New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-04-13
GEN. SHERIDAN
His Part in the Five Days Fighting
From Our Special Correspondent
GEN. SnRRIDAS's HEADQUARTERS, IN THE lELp' :
"WEDNESDAY NIGHT, March % 1862


Crooks Division and sherdens cavalry. moved out on
the Jerusalem Plank.road this morning, about ~
miles from Hancock Station where they took the coun-
try road leading across the Weldon Railroad al
Reamss Station, and into the Vaughn Road one mile
from the Dnwidde Court House, Gen. Crooks d.
vision going in advance. They reached Dnwiddie
Cont House about p M, after slight skirmish'
ing on the way with Rebel cavalry resulting in the cap
ture of some Is prisoners by our side. Gen. Devin
camped on the crump plantation, one mile from the
Court House. Gen Custar being ten miles back on the
road in charge OF the wagon trains which were greatly
DELAYED on account OF the wfetched condition Of the
roads
In the mean time the Fifth and Second Corps Of In'
fantry had been moving In parallel line on the
Vaughn Road. Gen. Grants headquarters tonight are
on the Boydtewn Plank road In the neighborhood OF
GrayeDy Run Gen. Sherdans headquarters are at
Diuwiddie CourtHouse. Reports are current this
evening that GIins Division of the Fifth Corps had
fight with Bnshtod Johnson's Division, driving them
back and capturing about 100 prisoners, aud inicng
large loss in killed and wounded. a4
THURSDAY EVENING. MARCH 10Th.
Iained yery hard nearly al day, having commenced
during the night Roads In a terrible condition. and
wagontrans sill ten niles in the rear the Whole Of
Gen. Custar's command being employed In oorduroying
the roads to get them along.
Atsa.m. Merritt moved out on the road crossing
White Oak Road, leading TO the Southsde Railroad
moved out three miles skirmishing with the encmys
cavalry until he reached Brookss Corners with Devins
Division. There the Division was massed and strong
accommodating parties sent out on all roads leading TO
the southslde Railroad From Brookss Corners. three
miles from Diuwidde Court. House, the 5th and 9th
r. T.. Of III wlI
sent out on the road leading TO the Five Forks i've
miles distant. lie moved out, skilmishing with the
enemy until he crossed Chamberlain Bed Creek, whore
the enemy made considerable resistance, but were
driven back within half mile Of the Five Forks
where tue enemys Infantry were found poseJ behind
bret stworks. Major Morris in pursuance OF orders
made strong efforts to drive the enemy and gain posses
sion Of the Five Forss bat after hours hard hghtug
was obliged to send for reeDorcemens he had only
about 40 men in lis command and wac nearly out Of
ammunition. ,...a.. .. i. 81"
In this fight be lost two officers wonnded-Capt. Leib
OF the 9Th, slightly and Lent Denny Of the 5th
severely; Lieut. Nolan OF the 9th, captured;
enlisted men killed 3; wounded IS ard missing. H.
At one period during the feht Maj Morris was driven
back and these "a men dismounted before
they could reach tho horses At this time Lieut. Col
Lepper OF the 9th Pennsylvania, commanding adetach
men from his regiment and the Is. United States Cav
airy and lst Massachusetts Cavalry Gen. GIbbss
Brieade) had been sent the direct TOAD to the White
Oak Road three miles distant. After he had proceeded
about one mile Brigade Of Rebel cavalry, alieTwsid
aseertaned to be Robertss Brigade Of William H. Lees
Division OF Cavalry, was found In his front. Co.
Lepper ordered a charge with the saber, and drove
them in great confusion back their infantry support
L-H .,,.f,t v.f.y.N .u.r.
including LieutenantC Colonel and Captain and losing
Cant Coolies Of the lst Massachusetts. captured and
ten men killed aud wounded. .... ...,.
Another accommodating party wen, ont toward the
White Oak Road By the Five FORKS, about nIile and
ba distant from the route OF each OF the other parties
aud consisting Of the lst n Y. Dragons under Major
Smith OF COT Fitzhugh's Brigade They also pushed
Barragers Brigade Of Rebel Cavalry 70 the Wlite OAK
Road where inautry also was found behind breast
works These accommodating parties bad ascertnAed
the position OF the enemy agd Gen, Merritt wishing TO
deveope their strength sent out po4pn Of the hichl'
gan brigade 70 tie support Of Col. LepPer end Col
Fitzhuch's Brigade to tie support OF AisioT Norfl'
while Gibbs Brigade was kept in yeser'e L"ch
brigade commander carried on! ,ae orders 70 nc o'Ir
made fierce stacs rpon the enemy, scertainod then
exsst position character and strength, captured few
prisoners belonging to JansOns Divisions Of Iniautfy
and then fell back ore mile and went iato camp the
total loss ia Deyns Division beng about 100 tiico'
wounded aud ME ug II raned very hard all day TIE
roads Ind ground eyeTywteFe being very unfsvo'able
fol field movements.
Gen Sheridan s rery well pleased viii The result o.
the DAYS operations The cavalry pickets conmuni-
cate o. their right with the picketa Of the Iib Corps
an Tho le of mr. irfa - line Cen Deyiu's Division
is in camp IA tie neghborood Of Byookss Cross Roads
Gen. Davies Brigade Of Crooks Division IS canpcd
about two and half miles from Dinvidde Court
House, along the north bank Of the Chamberlain bcd
Greek. and communicating WitA Gen. De'in on his
night The rest ofGen. Crooks Division il at Din"id
die Court House Gen Cusar is still in the rear work
ing hard to bring up the wagons.
MARCH. 3l--G a. m.-WsgOns still stuck IN the mud
six miles back-Cusiar working Ike Trojan 10 bring
them forward. Raining very hard and roads almost
impssssbe Forage becoming scarce, but everybody IN
good spirits SkirmisilDg between the pckets all along
the cavalry line Enemy evidently closing w. and CTS
posed 10 fight Sheridan disposed to crafty them.
Ia rn.-Figlting commenced by portion OF Gen
Smiths Brigade Crook Division, posted sl the cross
ing Of Chamberlain Bed Creek or the Dnwiddie Iout
House AID Five Forks Road the enemy evidently al
temptiug 10 cross tie creek and flank Gen Dawes.
Gen Smiths Brigade being ordered in, attacked tnen'
drove them back in great confusion capturing twenty
prisoners, ana killing and woundng large number
the enemy leaving their dead and badly wounded on tho
ground Failing in this attempt, they neHt attacked
Gen Davies aud succeeded in driving him back short
distance; bnt Davies, being snppolted by Col Fitz'
huchs Brigade Devin's Division, he drove them back
and reestablished the iine The enemy lost heavily in