Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1865-04-06
speeuIations On the Result.

New YORK, April 4.-The Herald eds
torially thinks Lees retreat win prove .
rout From all appearances the utter
destruction of the forces under Lee and
Johnston is certain within a short time.
The Heralds Washington special
claims to be informed by high officials
in the Government, that in the early part
Of last week JEFF Davis made direct
overtures to President Lincoln, to sur
render everything to the United States
Government, on condition that all who
had taken part. in the rebellion should
be restored to citizenship; all else be-
would give up if that would be granted
Mr.. Lincoln's reply was that he did not
have the power to grant that point, aud
thus ended that peace negotiation and
the fight commenced within 4S hours. ia
The Worlds account of Sheridan s
battle at Five Forks, says, Sheridan s
force on Saturday morning were three
divisions of infantry, under Griffin,
Ayres and Crawford, two divisions OF
cavalry under Devin and oCustar, lons.
division of cavalry from the Army of
the Potomac under Crook, brigade of
cavalry from the Army Of the James
under Mckenzie Sheridan was abso-
lutte. He visited every part Of his lines,
which stretched from Dinwiddie G. A.,
to the road along the Boynton plank.
At day-break on Seturdaylhe fred sig
nal guns to admonish Warren that he
was of, and his cavalry, by diVarging
roads, struck their camps. He soon
came upon the enemy whom he drove
towards the left of their works on White
Oak road. Our men far outnumbered
the rebels. tofr. ,-f,.f y ID q
1t was part OF our scheme to force
them back into their entrenchments
This work was delegated to the cavalry
Entirely mounted carbineers are mo
match for infantry, 50 when the horse
men were close up to the rebels they
were dismounted and attacked as in
fantry. a portion Of them under Gregg
and Mckenzie adhered to the saddle
that they might be put into rapid motion
for fanking and charging purposes, but
fully 5000 obdurate ineu wEo had seen
service in the Shenandoah and else
where formed into line Of battle on foot,
and BY a charge and deploy essayed the
difficult york of pressing back the en-
tire rebel column. This they were to do
SO that the infantry aud cavalry line Of
battle stood together like walls of stone
swelling onward like gradually elevated
ridges Now and then a detachment OF
| rebels would shower down upon our
swaying lines and threaten to annihi-
| late US. Through woods, brakes, swamps,
across fields aud trenches, we pushed,
| fighting steadily. --os4rd
At 4 o'clock the rebels were behind
their hreastwerks, consisting of wooden
walls At 8 o'clock our. cavalry dis
mounted and charged squarely in the
face of their breastworks, which lay on
the north side of the White Oak road.
Then while the cavalry worked round to.
ward the rear of the enemy, the infantry
of Warren, though commanded BY Sheri
dan, prepared to take part in the battle
| On the left was the division of Gen
Ayres, Crawford had the centre and
| Griffin the right They advanced from
/ the Boynton plank road at 10 o'clock
| while Sheridan was laundering ews5
his cavalry, mounted ard dis
mounted, delnding the rehels- with the
idea that be was the sole attacking psEtT
They lay concealed in the woods beyoac
the Gravelly Run meeting house, with
their left not half a mile distant from
the rebel works. Little by little SheFi
dan extended his lines and drove th.
whole rebel force into their bresstworks
He then -dismounted and massed hi
| cavalry and charged their works straigh
in front ..s-.,,-, g.I.- r--..-ry -
/ At last every rebel was safe behint
his entrenchments. Their signal wa
| given, and: concealed Infantry, man,
Thousand strong, sprang up and sd
Ivanced to the right Imagine 8 great