The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-04-14

the forlorn hope. Mounted on his black pony,
the same which he rode at Winchests "a, 'Sheri.
dan gall0ped everywhere his flushed face all
the redder, and his plethoric, but nervous figure
all the more ubiquitous. He galloped once
straight down the rebel front, with buta hand
full Of bis staff: a dozen bullets whistled fol
him together; one grazed his arm. at which q
faithful orderly rode; the black pony leaped
high, in fright, and Sheridan was untoched,
but the orderly lay dead in the field, and the
saddle dashed afar empty.
General Warren rode with Crawford most Of
the afternoon, mounted likewise. and making
two or three narrow escapes. he was dark,
reason or other was relieved of his command
after the battle, and Griffin was instated In his
place. General Sheridan ordered Warren to
report to Gen. Grants headquarters, sending
the order by an aid. We shall probably have
an explanation of this fall from grace very
soon. Warren, on his own hook, did not
meet on Friday with his general success. and
but Warren is gentleman as well as Gener-
al, and is only overshadowed by o greater ge-
nius-not obliterated. Ayres, accounted the
best soldier in the Fifth corps, but too quietly
modest for his own favor, fought like lion In
this pitch of battle, making all the faint-heart-
ed around him ashamed to do i'll with such an
example contiguous. General Bartlett, keen
faced and active like q fiery scimitar, leading
his division as If he were an immortal! He
was closest at hand in the most gallant cpl
sodes, and held at night bundle of captured
battle flags. But Griffin, tall land slight was
the master genious of the fifth corps, to which
by right he has temporarily succeeded. He
led the charge on the flank, and was the first
to mount the parapet with his horse, riding
a. ok
and cutting them down. Bartletts brigade,
behind him, finished the business, and the last
cannon was fired for the day against the con.
quering federals. General Crawford fulfilled
his full share of duties throughout the day,
amply sustained by such brigade commanders
as Baxter, Coulter and Kellogg, while Gwin
and Bowerman were at hand In the division Of
General Ayers; not to omit the fallen Win
throp who died to save friend and win new
laurel. What shall say for Chamberlain,
who, beyond all question. is the first of our
brigade commanders, having been the hero of
both Quaker Road and Gravelly Run, and in
this action of Five Forks making the air ring
with the applauding huzzas of his soldiers,
who love him? His is one of the names that
will survive the common wreck of shoulder
straps after the war. ---,.
But / am individualizing the fight as we.
closed upon the rebels, was singularly tree
from great losses on our side, though deeper-
ate as any contest ever fought on the continent.
One prolonged roar of rife shook the after
noon; we carried no artillery and the rebel
battery, until its capture, raked US like an ire
pressible demon, and at every foot Of the in
trenchments true man fought both in front
and behind. The birds of the forest fed afar :;
the smoke ascended to heaven; locked in 90
mad frenzy, none saw the sequel of the clos
ing day. Now Richmond rocked in her high
towers to watch the impending issue, but soon
the day began to look gray, and pale moon
came tremulously out to watch the meeting
of the squadrons. Imagine along line of o
full mile, 1000 men struggling for life and
prestige; the woods gathering about them
but yesterday the home of hermit hawks and
chip-monks-now ablaze with bursting shells,
and showing in the dusk the curl of flames in
the tangled grass, and, rising up the boles of
the pine trees, the scaling, Scorching tongues.
Seven hours this terrible spectacle had been
enacted, but the finale of 1t had almost come
DEATH OF WINTHROP.
1t was by all accounts In this hour of victory
when the modest and brave Gen. Winthrop, of
the first brigade, Ayres division, was mortally
wounded. He was riding along the line, and
life, was shot through the left lung. He fell at
once and his men who loved MIN, gathered
around and took him tenderly to the rear,
where he died, before the stretcher on which
he lay, could be deposited at the meeting
house door. On the way from the field to the
hospital he wandered in mind at times, crying
out, "Capt. Weaver. how is that liner" HAS
been resuscitated for pause, he said: Doc.
tor, am done for" His last words were
"Straighten that line :" And he died peace
fully. He was q cousin of Major Winthrop,
the author of "Cecil Dreeme, +" and the BROTH
er-in-law of Mr.. August Belmont. He was
twenty-seven years OF age. had talked with
him before going into action, as he sat by the
guard of honor to uncover his face and look
upon it. He was pale and beautiful, marble
rather than corpse, and the uniform cut away
from his bosom showed how white and fresh
was the body 80 pulseless now.
Gen. Griffin said to me: This victory is not
worth Winthrop's life"
Winthrop went into the service as simple
color-bearer. He died brevet general.
SURRENDER OF THE REBELS.
At seven o'clock the rebels came to the con-
clusion that they were outfianked and whipped.
They had been 80 busily engaged that they
were long time finding out how desperate
were their circumstances but now, wearied
with persistent assaults in front, thay fell back
to the left only to see four lines of battle wait
ing to drive them across the field, decimated.
at the right the horsemen charged them in
their vain attempt 10 hght " out, ana IN the
rear struggling foot and cavalry began to as
semble; slant fire, cross fire, and direct fire,
by file and volley, rolled in perpetually, cut
ting down their bravest officers and strewing
the fields with bleeding men; groans resounded
in the intervals of exploding powder, and to
add to their terror and despair, their own artil-
lery, captured from them, threw into their OWL
ranks, from its old position, ungrateful grape
and canister, enfiladiHg their breastworks
whizzing and plunging by air line and ricochet
and at last bodies of cavalry fairly mounted
their intrenchments, and charged down the
parapet, slashing and trampling them, and
producing inextricable confusion. They hat
no commanders, at least no orders, and looked
in vain for some guiding hand to lead them on
of foil into which they had fallen 80 bravel.
and so blindly A few more vOlleys, new ant
Irresistible charge shrill and warning com
mand to die or surrender, and, with q suddei
impulse. five thousand muskets are flung OF