Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1865-04-05
TELEGRAPHlC NEWS.


my OF the Potomac has ever gained in Viz
giuia, was won to-day, (Suudny "a aud the
outer line Of works which we have ueen try
ing in vain for months to overcome, has at
last yielded to our victorious arms, and the
greater portion Of this army are TO night
within mile aud half Of tie city, on the
southwest side. The struggle made by the
enemy TO retain these works has been Of the
most desperate character, and for the success
obtained to-day we are indebted not only TO
the strategy exercised by the commanders,
but to the overwhelming numbers and bravery
OF the troops that did the work.
The orders for IN attack on the line east
and south Of Petersburg, by the Sixth aud
Ninth corps, we're carried out punctually at
daylight the artillery having been hammer
ing away the greater part OF the night along
the entire line held by tue above corps.
Such furious cannonAde has very seldom
been heard during the war, not even surpass-
ed by that which was heard on the occasion
Of the mine explosion ia front Of Petersburg
The Ninth Corps troops engaged in the
action we're the Second and Third Divisions,
aud Colonel Sam Harrisons brigade OF the
First Division.
The charge was made in front Of Forts He'll
and Rice, on the Jerusalem road, and was so
far successful that by eight A. NJ we were in
possession of three iortifcations--For Ma
hone being the most elaborate and extensive
These works contained fourteen guns, some
of which were at once opened on the enemy
by men belonging to our infantry regiments.
Just inside, and about one hundred yards
from Fort Malone was another work to
which the rebels retreated, and from whence
they threw most destructive fire upon our
men, causing them to retire from the northern
end, when the rebels made DASH thinking
to recover it entirely, but the guns in the
right wing, as well as in the center, had been
manned and shotted, and the assailauts Tere
driven back
From this time till late in the afternoon
the struggle continued, the enemy using
every effort to recover the fort, while our
men we're as determined to retain possession
of it,
About noon it seemed that we should
lose it, but soon after the Provisional Brig
ade, under General Colliss, and the Engineer
Brigade under General Beuham, with General
Hnmn's brigade of the Sixth Corps, came
on the ground, aud by their timely arrival
saved the gallant men in the fort from cap.
ture, and again caused the enemy to retire.
The fire which rained on the ground and
around the fort was of the most terrible and
fearful character. AT dark the contestants oc-
cupied the same position during the day.
General Wilcox with part Of HIS division
made an attack in front of Fort McGilvery,
near the AppomAttoX aud took part Of the
line, but was soon after forced to retire to his
former position, owing to lack of support
The loss Of the Ninth CORPS will reach from
eight hundred to one thousand in killed,
wounded, and prisoners among whom are
General Patten commanding the Second d.
vision, who is badly wounded ia the groin but
not fatally. 1t is thought Colonel Getchell,
OF the 3lst Maine, is severely wounded Ma
jor Bolton, 3lst Maine, severely Colonel
Gregg and Lieutenant Colonel Winslov 10th
New York. wounded Major Warren 2O5th
Pennsylvania lost a leg Lieutenant Alexan-
der of the same regiment, killed
This corps has taken fourteen guns, about
two hundred prisoners and fourteen battle
flags, The latter were taken by 2llth Penn.
.sylvania.
The Sixth corps struck the enemy's lines
in front of Fort Welch, near the celebrated
lead works, and carried them with very slight
loss. They at once pushed for the South
Side Railroad which they reached about two
clock, and in a very short time several miles
of 1t were torn up and destroyed.
They then moved GU down towards Peters.
burg, driving the rebels before them across
Town Run and into their interior line, close to
the city. They took large number of pris-
oners, about 1000, and some twenty guns
No attack on the inner lines has been made
as yet as the position is a strong one, and
will either be defended to the last or evacua-
ted during the night The Fourth corps, hold
ing the line north Of Hatchers run, and
south of the Duncan road, connecting with
the Sixth corps on the right and the Second
on the left, advanced at daylight and took the
works in their front with slight loss,
Over one thousand prisoners were captured
here.
Fosters and Turner's divisions, under
General Gibbon, were supported by the
colored division Of the Twenty fifth corps,
but the latter did not get into action.
The Second corps which held the line from
the run mile and half east OF the Boyd
town road, over mile west Of it, delayed ad-
vRncing until Sheridan, with the Fifth corps
got within the supporting distance on the ex-
treme left, when the entire line moved for
ward, carrying the work almost without op-
position. The enemy was found to have
fallen back from this part of the line, owing
to the Sixth corps cutting them of, they hav-
ing reached the Southside road early in the
forenoon, and we're busy tearing it up This
of course cut the rebel army in two, and the
two rebel divisions thus caught between the
Sixth and Second corps at once started across
the Southside road towards the Appomattox
hoping to be able TO ford it, aud thus escape
capture, but they ran against Sheridan, and
putting on a bold appearance made show Of
fight News TO this effect reaching head
quarters, two divisions Of the Second corps
we're at once sent out 10 flank them, il posi-
BILE and capture the entire command which