American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-04-12

Saturday night the situation was as fol-
lows; The 9th corps held the right OF
our Line from the Appomattox river to
Battery Lee The 9th extended from
the left of The 9Th TO point opposite ft.
Fisher The right of Gen. 0rds com
mand, comprising Turner's and Fosters
divisions, of the 24th, and Birneys color
ed division of the 25th corps, rested fur
ther to the left. near Fort Sampson, and
its left joined the right of the second
corps, which reached the Boydton Plank
road near Burgess Mills Miles Division
lying across it. Gen Sheridan had the
left wing, composed of the cavalry and
the Fifth corps, and was laundering away
on the rebel right and rear at Five Forks,
on the White Oak road, without keeping
up connection with the rest of the army.
The fighting up to that time had been
principally confined TO the cavalry, and
the Fifth and Second corps, the cavalry
and the Fifth having suffered the greatest
loss. The rebels had made several frantic
attacks upon our lines, seeming most fear
of an advance on the Southside road
From that direction the theatre of opera
tions covered front of almost unexam-
pied extent, the continuous line being
nearly twenty miles in length The
ground occupied by the left wing beyond
the winter encampments Of che army is
generally rolling, covered thickly with
second growth pine, intorspersed with oc-
casonally hard field and cut up with
devious water courses running through
swampy bottoms. In front, beyond Bur
CESS Mills, stretching away toward Peters
burg along the Bydton road, is an open
country, occupied by plantations. The
roads were horrible, and the engineers
brigade was rapidly constructing corduroy,
over which the long lines of ambulances
moved slowly to Humphreys Station, the
terminus OF the military railroad.
During Saturday night the lines seemed
very feverish volleys of musketry being
heard at frequent intervals, sometimes
swelling into continuous cracking roar,
while the popping of skirmshers rifles
and theslower discharges Of artillery were
increased.
Between ten and eleven o'clock, Satur-
day night, Gen. Parkc charged the rebel
work in front of the celebrated Fort He'll,
with the divisions of Potter AID Wilcox.
The Notifications at this point are of great
strength and the approaches are rendered
difficult by formidable line Of abbattis.
The troops advanced very steadily until
they reached the abattis, encountering a
terrible fire Of grape and canister, and
musketry fire. They wavered for mo-
ment, recoiled and fell back nearly to Ft,
Hill, but at once renewing their effort,
they rushed forward, pulled again away
the distractions, swarmed over the para
pet and rushed into the works with dash
worthy of the old guards of Napoleon.
They captured four forts, including fort
Hahope, directly in front Of Fort Nell,
turned the guns and poured canister and
grape into the retreating enemy.
The works taken here are the most for
midable on the eastern front of the Peters
burg defences. Brevet Maj. Gen. Pot
ter, commanding the Second division,
was dangerously wounded at this point.
1t was believed that he could not live,
but this morning hopes are entertained of
his recovery. The Ninth corps he d the
position thus gained until this morning.
The re6els, yesterday, made.a number
of desperate assaults to take Fort Malone
in some of them even reached the ditch,
but they were each time repulsed with
great slaughter.
At four 0 clock yesterday morning Gen.
Wright massed the whole Sixth corps,
and silently advanced it to within a hun
dred yards of the rebel liues in front of
Fort Fecher, where the men lay down to
await the signal The first divisions Gen
Wheaton, had the right; the third divis-
ion Gen. Seymour, the centre, and the
second, Getty, the left, Each brigade and
division had its own front and support.
About half past four o'clock, everything
being in readiness the order was given,
and the battle Scared veterans arose and
advanced once more to their work of
death
The rebels opened a tremendous fire of
artillery and musketry, but nothing could
stop the onslaught The men rushed for
ward with fury, forced the abattis and
carried tho works, Wright moved for
ward, and about nine O'Clock a. m. he
struck the South Side Rrailroad four miles
west of Petersburg. After having arriy-
ed there they continued their success by
moving toward the city, assaulting and