Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1865-04-07

ling Sheridan to drive back the force which !
on Friday afternoon checked his advance near
Dinwiddie G. H. On receiving this news it !
was determined to give the enemy no time to
send troops to their right, and at once sim |
ultsneous attack was ordered along the lines
by the 9th, 9th, oath and I'd corps The or
der was given about o clock at night, and
in less than an hour furious assault began
on the rebel intrenchments, resulting in the
enemy being driven in confusion fIom their
first into their second line Of works, with a
loss Of over 5000 prisoners, several forts and
about 20 pieces Of artillery.
The I'd corps was engaged all day in their
/ front, and in spite OF the terrible FIRE of mus
kerry they succeeded in maintaining their new
lines. which we're several hundred yards in
advance of the line they occupied in the
morning. The Gath corps occupied the CEN
tire OF our line. its left connecting with the
ID at Hatcher's run, and its right going 20
the left of the 9th corps.
Before daylight Sunday morning the reb
els made fariou' attack on this position Of
the line, driving portion Of the Sd brigade
from their breestworks and capturing about
100. Their success, hoWever, did not last
long-the goth Penney vana by gallant
charge driving them oack beyond their first
line. sharp FIRE was kept up all day by
both sides Owing to the hot fire by our
sharpshooters the rebels were unable to work
their artillery, consequently very few casual
ties occurred on our side from shells. Our
batteries, however, rained an incessant FIRE
into the rebel intrenchments. There was lit
tie fighting in front of the 9th corps until
night, when considerable Smelling occurred.
Quiet also reigned in front Of the 9th corps.
SO matters stood until ten o'clock when
the I'd corp was started into sharper atten-
ton by a few shots on their front. and soon
swelling into battling batteries.
In the clamor the firing spread rapidly to
the front of the Oath corps, then on to the
9th. then away to the right until it reached
the 9Th about | / o'clock, at which time the
fighting was at its highest.
Presently cheers broke out on the front of
the % corps as the FIRE slackened BY 2.30
A. NJ. the FIRE had nearly ceased along the
whole line, but at 4 A. NJ. it suddenly broke
out again nearer than ever to the ID corps,
while sharp artillery practice was heard far
to the right. and again the crash of battle
spread from end to end of the line. At 6
the battle was raging ierGely, but our colors
were advancing all along the line.
Aaother account.
The Worlds correspondence reports that
the attack on Petersburg defenses was to
take place Monday morning at 4 A. M, but
the failure on our left was doubtless the cause
OF postponement. The plan of the last
phase of the action was this: Gen. Grant, on
receipt Of the news OF Sheridan's victory at
Five Forks, Immediately dispatched orders
to each of the corps commanders to open
with artillery and infantry upon the main
works Of Petersburg.
Before tea our column had passed the pick,
line and were on their way to the rebel j.
tienehments. Parke on the right, Wright on
the centre and Ord on the left marched al
most at the same instant
The 9th corps, Wright's, were arranged in
double line of battle, and without ceremony
they threw themselves en- masse into the ditch
aud up the parapets. The contest was short
though terrible and desperate. In places the
bitches were heaped with living and dying
combatants, but every now and then North
ern cheers told how the conflict went. On
each side of the 9th corps the scene was the
same. Opposite Font He'll the rebels had
fort called Fort Heaven. at which place they
fought like Satan's legions.
The World has graphic account Of Sher-
idan's battle at Five Forks which was the
turning point TO the great conflict, and which
under Sheridan's genefalshlp, viii take rank
with anything on record
Ii appears that Grant was not satisfied
with the days business on Friday, and placed
Sheridan in command of the whole OF War
ren's corps and the whole Of the cavalrc.-
Sheridan at once Unanswered with his caval-
ry, dismounting portion in front Of the REQ
els and gradually pressed them back into their
works under the most desperate ana terrible
f9hdng of the war.
While this was being done, and done slow
ly by order, Sheridan set about forming the
infantry, showing the same genius in infantry
tactics that he has in cavalry. 1t WAS a marvel
to see 80 paltry force Of cavalry press back
and hold in check 10000 rebel infantry. Sull
they did 1t, and In such manner as to com
pletey hide the movements OF our infantry
by driving back step by sep the rebels into
their works. Then the signal was given and
the infantry closed in the works. The
rebels saw their situation, but did not appear
to appreciate how desperate were their cir
eumstances. They tell back to the left only
TO see our close lines of battle waiting 10
drive them across the field.
AT last bodies of our cavalry mounted
their parapets and charged dowa upon them,
slashing and tramping them into confusion
They had no commanders to lead them out of
the toll into which they had fallen. few
more volleys and a new charge and COM
mand to die or surrender, when 5000 mus
kets were thrown upon the ground and 5000
men we're sheridan's prisoners. Those who
escaped were pursued by our cavalry far into
the forest
Great praise is given to Gems. Bartle It,
Chamberlain and others for heroic deeds and
fearless examples.
SUNDAY.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF Potomac,
Apr. al p. Nj.
To-d,y will ever have place in the annals
OF our country's history as having witnessed
a sanguinary struggle OF rather series of
struggles, demonstrating the gallant bravery
of the Union troops and the desperate resis
lance OF the rebels. do no more than give
a general sketch of the engagement deriv, d
from Information brought in from the various
localities.
/ In previous letters have described the rel
d. e 1. a-