Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1865-04-05
SPRING CAMPAIGN OPENED
Victory! VictoryH
PETERSBURG AND RICHMOND OURS
LEE RETREATING.
GRANT IN CLOSE PURSUIT.
$4,000 Prisoners and so Cannons cap
tured.

tured.
Below we give the several dispatches an
nouncing the opening of the spring cam
paign, and the defeat of Lee On Wednes-
day, March 29th, Gen. Grant put his whole
army in motion, and soon pressed the rebel
right back to the South Side Railroad, and
broke through Lees lines at several import
ant points. On Thursday the fighting was
renewed, and was continued at intervals du-
ring Friday, Saturday and Sunday. In all
the engagements the rebels were b eaten, and
the result is the evacuation of Petersburg
and Richmond. Whittier Lee will attempt
to fee, no one knows. That he will endeay-
or to make junction with johnson, there
is little doubt; yet it is likely he will be
foled in his designs, as Grant is evidently
prepared to meet them at all points. Sher-
man is at Goldsboro, Stoneman at Boone,
n c., Thomas is said to be advancing from
the West, and Hancock from the North,
while Grant is Immediately on the heels
of Lee Thus hemmed in, there is little
prospect Of Lees escape. Steadily, but
surely, the end draws nigh. Surrounded on
all sides by determined foe, and harrassed
and hunted down by veteran army, the
traitors must soon yield to the power of the
Government, and rebellion cease.
At 4 o'clock, A. NJ, on Wednesday
March 29th, the Fifth and Second Corps
were put III march upon the right of the en-
an,,,'e Ena +la t'iff l. Ivrf fhn
road. On coming to point called Skunk's
Hollow. and mounting the brow of the op-
posite slope, brcastwork was found aban-
doned by the enemy. Passing about three
quarters of a mile beyond this, the head of
the column met the enemy line of battle
with skirmishers posted on the cage of
thick pine wood betting clearing. Here
sudden and heavy fire was opened upon our
skirmish line, and it was driven back upon
the line formed of the First Brigade, First
Division, which at first tell back, but on be-
ing supported by the Second Brigade, rallied
and drove back the enemy with some loss in
prisoners. In the meantime, Gen. Warren
drew up the rest OF the Third Division of
the Fifth Corps in line in order to support
the attack. After an action of three quar-
ters of an hour, the enemy retreated in haste,
leaving most of his dead and wounded on
the field. The Fifth Corps now lies on the
ground. The force of the enemy engaged,
was one division of the Forth Courps under
General Bushrod Johnston, its strength be-
ing about SIX Thousand. Our loss NAV
reach three hundred killed and wounded /;
that of the enemy appears to be about the
same, but the number of prisoners, some l. 80
to 200, renders their total loss greater than
ours.
Thursday, March 80.
Notwithstanding heavy rain storm which
set In last night and continued until late this
afternoon, the army has to-day advanced
two miles, and the Fifth Corps has reached
the Boydtown plank road, near its junction
with White c ak road This is the place
where the I'd Corps had a severe engage
ment with the enemy last autumn, in which it
suffered severely The ground gained to-
day cost us but few men, the rebels making
which is.only short distance further on, |
the enemy have strong earthworks, entirely
defended with heavy guns, and here they
will no doubt make a stand to oppose our
further advance. From this point the new
line extends east to the Armstrong mill
the Fifth corps holding the right of this po-
sition. As our forces advanced the eremy
fell back to their works on the line of the
Southside railroad, skirmishing as they re-
treated AT the Boydtown plank road they
made some slight show of resistance, but
were soon compelled to continue their retro
gade movement, with loss of about fifty
killed and wounded.
Friday, March 81.
Gen. Grant telegraphed to President Lin
coin at City Point There has been much |
hard fighting this morning. The enemy
drove our left from near Dabney House
back well toward the Boydtown plank road. |
We are now about to take the offensive at
that oint, and | hope will more than recov- |
er the lost ground. Later he telegraphed "a
gain as follows Our troops, after being
driven back TO Boydtown plank road, rallied |
and drove the enemy in turn, and took |
White Oak Road, which we now have. |
This gives us the,ground occupied by the en-
emy this morning. | will send you the reb |
ell flag captured by our troops in driving the
enemy back. There have been four flags |
captured to-day
Saturdays Fighting.
The following dispatches were received by
Sec. Stanton, from President Lincoln, who
is at City Point, Va.
APRIL /, $50 p. MA Dispatch is just
received showing that Sheridan. aided by
had at ? p NJ. pushed the enemy
back so as to retake the FIVE forks and bring
his headquarters up to Boissna. The i've
forks was baracaded by the enemy, and was
carried by Owens division of cavalry. This