The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1865-04-07
The Result.

Sound, drums and trumpsts, boldly and cheer
fully;
Never but once before In our country's
history has ever day ushered in such glori-
Gus news AZ che telegraph dashed to the
American people on Monday last. when il
told us that after series Of battles, Peters.
burg was captured and that Grant was In
Richmond; and never, though the Republic
last q thousand years. will greater tidings Of
tate ever arrest the attention OF Americans.
Sunday night Lee gathered the rqsnan'
Of his routed army and hed The rebel Capt.
toll strcwing his fight with guns. knapsacks,
cannon, and every thing which a panic
stricken army would cast OF to hasten its
fight, and on Monday morning Gen. Welt.
.el occupied Richmond, while Grant pushed
on with all possible speed to intercept the re-
retreat OF the rebel general.
We shall hear no more prophesying tina.
the rebellion can not be crushed; no more
will the "Democracy"! Of the country de-
clare that the rebels will never yield. II this
is not the finishing blow to armed treason,
che resistance II will offer in the future will
be only spasmodic effort to stay for mo-
ment its speedy banishment. dispatch from
Gen. Grant states that our loss in all the
days fighting will probably be less than 1000
including 1900 1000 prisoners.
No connected account Of the battles has
yet appeared, but we copy from correspon'
dent Of the New York World, an account Of
the eight Of Sheridan at Five Forks, Whose
brilliant success scaled the fate Of Richmond
Speaking of the humiliation Of a rebel regi
ment, the correspondent goes on to say, tina
ga colonel with shattered regiment cam,
down upon US in \ charge. The bayonen
were fixed; the men came on with ayell
their grew uniforms seemed black amid th,
smoke their preserved colors, torn by crap
and ball. waved de6antly; twice they haltec
aud poured in volleys, but came on agair
like the surge from the fog, depleted, bu
determined; yet, in the hot faces of tho car
bincers they read u purpose as resolute. but
moro calm. and while they pressed along
swept all the while by scathing volleys, q
group Of horsemen took them in flank.
II was an awful instant; the horses recoil'
cd; the charging column trembled Ikea SIM
gle thing, but mt once the rebels, with rare
organisation, fell into hollow square, and
with solid sheets of steel defied our centsurs.
The horsemen rode around them in vain; no
charge could break the shining squares. un-
ill our dismounted cab,neers poured in their
volleys afresh, making gaps in the spentranks
and then in their wayering time the cavalry
thundered down. The rebels could stand M
more; they reeled and swayed. and fell back
broken and beaten; and on the ground their
Colonel lay, sealing his devotion with hi:
life.
Through woodland brake and swamp, across
field and trench, we pushed the fighting de-
tenders steadily. For part OF the time,
Sheridan himself was there, short and broad
and active. waving his hat, giving orders,
seldom out Of fire. but never stationary. and
close by fell the long elbow locks Of Custar,
sabre extended. fighting Ikea Viking. though
no was worn and hagg,rd with much work.
At four o'clock the rebels were behind
their wooden walls at Five Forks, and still
the cavalry pressed them hard, in laint rath-
or than solemn effort. while battalion dis
mounted, charged squsrely upon the face OF
their bre,stworks which lay in the main on
the north sideof the White Oak road. Then
while the cavalry worked round toward the
rear. the infantry of Warren, though CON-
manded by Sheridan, prepared to take part
in the battle.
We were already on the rebel right in
force, and thinly in their rear. Our carbi-
ncers were making leint to charge in direct
front. aud our infantry. Jour deep, hemmed
in their entire lett. All this they did not
for an instant note, 80 thorough was their
confusion. but seeing IL directly, they, 50 far
from giving up. concentrated all energy and
fought like 6ends They had battery in
position, which belched incessantly, and ov-
CT the breastworks their musketry made one
unbroken roll. While against Shcridan's
prowlcrs.on their left, by skirmish and sortie
they stuck to their sinking fortunes 50 Us to
win unwilling applause from mouths Of wis
est censure.
IL was Just mt the coming up Of the infan-
try that Sheridan 3 little band was pushed the
hardest. At ono time, indeed, they seemed
about To undergo determination not that
they wavercd, but that they were SO vastly
oyerpowercd. IL will remain To the latest
time matter Of marvel that 80 paltry q
cavalry force could press back sixteen thou
sand infantry but when the infantry blew
like great barn door-the similc best APP
plicablc-upon the epcmy's left, the victory
that was to come bad passed tho region OF
strategy and resolved to I'm affair OF personal
courage. We had met the enemy; were
they to he ours?
TO expedite this consummation every oft.
Ger fought as il be were the forlorn hope.
Mounted on his black pony, the same which
he rude at Winchester, Sheridan galloped
everywhere, his face flushed all the redder.
and his plethoric but nervous figure all the
more ubiquitous. He galloped once down
70 the rebel front. with but handful Of his
staff. A dozen bullets whistled for him to-
getber: one grazed his arm, at which faith.
ful orderly rodo the black pony leaped high
in fright, and Sheridan was untouched, but
the orderly lay dead on the 6eld, and tho
saddle dashed afar empty.
At seven o'clock tho rebels camo to tho
conclusion that thcy were outdankcd and
whipped. They had boon 80 bus'ly engaged
that thew were long time finding out how