIRE into their intrenchments
There was little fighting in front of the
Sixth Corps until night, when considera Bile
shelling occurred.
Quiet also reigned in front of the Ninth
Corps So matters stood until ten o'clock,
when the Second Corps was started into sharp
sr attention, by a few shots in their froHt,
soon swelling into battling yolleys
The batteries joined 10 the camor. Firing
,pread rapidly 10 the front Of the Twenty-fourth
Corps, and on to the Sixth, and the other
way to the right, till it reached the Ninth
lbout eleven O. clock, at which time the fight
ng was at its height.
Presently cheers broke out on the front Of
he Second Corps, as the FIRE sackened. BY
lalf past two the FIRE had nearly ceased along
he whole line, but at four in the morning il
uddenly broke out again nearer than ever to
be Second Corps, while sharp artillery prac-
ice was heard far to the right and again the
rash of battle spread from end to end Of the
inc.
At six o'clock the battle was raging fercely
,ut our colors we're advAncing all along the
inc.
WORLDS ESPECIAL" VERSION.
The Worlds correspondent gives the fol-
owing account Of the attack on the Petersburg
licenses:
It was to take place Friday morning ct four
! clock, but the failure on our left was doubt.
ess the cause Of the postponement
The plan of this last phAze Of the action
vas this:
General Grant on the receipt OF news Of
victory at Five Forks, Immediately
dispatched couriers In conjunction with the
elegraph leading to his headquarters, TO each
Il the corps commanders, desiring them, with
lut loss Of time, to open with both artillery
md infantry upon the works Of Petersburg,
Sheridan, it will be remembered, attained
lis success by half past seven, Saturday
light.
At Rine O'Clock Grant heard Of it, and be
ore ten our columns had passed the picket
ine, and we're on their way to the rebel
renchmeHt Psrke on the right, Wright in
he center, aud Ord on the left, marched al.
most at the same instant
The Sixth corps, Wrights was arranged in
louble line Of battle, and without ceremony
hey threw themselves en- mdsse into the ditch
md up the parspet The contest was short,
hough terrible and desperate. Hand to
land conflicts occurred. The deadly bayonet
,harge, the impulsive and ftful crashes of
nusket and revolver, the crossing of swords,
he volley now and then, when our troops
poured enflsding fires down the inside of the
oarapet, the yel's and groaus, the galloping
II courserS to and fro from end to end Of the