The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-04-05
The Fighting Saturday-Tsrriblc Con.
dict at Petersburg.
New York. Auril A.

1
correspondent says:
Alta. m. the 9th corps was again in
motion passing to the left along White
Oak road to join Sheridan, executing the
difficult movements of marching by flank
in the presence Of the enemy, withdraw.
ing divisions in the rear of each other and
marching them of SUCCESSFULLY from
right to left, the left division, Crawford 5,
executing the same movement by brigade.
Whilc this was taking place the ed corps
moved toward White Oak Road by more
direc. route and established connection
with the right of the 9th corps. Mean.
while Sheridan with four cavalry disis-
ions, passing around the left OF the whole
army, went through Dinwiddie Court
House and towards the South Side rail-
road with his usual rapiditv. The forces
which drove Crawford and Ayers across
Gravelly Run, however, at once turned
their attention to him, moving rapidly to
the right, and after desperate conflict
he also was forced back within mile of
Dinwiddie Court House, being joined by
Warren's corps he again took the offensive
and in turn drove the enemy, captured q
position known as Five Forks together
with about 1000 prisoners and several
batteries of artillery. He was then joined
by Miles' division of the ed corps, and
pushed westward for the South Side rail.
road. This he soon reached and took a
position upon it, the 9Th corps supporting
the cavalry also took Is guns and abou!
1900 prisoners, enabling Sheridan to
drive back the force which on Friday eve-
ming checked his advance near Dinwiddie
Court House. On receiving this news it
was determined to give the enemy no
time to send troops to their right and at
once simultaneous attack was ordered
all along the lines by the 9th, 9Th, oath
and I'd corps. An order was given about
9 o'clock at night and in less than an
hour furious assault began on tho rebel
intrenohments in front OF their several
commands, resulting in the enemy being
driven in confusion from their first to
their second line OF works, with the loss
of over 5000 prisoners, several forts and
abost 20 pieces of artillery. The Second
corps were engaged all day iu their front
and in epite Of the terrible fire Of mus
kerry poured into their ranks behind their
works, succeeded in maintaining their
new line several hundred yards 10 ad
vance of the line they occupied in the
morning. The 24ih corps occupied the
centre of our iiae, it's left connecting
with the ed at Hatcher,s Ran and its
right going TO the left Of the 9th corps
Before daylight Sunday morning the
lion of this line, driving a portion Of the
Sd brigade from their breastworks and
capturing about 100. Their suceess,
however, did not last long, the s0th
Pennsylvania by gallant charge drove
them back beyond their first battle lines.
A sharp FIRE was kept up all day By both
sides. Owing to the hot FIRE by our
sharpshooters the enemy was unable to
work bis guns, consequently very few
casualties occurred to our side from
shells. Our batteries, however, rained
an incessant fire into their entertainments.
There was little fighting in front of the
9th corps until night, when Considerable
shelling occurred. quiet also rsigned in
front of the 9th corps. So matters stood
until 10 O. clock when the "a corps was
startled into sharper attention by few
shots on their front, soon swelling into
rafting volleys. The batteries joined in
in the clamor, firing spread rapidly TO the
front of the cath corps asd into the 9th,
then away TO the right till it reached the
9th abovt II o'clock. al which time the
fighting was at its height. Presently
cheers broke out en- the trout Of the I'd as
the FIRE slackened. By 2:3o the FIRE had
nearly ceased along the whole line. But
at in the morning it suddenly broke out
again nearer than ever to the 2d corps,
while sharp artillery practice was heard
far to the right, and again the crash Of
battle sped from end to end of the line
At 6 o'clock the battle was raging iercely,
but our colors are advancing all along the
line.
The Worlds correspondent recounts
the attack on Petersburg defenses. Il
was to take place Friday morning at 4
O'Clock, but the failure on our left was
doubtless the cause Of the postponement
The plan Of this last phase of the action
was this: Gen. Grant On receipt of Sher.
idan's victory at Five Forks immediately
dispatched courriers in conjunction with
the telegraph leading to his headquarters
to each of the rps commanders, direct.
ing withou. loss of time to open with both
artillery and infantry upon the works O
Petersburg. Sheridan, it will be remem
bered, attained his success by half.pas
seven Saturday night. Ats Grant heara
it, and before 10 our columns had passee
the picket lines and were on their way t,
the rebel ontrsnchmeni; Parke on tn,
right. Wright in the centre and Ord oil
the left, marched almost at the same in
slant. The 9th corps (Wright) we're ar
ranged in double line of battle and with
out ceremony they threw themselves en-
masse into the ditch and up the parape,
The contest vas short though terribl
and desperate hand to hand conflicts oe
eurrsd and the deadly bayonet lunge, th
impulsive and ftful crashes Of musketr
and revolvers, tho crossing of swords, th