Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1865-04-14

command OF warren AT InreS D CLOCK. Inc
Fifth, which had been quartered in the rear
Of the Second, was ordered to move thus ear
! ly, as the position which had been assigned
them in the new line to be former was further
from the starting point than that of the Sec,
ond, which was directed to move across the
Run and form line nearly parallel with the
| Vaughn road The interval between the Sec
ond and Sixth Corps, caused by the left flank
movement of the former, was to be filed by
Gen. 0rd's forces. The Sixth and Ninth
Corps, received no orders to march, but we're
simply to be in readiness to move at a mo-
ment's notice.
| THE BALL OPENS.
On Wednesday the forces mentioned took
their lines of march Gen. Meade's head
quarters, near the Akin House at Park Sta
ton, were broken up at 6 o'clock, and at IL
Gen. Grant, accompanied by Gems. Williams
and ingalls,, number of his staff and several
civilians, arrived on a special train at Hum
phrey Station, the terminus of the railroad,
within mile of Hatcher's Run on the Vaughn
road. Here Grant and his modest cortege
mounted their horses, and after visiting the
headquarters of Gen. Ord, near by, moved
| down to the new line which had been formed,
in compliance with orders, south of Hatcher's
Run. Gen. Meade and staff had already pre-.
eeded him by several hours, and was super
intending the formation of the Second Corps
line, which in the afternoon was advanced
over a mile northward
The Rebel pickets across the Run fell back
before the advance of the Second Corps, and
the new line was assumed without any opposi-
ton. Intrenching tools were brought into
requisition, and in short time the position
was rendered secure against any attack. Du-
ring this time the Fifth Corps was moving
down the Goshen Road little west of south
and several miles east of the Vaughn. Five
miles from the point of starting, the Corps
struck another road, known as the Old Stage
Road, leading west to the Vaughn, which it
crossed on a by-road to the Quaker or militia
ry Road, leading north to the Boydtown
Plank. Meanwhile, Sheridan was moving
sti.l further to the left, in the direction of
Dinwiddie Court House, which he did not
enter until the next morning, owing to the
unavoidable delay at Rowanty, over which he
constructed bridge.
Moving up the Quaker Road through
wooded country, with occasional clearings and
small streams, the Fifth crossed Gravelly Run
at q p. NJ, and on arriving at Mays farm,
short distance beyond. found line of Rebel
earthworks and a number of huts deserted by
the enemy's pickets. A few hundred yards
beyond this point the Rebel skirnishers were
encountered by our fankers, who gradually
advanced, followed by the column, pushing
The enemy before them, antil they reached
another clearing. Here the Brigade of Gen.
Chamberlain, which had led the column, was
disposed in line of battle and advanced across
the clearing. When well in the clearing the
enemy opened from the woods beyond, driv-
ing back our skirmishers upon the lineof bat
tie, which now became hotly engaged. a
sharp engagement lasted for fifteen minutes,
when the enemy, who had used no artillery,
showing no disposition to retire, Battery of
the 4th United States Artillery was brought
up and posted on the right of the road, to
compel q retrograde movement on their part
A few rounds, well directed, and the fire OF
the enemy slackened. Chamberlain's Brigade
was then directed to charge, which it gallant
ly did, the enemy falling back hastily up the
Quaker toward the Boydtown Plank-road
Gen. Warren then foI med his Corps in line
of battle placing the left and in reserve, and
moved up to the Raine House, at the innc-
ton of the Quaker and Boydtown Roads.
Our loss in the engagement was from three TO
four hundred in killed and wounded, while
the casualties of the enemy might have been
fewer, owing to his sheltered position. The
capture of l40 prisoners, however, probably
made his loss greater than Our own. And
thus ends the history of the first day. Sheri-
dan was near Dinwiddie, Warren at the june
ton of the Quaker and Boydtown Roads, in
connection with the Second, whose line ex-
tended from his right nearly eastward past
Dahney's Mills to the vicinity of Hatcher's
Run. The new line had been formed, and
with the exception of little skirmishing
along pOTblOuo u tAlS LOnNJ ahA hSAe va
the Fifth Corps, all had been quiet during the
day. At night the headquarters of Generals
Grant and Meade were near Gravelly Run on
the Vaughn Road,
THURSDAYS OPERATIONS.
On Wednesday night heavy rain storm set
in continueing until Thursday and max
ing the treacherous soil one vast slough all
along and in the rear of our works. Through
the woods leading to the front, caissons, guns
wagons and ambulances might be seen at
short intervals mired in mud and it at once
became evident that no advance would be
made from the fact that no artillery could be
thrown forward through the woods until the
roads were corduroyed. Large detail we're
called out and by nightfall the rear was thor
oughly corduroyed for the passage of trains
and artillery.
Along Gen. 0rd's front, notwithstanding
the disadvantage Of mud, an advance of sew
eral hundred yards was made by Turner's
West Virginians and Fosters Division, sup
ported by Birney's colored command of the
Twenty-fft Corps. Sheridan also pushed
forward on Thursday, and night found him in
the vicinity of Sutherland's Station, on the
Southside Railroad.