North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1865-04-05

cher's run, southeast Of the Boydton road
crossing. The Second corps were on the
Vaughan road. The Fifth corps farther down
and the cavalry still farther down the stream.
| The line faced southwest and the next morn
| ing was to swing around, with the Second
corps for pivot, SO as to face northweot.-
Sheridan having the farthest to 60, started at
two o'clock on Wednesday morning, made a
long detour to the southwark, and in the
evening halted at Dinwiddle Court House,
eight miles from the Southside railroad
The Fifth corps started at three in the morn
| ing crossed Hatcher's run; marched south
west some distance and came to tie Quaker
road, which runs northwest towards the
Southside railroad. The corps turned into
| this road and marched northwest, and at
noon found the Confederates in force about a
half mile from the Boydton road The Sec.
ond corps started at six in the morning !;
crossed the run on the Vaughan road, and
turned northwest, marching towards the
Boydton road, along the southern bank of
| the run.
The Second corps did no fighting. 1t en- =
| camped IN line of battle on Wednesday night,
one mile from the Boydton road. The Fifth
corps had severe contest on the Quaker
| road and lost four hundred men. 1t succeed
ed in beating back the Confederate advance
| however; crossed the Boydton road south of
the intersection of White Oak road, and at
night encamped in line of battle one mile
from the White Oak road The Federal line
was thus six miles from the Southside rail
| road and one mile from the Confederate
works along the Boydton and White Oak
roads. These mo vement were but prelimi-
nary, and everything was yet to be done. On
Wednesday night rain fell in torrents, and
the Confederates availed themselves of the
storm to get their troops into position, and to
feel the Federal lines in front of Petersburg
On Thursday the rain continued. The
Federal troops made no attack. They lay in
camp all day. The Confederates brought up
reinforcements, strengthened their works,
and assumed the offensive, On Friday morn
ing before daylight, they concentrated a
strong force IN front Of the Fifth corps on
| the Federal left. The Fifth corps was at
Iacked, and, after stubborn fighting was
! driven back mile. At noon it was on the
Boydton road. Grant sent large bodies Of
troops from the Second corps to reinforce
the Fifth, and the Confcdcrates were driven
| back to their line Of works on White Oak
road. On Friday night they were in their
works, and the Federal line was again ad
vanced to the position occupied by it on
Thursday. The battles OF Friday were
bloody, and resulted in the Confedcrates
still holding the works along the Boydton
and White Oak roads. There had been no
serious attack made against these works, and
at no point were the Federal troops within
| five miles of the Southside railroad. The
loss of the Fifth corps IN Fridays battle was
| about twelve hundred.
On Saturday morning the federal line was
reinforced and renewed the attack. Sheri-
dan advanced from Dinwiddle Court House
| and Warren's Fifth corps was moved some
distance westward so as to support the cav.
airy. The line of attack along the Quaker
road was abandoned. The Federal troops
advanced and succeeded in pene trating be-
tween the Confederate main body and three
brieades Of infantry, that were some distance
| to the westward. The battle ragged with
great fury. The Second corps was not en-
| gagged and in the afternoon it was reported
| that Sheridan had cap tured the three brig
ades with their trains. Still the Confeder-
stes held their works and could not be drv.
en- out of them.
Yesterday the contest was again renewed
| To assist the attack, all the Federal line in
front of Petersburg, and in Appattox, and
on the north side of the James, was ordered
| TO advance. At noon it was reported thai:
the troops in front of Pet srshurg bad pene
trated the Confederate lines and captured
some OF their works. Along the Bnydton
and White Oak roads, however, the Confed
crate line was still u7broken. Sheridan
moved to the eastward again, and the entire
Federal line-the cavalry, the Fifth and
Second corps-turned to the eastward, and
moved towards Petersburg. A short dis
tance west of Petersburg. the Sixth corps
succeeded in breaking through the Confeder-
ate line and reached the Southsde railroad
The troops at once began destroying it.
The Federal lines gradually closed around
Petersburg, p1shing the Confederates before
them. Al half past four yesterday afternoon
the line bad moved up and extended from
the Appomattox river, three miles west Of
Petersburg, around to tho Appomattox east
Of the city.
The Confederates abandoned all their works
east and west Of the city. and held only the
forts Immediately in front of the town.
General Grant states that he has captured