Smyrna times., 1865-04-06
Details of the Battles
The Rebels Flying.
Grant after them with a Big
Stick.
PICKING UP MEN, ARMS,
AMMUNITION, &c.

AMMUNITION, &c.
The grand movement of the Army Of the
Potomac, introduced as it was on Wednesday
with gratifying tidings Of success, naturally alb
sorbed public attention to the exclusion of all
other topics. The presence of Mr.. Lincoln
with the army; his brief and modest kilograms;
the knowledge that Grant himself was at the
front, supervising in person; that glorious Phil.
Sheridan led our splendid cavalry that Thorn
as was threatening I4ynchburg from the West; ;
while Sherman, with an army flushed with six
months of unvarying success, lay within strik
ing distance in Grant rear ready, if need be,
to launch upon the enemy power utterly ir
resistibc; that the James River was clOgged |
with our monitors and gunbOats; that Mobile,
if not already under fire, would soon be sub
iected to an ordeal that promised an early vic
tOry-all these great facts necessarily fixed the
eyes Of our whole cOuntry-we may say of the
wOrld--upOn the stirring events of the past
week That the visit of the President to
Grants headquarters, and the grand council of
Generals held the week before should be trans
lated into action so soon, shows that there is a
determination to make at least an effort to end
the long protracted struggle, and by blow so
decisive that all hope of further organized re-
sstance ON the part Of the leaders Of the rebel
lion must be abandoned. Gen. Grants move
ments were begun by Sheridan, who, on Tues
day, 3lst, began to push his cavalry along the
rear Of our lines toward and beyond Ream
, Station. The enemy quickly detected this
movement, and their papers at once grew un-
easy as they sounded the alarm. On Wednes-
day morning the Second and Fifth moved from
their works to follow and support Sheridan
: There followed a rain-st0rm, as usual when the
! Potomac army moves, whereby movements on
the next day CThursday) were materially re-
tarded. To return to Wednesday: Our infan-
: try met very little opposition, receiving only
n here and there sprinkle of musketry until
, the First Division of the Fifth Corps had got
to the junction of the Boydtown with the Qua
+ ker road, where they had fight which lasted
i about an hour and q half, and our loss was
three hundred and thirty, of which number
r about forty were killed and the rest wounded.
Z The rebel loss was about two hundred and fifty
v in killed and wounded, and one hundred priso-
y works, and retired to another line beyond the
= Boydtown road, and our troops of the First
) Division followed up and took a position with
o the left, about two miles north of the road
IS The entire losses of the First Division for the
! ! day were little over 45O After the fight
o here alluded to, the Second and Fifth Corps
e formed junction and advanced slowly, driy.
C ing back the rebel skirmishers, until darkness
e compelled suspension of operations. Thi.
" was all the important fighting during Wednes
,s day. The enemy, however, enliyened the
e night by furious cannonade along the lines il
$. front of our Ninth Corps, evidently in the hop,
+ OF finding weak spot; but they were disap
. pointed.
e On Thursday the rain began very early, abou
4 midnight, and lasted until P. NJ, RENDERING
NJ the roads lmpassable tor artillery, and neces
i sarily suspendlng active operations. A lively
!. hire OF artillery was kept up by the en@ny anC
d picket firing was rapid and continuous, but NJ
I. serious damage was done. On Friday mornin.
n the enemy became fully awake to the danger
II threatening him: Lee himself so prisoners say
+ was at the front and speedily began the day
work by desperate rush upon our left, which
he forced back upon their previous position OF
n- the BoydtOwn Road. Here our men rallied
@"N hi tuTIt ufONe Tie enemy with C0nSQcraDl
- loss, over all the distance he had gained, taking
le possession OF the White Oak road At tn
er same time the enemy made an attack upon tn
e. right flank of the fifth Corps, but by a suddel
IN and brilliant charge our men drove them a on
- :, distance, and strewed the ground with thei
I'll dead and wounded.
nd The result of the day S work was the captur
R of four battlc-1ags about | 900 prisoners, an,
"A a considerable advancement of our lines
- is thought that the enemy lost about | 200 me
rs during the day. Very soon after the attack o.
the Fifth Corps the rebels attacked Sheridan
at point abOnt three miles from the Southsid
M Railroad, with infantry and cavalry, and, a
's- usual, gained slight advantage for the me
on ment; but all was quickly recovered, and some
lie, thing gained e,ides. Operations on both side
ed were heavy and difficult, on account of tn
!, a muddy state Of the roads On Saturday tn
he struggle became more general, anC a furiOu
.et fight ragged apparently nearly all day. The ne
by result was highly favorable to the Union arm,
on The position called the Five Forks was recor
on tured, and Sheridan on our lett, carried ever,
ne, thing before him, capturing a large number q
ep prisoners and several batteries of art;ller,
But all this heavy and successful frhting ws
only the prelude to the grand effort of Sunda,
es- when Gen. Grant ordered an attack along Nj
d. whole line. Az o'clock the rebel lines ba
. a been broken and the battle was raging viii
re- desperate energy Sheridan was swee ping dow
;th from the west Ord was engaged and al ~" y,
ms ms peared favorable. At IL +. NJ. the Preside e.
Ir autographed: IAN is going on finely. Cen
rth Parke, Wright and Ord's lines are extend;r
I've from the Appomattox to Hatcher Run. IN,
the have all broken through the enemys entrenc e
irst cd lines, taking some forts, guns and prisoner
ing sheridan, with his own cavalry, the Fif
ntY Corps. and part Of the second, Is coming
ily. from the west, on the enomy's flank, Wig
Is already tearing up the Southside Railroad