The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-04-14
49, oa % TIE. opening Of tho tsle.

HEADQUARTERS OF CAVALRY,
JETTERsvILLE, April 5-3P n.
To Lieutenant General Grant:
send you the enclosed letter, which will
give you an idea of the condition Of the
enemy and their whereabouts
sent Gen. Davis brigade this morning
around on my flank. He captured at
Farmers Cross Roads three pieces OF ar
tillery, about 400 wagons, eight or nine
battle-fags and number of prisoners.
The I'd army corps is now coming up. |
wish you were here yourself
feel confident of capturing the Army
OF Northern Virginia.
If we exert ourselves / see no escape
for Lee.
Twill put all my cavalry on our left flank,
except AcKenzies, who is now on the right.
lsigned,l P. H. SHERIDAN,
Major General Commanding.
AMELIA COURT House, April 5.
Dear Mamma:
Our army is ruined, l fear. We are all
safe as yet. Shyron left US sick. John
Taylor is well-saw him yesterday. We
are all in line of battle this evening. Gen.
Lee is in the field near Us. Ny trust is
still in the Justice of our cause as in God.
Gen. Hill is killed. saw Murray few
moments since. Bernard Terry, it is said,
was taken prisoner, but may yet get out.
I send this by negro.
Love to all. Your devoted son,
lSigned.l A. B. TAYLOR, Colonel.
MKADE's HEADQUARTERS, April &c p. N.
Lieut.. General Grant:
At daylight this morning l moved the
I'd, 9th, and 9th army corps along the
right in the direction of Amelia Court
House. Soon after moving reliable intel
ligence was received that the enemy was
moving toward Farmville. The direction
OF the I'd and 9Th corps was Immediately
changed from northerly to northwest
erly direction, and the directing corps, the
I'd, moving on Deatonville, and the 9th
corps, heretofore in the centre, moved on
the right of the I'd and 9th, facing about
and moving by left flank, taking position
on the left of the Cd. 1t was understood
that the cavalry would operate on the ex-
IRENE left.
The changes were promptly made; the
I'd army corps soon becoming engaged
with the enemy near Deatonville, driving
him by the right across Sailors Greek to
the Appomattox. the 9Th army corps
made long march, but its position pre-.
vented its striking the enemy's column be-
fore it had passed.
The 9th corps came up with the enemy
at p. NJ, and, in conjunction with the
I'd on the right and the cavalry on the
left, attacked and routed the enemy, cap
turing many prisoners, among them Lieut..
Gen. Ewell and Gen. Curtis Lee. tram
smit dispatches from both Gen. Humphrey
and Wright, which, in justice to these dis
tinguished officers and the gallant corps
they commanded, l beg may be sent to
the department for immediate publicity.
1t is impossible at this moment to give
any estimate Of the casualties on the other
side, or of the number of prisoners taken,
but it is evident that to-days work is 60
ing to be one of the most important of the
recent brilliant operations. Pursuit will
be continued as soon as the men have had
a little rest. Griffin, with the 9Th corps,
will be moved by the left, and Wright and
Humphrey will continue the direct pursuit
as long as it promises success.
(SigHed) GEORGE G. MEADE,
Major General.
HEADQUARTERS SIXTH ARMY CoRPs,l
10P. n. April 5.
To MAJ. Gen. Webb, chief Of Stat, Army of
the Potomac:
In pursuance of instructions this morn
ing from Gen. Meade, / moved from Jet
tersville by the shortest practicable road to
the left of Deatonville, with the object Of
there taking position on the left of the I'd
corps, striking the road running from Dea-
tonville to Burk's Station. At point lit
tie to the southwark of the former place,
we found that the I'd corps was engaged
to the front and right and the cavalry
heavily engaged to my left. Moving
down the road towards Burk's Station per-
haps mile, and running sharp to the
right, l proceeded across to nearly par
allel road, on which the enemy was NOV
ing and along which he had thrown up a
line of entertainments. As soon as the
leading division, Gen. Seymour's, could
be formed, it was moved up to the road
held by the enemy, which was carried,
and then turning to the left it advanced
down the road against pretty strong re-
sistance. ..r..
BY this time VIBRATOR division was
put in position as rapidly as possible
On Seymour's left the lines were again
advanced, and were swept down the road
for distance of about two miles. Arriv-
ing at deep and difficult creek, We found
the enemy had reformed his line on the
other side, where we attacked and drove
him to point a distance of half mile
further. In the first attack q portion of
the cavalry operated on our left flank, and
in subsequent attack the mass of cavalry
operated on our left and the right flank of
the enemy. The result has been com:
plete success. .e
The combined forces captured five gen.
eral officers, and among them were Gems
Ewel and Curtis Lee, and large numbers
of other prisoners.
shall go in camp about two miles be-
yond this point and await instructions.
The LIST and Sd divisions of Wheaton and
Seymours, and the artillery engaged to
day, behaved splendidly. A return of