The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1865-04-05
En0T sTEs sAHnRHar

HDQEs ARMY OF PoToMAc, March n, 65
The General Commanding has issued
the following Order, in which the merits
of the action On the 25th are fairly
stated:
HDQRs ARMY OF PoroNAC, March 26, '65
CENTRAL ORDERS, No.> l3.-The
Major General Commanding announces
to the Army the success ofthe operations
of Yesterday.
The enemy, with temerity for which
he has paid dearly, massed his forces,
aud succeeded, through the reprehensible
want of vigilance of the Third Brigade
First Division, Ninth Corps, in breaking
through our lines, capturing Fort Stead
man, and Batteries 9, 10 and II.
The prompt measures taken by Major
Gen. Parke, the firm bearing of the
troops Of the Ninth Corps in the adjacent
portions Of the line held by the enemy,
and the conspicuous gallantry of the
Third Division of this Corps, for the first
time under fire, together with the energy
and skill displayed by Brig Gen. Hart
rantt, It's leader, quickly repaired this
disaster, aud the enemy were driven from
Fort Steadman aud our lines, with heavy
losses in killed and wounded, leaving iD
our hands eight battle, flags aud over
1000 prisoners.
The enemy being driven from the front
of the Ninth Corps, the offensive was
assumed by the Sixth and Second Corps :;
the enemy by night was driven from his
intrenched picket line, and all bis efforts
to recover the same, which were particu-
larly determined and persistent on the
Second Corps's front, were resisted and
repulsed with heavy losses, leaving with
the Sixth Corps over 400 prisoners, and
with the Second Corps two battle flags
and over 800 prisoners.
The troops Of the Sixth Corps, reported
by Ma. .-Gen Wright as engaged in
these operations, were Getty's Division,
Keifer's Brigade of Seymour's Division,
and Hambln's and Edwards Brigade of
Wheaton's Division.
Of the Second Corps, Major. Gen,
Humphreys mentions Miles and Motifs
Divisions, and Smythe's Brigade of Hays
Division, sufported by Grfiu's Division,
Fifth Corps.
The result Of the day was the thorough
defeat of the enemy's. plans, the capture
of his strongly intrenched picket liue
under the artillery fire of his main works,
and the capture of ten battle-hags and
about $500 prisoners--a result on which
the Major General commanding heartily
cougratulates the Army
Two lessons can be learned from these
operations One, that no fortified line,
however strong, will protect an army
from an intrepid and audacions enemy,
unless vigilantly guarded; the other, that
no disaster or misfortune is irreparable
where energy and bravery are displayed
in the determination to recover what is
lest aud to promptly assume the offensive.
The Major General commanding trusts
these lessons will not be lost on this
Army.
In conclusion, the Major General CON-
manding desires tie return his thanks to
those commands of the Army not spec
tally mentioned in this order, fer the
promptitude displayed by all, in their
movements to different parts of the lines,
under the exigencies of the hour. In
connection with this subject, the promp
titude of Major Gen. Warren, and of
Brevet Major Gen. Hunt, Chief of Ar
tlllery, iu the early part of the opera.
tions, during the addidental absence of
the Major-General Commanding, deserve
commeBdation and thanks.
GEO. 6. MEADE, Maj. Gen. Com.
peg Mausfeld's Dispensatory says that
most of the Sarsaparila of the shops is inert