The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1865-04-13
ARMY or THE POTOMAC.
SUNDAYS OPERATIONS.
THE RA title ON OUR CENTER

4 IA hA LII Ou W Ia OENl N Ekt
The Philadelphia inquirer contains
the following spirited account of the
fighting on our center on Sunday
Writing under date Of Boydtown Road,
four miles west of Petersburg, Sunday,
2:3OP. NJ" the correspondent says:
The turning point of the present
movement was Sheridan's battle OF
Five Forks, fought on Saturday after
noon, with his cavalry and the 9th
corps, the contest ending with the ap-
proach Of night Further to the right
cannonading continued all Saturday
night. On Sunday morning, April I'd
at 4 o'clock, the 9th corps initiated the
attack. Still lying directly in front o.
Petersburg, General Parke was in his
old-time position, pressing close up tc
the town His divisions were, as 81
old, Wilcox on the right, resting on
the Appomattox; Hartrauft, with the
glow Of Saturdays glory still bright
upon him, and his new star to be bap
tized, was in the center and Potter
with the I'd division, was en- the left
joining Wheaton, of the 9th corps.
The programme was for Wilcox tC
make feint upon the rebel fort upon
the Appomatox. 1t was made prompt
ly to the time, but was a somewhat
vigorous feint. Creeping up to within
few feet of the fort, at the word O
command the gallant 1st division
sprang to its feet, and, with the old
time yell, rushed on the work. AT A.
o'clock they were in the fort, had cap
tured the astonished garrison of fifty
men and four guns. This was the fein
of Wilcox, and almost simultaneously
Hartrauft and Potter advanced. i
was in the same style. Creeping W
under cover of the darkness, the two
divisions sprang to their feet, and a
the double quick, without firing a shot
broke through the rebel line, captur
ing four forts, twenty-seven guns, ant
hundreds of prisoners. The momen
they were in possession Of the works
they turned their guns on The flying
enemy, somewhat ungraciously usins
rebel, ammunition TO accelerate rebe
flight. -... .N
Thus at daylight Parke had gaine'
entire possession of the rebel line il
his front, and without loss. Later il
the day he had stubborn fighting to d
and heavy losses to sustain, but tha
follows hereafter.
simultaneously with the advance .
the 9th corps. the old 9th, heroe
already, but to be re- baptised in glor,
to-day, began their work under Gen
eral Wright. His divisions also ad
vanced'in the same order in whicI
they had occupied our works. Wheat
on's 1st division on the right, Sey
mour's Sd division center, and Getty
I'd division of the left, joining at For
Sampson, the new line of the 24tl
corps, with Fosters division on it
right. ..
General Wright had to sustain
volley before he reached the rebel line
but his loss'from it was very slight
Riding over the field Immediately afte
the corps swept over it, | found lee
than dozen dead bodies.
They had orders to carry the rebe
Inc, and carry it they did. Th
ground between the two lines, all alon!
from Fisher to lee, where the advance
was made, is entirely opcncd and com
paratively level, the only ravine be
ing nearly to tho rebel line, and run
ming for some distance parallel witt
it, a circumstance that was of materia
advantage to us. Not five minute
elapsed from the timo Wright gave th
signal to storm, before Seymour
Wheaton and Getty were over the rebe
line, in possession Of all its guns, ant
hundreds of its occupants as prisoners
The enemy flying in wild disordc
across the open country to their into
rior line, we opened upon them witt
their own pieces, and although with
out great effect, it served admirably Il
frighten them.
By five o'clock we had miles of th
rebel line in full and complete pos
session, and the demoraized enemy
was flying in dismay to his interio
lines. drawn close in to Petersburg OF
the south and west. A pause followed
the work of the early morning, buta
seven o'clock the I'd and oath corp
began the work assigned them. First
ofthe oath, which Joined the 9th: Gen
erals Ord and Gibbon had been alon!
its front as late as l o'clock in tn,
morning, and satisfied that all wa
ready, they and their weary staff
snatched a couple Of hours Of sleep, il
the midst of hundreds of great gun
laundering along the line. AT tn
hour named, Turner and Foster as
saulted the rebel line in their front
and carried it with very little loss.-
The ground over which they advan
ced vas difficult in the extreme, Gu
up into itg,y ravincs, and encumbcre'
with intricate slashing. The distanc
was short, fortunately, and somehow
tho two divisions got over it and owe
the rebel works at the same time, th
I23d Ohio, of the 1st brigade, com
manded by Lieut.. Colonel Potter, 3Stl
Massachusetts, being first, and tim
enough to capture four guns and
large portion of Cooks brigade, o
Heth's division, consisting of the 3d
4th, 18th, 2lst and 23d Georgia, ant
the 23d North Carolina.
simultaneously with Tho ossault n