The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-04-05
GENERAL GRANT.
The Army Of the Potomac,
THE FALL OF RICHMOND
Details of the Great Fight.
THE PURSUlTO~ THE ENEMY
OFFICIAL BULLETINS.
&c., &c., &c.
Saturdays Operations.
d.. n.nonta1,

Press Dispatch.
New YORK, April 4-Of Saturday s
operations the Tribune's correspondent
| says:
AT A. NJ, the 5th corps was again in
motion, passing to the left along the
Whiteoak road to join Sheridan, execut-
| ing the difficult movement of marching
| by the flank in the presence oft enemy
withdrawing divisions in rear of each
other and marching them off successively
from right to left-the left division (Craw-
ford's) executing the same movement by
brigade While this was taking place
the I'd corps moved toward the White
oak road by a more direct route, and es
tablished connection with the right of
the5th corps Meanwhile Sheridan with
four cavalry divisions, passing around
the left of the whole army, went through
Dinwiddie Court House and toward the
Southside railroad with his usual rapidi-
ty The force 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
within mile of Dinwiddie Court House
But being Joined by Warren's corps he
again took the offensive, and in turn
drove the enemy. capturing IA position
known as Five Forks, together with
about 1000 prisoners and several batter
ries of artillery He was then joined by
Miles division of the2d corps, and pushed
westward for the Southside railroad
This he soon reached and took position
upon it. The 5th corps supporting the
cavalry, also took 15guns and abont 1000
prisoners, enabling Sheridan to drive
back the force which, on Friday after
noon, checked his advance near Dmwid-
die Court House.
On receiving this news, it was deter
mined to give the enemy no time to send
troops to their right, and at once q sim
uffaneous attack was ordered all along
tile lines by the 9th, 9th, Oath and I'd
corps. An order was given about O'Clock
at night, and in less than an hour fnri-
Gus assault began on the rebel intrench-
ments in front of these several commands,
resulting in the enemy being driven in
confusion from their first into their Sec
ond line of works, with the loss of over
5000 prisoners, several forts and about
90 pieces of artillery.
The I'd corps were engaged all day in
their front, and in spite of the terrible
fire of musketry poured into their ranks
behind their works, they succeeded III
maintaining their new line, which was
several hundred yards in advance of the
line they occupied in the morning. s..
The Oath corps occupied the center of
our line, its left connecting with the I'd
at Hatcher's Run, and its right going to
the left of the 9th corps. Before day
light Sunday morning, the rebels made a
furious assault on the position of this
line, driving portion of the Sd brigade
from their breastworks and capturing
about 100 men. Their success, however,
did not last long. The Goth Pennsylva-
MIA, by gallant charge drove them back
beyond their first battle line.
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 his guns, consequently very few
casualties occurred on Onr side from
shells. Our batteries, however, rained
an incessant fire into their intrench-
ments.
There was little fighting in front of the
9th corps until night. when considerable
shelling occurred. Quiet also reigned in
front of the 9th corps.
So matters stood until l0 o'clock. when
the I'd corps was started into sharper at
tention by few shots in their front, soon
swelling into battling volleys. The bat
teries joined in the clamor. The firing
spread rapidly to the front of the oath
corps, and on to the 9th; from there away
to the right, till it reached the 9th about
II o'clock, at which time the fighting
was at its height Presently cheers
broke out in the front of the 2d as the
fire slackened.
Bv2:3O the fire had nearly ceased along
the whole line But at four in the morn
ing it suddenly broke out again, nearer
than ever to the2d corps, while sharp ar
tillery 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 fiercely, but our colors
were advancing all along the line.
The Worlds correspondent recounts
the attack on the Petersburg defences.-
1t was to take place ON Friday morning
at o'clock, but the failure on our left
was doubtless the cause of the postpone
menC- i no pidu vi tuiS ldot pudoO VI ehS
action was TINS: Gen. Grant on receipt
of news of Sheridan's victory at Five
Forks, Immediately dispatched couriers,
in conjunction with the telegraph lead,
| ing to his headquarters, to each of the
corps commanders, desiring them with
out loss of time to open with both artil-
lery and infantry upon the works OF
| Petersburg.
| Sheridan, it will be remembered, at
tained his success by halfpast seven Sat.
urday night At nine Grant heard of it
and before ten our columns had passed
the picket line and were OH their way to
the rebel Observation-Disclosures on the
right Wright in the centre and Ord on
the left They mlrched almost at the
same instant. The 9th corps (Wright's
were arranged in double line of battle
and without ceremony they threw them
selves en- masse into the ditch and up the
parapet. The contest was short, though
terrible and desperate. A hand to hand
conflict occurred, in which was mingled
the deadly bayonet lunge, the impulsive
and fitful crashes Of the musket aud re
volver, the crossing of swords, the volley
now and then when our troops poured
enfilading fires down the inside of thu
parapet, the yells and groans, and th'
galloping of couriers to and fro, from ent
to end of she lines. In places the ditche