The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1865-04-04
RICHMOND
AND
|PETERSBURGII
HOW THEY WE'RE wON.
The Fighting on Friday.

n. battle OH Friday was comm snocd by SherdAn's
esv.ry column on the extreme left which had Pre'''
.u.ly reached a point on the White oak road lava
son road running parallel with tho south'ide rail-
road ane about two miles distant fsom ~. About
nine o'clock on Friday morning, spirited attack
va made by the robcls a portion Of Of tho line
h,ld hy General Charies II. Smiths brigade. They
we're repulsod however, with considerable ioes and
,h.ncore counter ch,rge ordered. in which the
retAl, we're successfully driven back, losing oonsi-
ser.hle number Of prisoners. Having thus sisuahy
filled upon ths left the enemy nov turned hi' aen-
,on to our right. Pickett, rebel division moved
owe, across .oue low land, that thick wooded on
both .ide- thinking TO surprise sheridan and make
bod stroke upon his Hanh The movement "" met
and checked. however, mainly by the Tenth and
Twenty fourth New York The fighting st this point
small number engagod the loss on both sides was
heavy. Meantime the rebels had erossed upon our
ien centre and the fighting began along the
Il line in earnest. Our men fOusht heroicAify'
bnt khc rebes were IN NIohS io'VS anu 'hi'ss'"o'
serious consoquences Al this iuncture General
Custer came up With ton bTFsdes ofhis division, and
o. cur men had been sorcly pressed By the rebels the
sight Of this rcinforceuent was truly welcome one
Al this time the Isot terrific fighting commenced.
The rebels, comprising part OF GranEers corp
foufht de,vcrately, knowing, A. they did, that our
success wou insure the destruction Of the Southsids
and probably OF the Drnville Railroad. The stua-
tlon became critical the enemy being reinforced
from the rear aud General Sheridan saw that he
Il Hs~Ie beginning to 80 aRanst him. Therefore
With charActe rstic impeuosity, he dashed forward
.avinF hi. hat followed by his entire staff and call
,ne upoa hi. men 70 stand firmly But still the rebo
,Au-e on and at half-past Eve o'clock made . gram
advance in two line, Of battle, emerging from the ad
,soent WOODS. On they came in gallant style, unti
they reached point about midway between our line
and the woods, -h,n they came 70 halt sud tn
battle raced hotly at rife range, Here, sso, tn
rebels had great ADVANTAGE. shendan'' men ~eF
III armed With carb neL which were Of too shor
A range 10 do good eIeounan, while the rebel
u ware armed with long range rifles On
II b.terieh however, did good execution, and abOu
/ d,v the rebels being unable 70 shake lines fe
b.ek leaving Sheridan In possession Of the battle
/ t.d The lo., OF thi. corps dunnR the day abou
FIVE hundred. During the night, the sixth Corps va
L advanced 10 oct AZ reinforcement TO sheridan, l
/ o,,. Of an attack in the morning. Meantime, ngh
ing hAd been In progIes. along almost the entire n
1 IUs,rsn,, corp. having been advanced beyond q
1 povdto,n plank road, on the right Of sheridan.
l mi, movement, with the Fifth Corps upon the lef
Il .,b,inp sn in prosrtss throughout the day, OF
r,e, ,eadily pressing the enemy back, and tho Ia
nr ,ubtornlv contA,ting every inch Of ground
n. evening our lines had been advanced AbaIl thI'