North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1865-04-05
Siege of Richmond !!
ITS CAPTURE.
AFTER FIVE DAYS CONTINUOUS
HARD FIGHTING, LEE AND HIS
ARMY FORCED TO EVACU-
ATE TIE CT TY.

my mas al length been made. On Tuesday
last, Grant concentrated all his available
troops at Hatcher,s run, seven miles south of
Petersburg, the extreme left of his line. All
the waste troops on the north side of the
james, crossed over to the south bank, and
the intrenchments at Deep Bottom were left
in charge of the negro soldiers. In from, OF
Petersburg and along the Appomattox the
Federal lines were weakened, all the availa-
BILE troops being sent to the left. Sheridan's
cavalry and II the cavalry which had before
been in Grants army, were sent to Hatch.
er's run. On Tuesday night, Grant had q
column of seventy thousand men in position
to advance against the Sou.hside railroad,
which is seven miles west OF the Federal
camp on Hatcher's run.
It was hoped that this sudden movement
would surprise the Confederates. Constant
attacks were made during Monday and Tues
day upon the Confederate works ia front of
Fort Steadman. These were to cover the ad-
vance. Grants plan to move bis infantry
west from Hatcher's run, and endeavor to
strike the Southside railroad, at point ff-
teen miles southwest Of Petersburg. Sheri
dan with the cavalry was to make detour
farther to the southwark pass through
Dinwiddle Court House, thirteen miles south
of Petersburg, aud endeavor to cut the rail.
road at Bukesvile, thirty miles west of Pc
tersburg, where il joins the Richmond and
Lyncbburg railroad. The columns moved
forward at three o'clock on Wednesday
morning. Hatcher's run was crossed with.
out any opposition from the Confederates.-
Sheridan marched south towards pinwiddle
Court House, and. is reported be reached
that place by noon on Wednesday. AS Sher
idan, however, at once cut himself loose from
the rest of the Federal army, and has no
communication with City Point, there has
been no authentic information from him since
he left Hatcher's run.
The Federal infantry columns turned west
ward from Hatcher's run towards the SodA
side rallroadl 1t began to rain almost as
soon as they started. The Confederate pick
cts were found two miles from Hatchers's s
run, and five miles east of the railroad.-
These pickets were driven a mile and fall
back to q strong line of Confederate works,
four miles from the railroad. The rain con-
tinued and grew more heavy. The Confeder.
ates had discovered Grants movement and
hurried forward reinfcrcements. The FEEDER
al advance was checked figuting began re-
peated charges were made to break the Con-
federate line; the charges were repulsed .
one Federal division lost four hundred men :;
and on Thursday morning the Federal col
umn was still checked by the Confederatcs
Twenry-fnur hours, marching had advanced
it but two miles, and everything that happen
ed after Thursday morning 10 involved in the
greatest mystery. Announcements of heavy
and continuous rains are all that we receive
from City Point.
On Wednesday night an artillery battle
began in front of Fort S,eadman at Peters
burg. Heavy cannonading continued until
two o'co on Thursday morning. Our in
telIigcnce from there closed at two o'clock.
and We know nothing of what happened after
wards.
The Federal troops have evacuated East
port, Huntsville, Decatur. Dalton, and all
their posts in Northern Alabama and Georgia
There are now no Federal troops south OF
Chattanooga
The Confederates made raid on the Bal.
timore and Ohio railroad, near Cumberland,
on Thursday night captured and burned a
passenger train, and escaped.
General Sherman's headquarters have been
removed to Newbern, North Carolina.
monday, 3D.
Gen. Grant has gradually closed bis lines
around Petersburg. The Confederates have
abandoned their works defending the Souta~
SIDE railroad, and all those east and west of
Petersburg. They still hold the inner line
defending the city. The fighting has been
continuous since Wednesday. and ct half
past four yesterday afternoon was still rag
ing.
1ne federal expedition against the South
side railroad is commanded by Generals
Meade and Grant in person. 1t IS composed
of Humphreys Second corps, numbering
twenty-eight thousand Warren's Fifth
corps, numbering twenty three thousand, and
Sheridan's cavalry, numbering nine thousand;
twenty five hundred being mounted the 9th
ers dismounted. The expedition 10 sixty
thousand strong, aud was ordered to start on
"Wednesday last. Two divisions of the TWEEN.
ty fourth corps, from the north bank of the
James, crossed the river on Tuesday and
were sent to Batcher's run to occupy the
Federal entertainments. On Tuesday night
these troops held the works and the Second
and Fifth corps lay in the rear of them pre-
pared fer the movement next morning.
Hatcher's run flows southeast from the
SonihSida ailrOod II - oros.aS L.