Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-04-11
Accounts Of the Pursuit of Lees

respondent gives the following account OF
the pursuit Of Lees army:
The oath corps reached near Blacks and
Whites station ON the South Side railroad
on the morning of the 9th, with Generals
Grant and Ord. The 9th corps and cavalry
pushed on to Jetterville, on the Danyille
railroad, and arrived there without any
fighting until the night of the 4th. The I'd,
9Th and 9th were following closely in their
rear, and by the night of the 9th they were
all upon the Danville road, and the 24th up
to Burkesville Junction.
| 1t appears that Lee ordered that portion
of his army cut off by our men piercing his
line on Sunday, to join him at Amelia Court
House, fearing to have them attempt to
reach BurkesYille Junction, and so on to
Danville.
When Gen. Grant reached Nottoway
Court House staff officer arrived stating
that Sheridan had encountered the enemy
In small force at Jettersville; had driven
him and made important captures. Our
column had intended to go into camp, but
Grant thought that Lees only hope was in
forced marches, and he therefore ordered
the advance continued. The men, who had
already tramped twenty miles, on being in
formed OF the stirring news from Sheridan,
clamored to march all night, and started off
with cheers. Whenever Grant was recog-
nized as he rode along the line the delight
of the soldiers was expressed in the most
enthusiastic manner. AS one division ex-
hausted itself in cheering another would
take it up, and 30 it went along the whole
column. Soon another dispatch was re-
ceived from Sheridan and its contents were
such as to cause Grant to leave the road and
cut across the country to Sheridan's head
quarters.
On the night of the 9th the army Law in
line of battle stretching across three or four
miles of country and facing Jettersville.
Custar's division of cavalry lay on the right
flank and McKenZie's on the left. The in
fantry was formed with the 9th corps on the
right, the 9th in the centre, and the I'd on
the left. During the night Lee moved off
many of his trains and it was feared he
would elude this column. Ord was to
march in the morning toward Lynchburg
and cut off his retreat to any point south Of
that.
The whole army in the morning moved
five miles on the road to Deatonville. In
the forenoon the I'd and 9th CORPS succeed
ed in falling upon Gordon's corps, guarding
Lees army in the vicinity of Deatonville,
stampeding portion of it and making
many captures of men and material.
Gordon took up one position after another
on the hill-tops, and succeeded in retarding
our pursuit TO d limited extent.
Refugees and deserters stated that the
rebel army was falling to pieces. A refu-
gee also said that trains were running from
Richmond to Danville all day, and that JEFF.
Dayis and cabinet reached there in the after
noon and were taken to the residence of Mr..
Sutherland. This refugee also says Beau
regard telegraphed that Stoneman was on
the Danville and Greensboro railroad tear
ing 1t up between those places.
The Herald's correspondent with the cav
airy, recounts the movements of this arm
of the service in pursuit. of Lee. Their rear
guard was overtaken, numbering $50,
strongly entrenched across Magazine creek,
having destroyed the bridges and telled
trees across the ford to impede pursuit. On
advancing the enemy opened fire, which
was returned with vigor. They were final
ly shelled from their position. A number
of men were at once dismounted, the OBJ
structions removed, and the command cross
ed.
Evidencing demonstrations on the part
OF the enemy were at once met with. The
road was strewn with all sorts of munitions
and debris. Cannon and ammunition were
discovered secretred in the woods. Pushing
on, Barriger's brigade of cavalry was soon
encountered by our I'd brigade, Col. Wells
COMMANDING. Lie TeDelS scattered ike Il
flock of sheep on being fired upon. In this
charge, Lieut. Custer, brother of the Cen
eral, got detached from his command, but
came in with rebel battle flag and fourteen
Johnnies. Col. Capbart, Sd brigade, about
the same time overlook the rebels near Dea-
tonville. Spreading on each side OF the road
our men went in under the widest excite
ment. Gen. Custer seeing that unless we
covered more ground with our cavalry many
more rebels would escape, sent back and
hurried up the west brigade. Several miles
were thus passed over, and many rebels
and munitions gathered in. Finally the
rebels rallied to make a stand. Our caval-
ry formed for charge, when strong force
of rebel infantry was discoyeredin the rear.
Our men fought, slowly falling back, when
they were reinforced, and the rebels were
driven again, and followed closely until
night set In. The rebels had been driven
twenty-five miles, routed at every point,
and losing men, artillery, wagons, &c. Our
whole loss was not fifty men.
On the 4th, the march was resumed and
continued till the afternoon, when the enc
my were overtaken and skirmishing en-
sued, which continued till night On the
9th, the fight took place which has already
been detailed. Z 5EI.l. l.tR i..j'