Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-04-05

Hrsporssrrss Asxr Poroxac !


April Cd
The most important victory the army Of the
Potomac has ever gained 10 Virginia. sss Won
to day, and the outer line of works. which We
have been trying in vain for months to overcome
has at last yielded to our arms, and the greater
portion OF the army Is within = mile sEd half
of the city.
On the southwest side TIE struggle made by
the enemy 10 retain their work. has been of the
most desperate character. and Tor the success
obtained today re are indebted not only TO the
strategy exercised BY the commanders, bat to the
overwhelming numbers and bravery of our troops
that did the work.
The orders for al attack on the line east and
south Of Petersburg By the fifth and ninth corps,
were carried out punctually at daylight, the
artillery having been hammeFing away the great
er part Of the night along the entire line held b,
above corps. Such furious cannonading has
very seldom been heard during the war, not even
surpassed by THAI which was heard on the occa-
sion Of the mine explosion in front Of Petersburg
The charge was made In front Of forts Hill
and Rice. on the Jerusalem road, and so far
successful that byic a N. we were in possession
of their Notifications Fort Malone being the
most elaborate and extensive.
These works had IA guns. some of which were
at once opened OF the enemy by the infantry
regiments
just inside, and about 100 yards from Fort
Malone another work, 70 which the rebels
retired, and from which they threw a most de
structiye FIRE upon our men, causing them 10 re
tire from the north end. when the rebel. made 4
dash, thinking TO recover il entirely, but the
guns on the right as well ss the centre had been
manned, and the asssilsnts were driven back
From this time until late In the evening the
struggle continued, the enemy using every effort
10 recover the tort. while men were as de
termined 10 retain il.
About noon the chances seemed that We should
lose it, but after the brigade under Gen. Collins
and Gen Benhsm with Gen. Homln's brigade OF
the 9th corps came on the ground their timely
arrival saved the gallant men in the fort from
capture, and again caused the enemy to retire
The fight which ragged on this ground mos;
terrible
At dark the position of the combatants was
the same as during the day
Gen. Wilcox with part OF his division made
an attack on the front of the fort near the Ap-
pomattox, and took part of the line, but was
soon after forced to retire to his former position
owing TO the lack of support.
Thssloss of the 9Th corps will reach from 600
to 900 men killed, wounded and prisoners
among whom Gen. Potter. commanding the
% division, who is badly wounded n the groin.
but not fatally it is thought; Col Getchell, OF
the 3lst Maine, severely; Maj. Balton, 3lst
Maine. severely: Col Gregg and 1t. Col. Win
slow. l49Ih y. Y. wounded: Mai. Morrow, 25th
Pa, lost a leg; Lieutenant Alexander, same regi-
ment, killed. His corps has taken IA guns, 200
prisoners, and tSo battle flags.
The two & igs wee taken by the llth Penn
sylvsnia.
The 9th corps struck the enemy's line an front
of Fort Welsh near the celebrated lead works
and carried them with very slight loss They at
once pushed for the South Side road, which they
reached about o'clock, and in a very short time
several miles Of it was torn up and destroyed.
Thev then moved on down towards Petersburg
driving the rebels before them across Town Run
and into their works close 10 the city They
took large number of prisoners. about 1000.
and some twenty guns.
from Cairo.
- 4 n-i- Il