The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1865-04-21

VlIOuu NVs 1910
~ guzUD
Incidents Of the Five Days Fighting.
The New York papers. are crowed with
saccounts OF the Ave days battles around
Petersburg We append a few of the inci-
Sdente and episodes OF the struggle.
AcALLANr CHARGE.
A Colonel with shattered regiment came
down upon Us in a charge. The bayoneis
4 were fixed; the men came on with yell;
their gray uniforms seemed black amidst
the smoke; their preserved colors, torn By
grape and ball. waved yet defiantly, twice
they halted and poured in volleys, but came
lon again like the surge from the fog ,depiet-
led, but determined, yet, in the hot faces Of
the carbiners, they read purpose as reso-
lutte, but moro calm, and while they pressed
xaiong swept all the whilo by scatbing VOL
Toys, . group of borsemen took them in
flank. 1t was an awful instant; the horse
Srecoiied; the cbargeiDg column trembled
like single thing, but at onco the rebels,
with rare organization, fell into hollow
into hollow square, and with solid sheets
of steel defied our ceDtaurs. Tho borsemeu
rode around them in vain; no charge could
Ebreak the shining squares, until our dis
amounted carbiners poured Ia their volleys
Hafresh, making gaps in the spent ranks, and
btben in their wavering time the cavalry
6thundered down. The rebels could stand
Emo more; they reeled and swayod, and fell
Eback beaten and broken. Aud on tbe
Eground their Colonel lay, sealing bis devo.
flion with bis life.
THE BATTLE OF FIVE FORKS ..-.,
1t appears that Grant was not satisfied
with the days business on Friday, aud
fplaced Sheridan in supreme command of
tho whole Of Warren's corps, and all the
kcavalry. Sheridan at once mapeuvered
with his cavalry, dismounting portion In
sfront of the rebels. and gradually pressed
them back into their works under the most
kdesperate and terrible fighting of the war.
While this was being done. and done
slowly by order, Sheridan sot about form.
ing the infantry, showing the same genius
i'm infantry tactics that be has in cavalry
1t was a marvel to see 30 paltry force OF
cavalry pross back aud hold in check 16, 900
robel infantry. Still they did it and in such
Ia manner as to completely hide the move.
mcnt of our infantry. They were driven
back step by stey into their works. Thea
tho signal was given, and the infantry closed
on the works like . huge barn. door. The
rebels saw thoir situation but did not seem
to appreciate how desperate was their cir.
cumstances. -,.- ...s
They fell back to the left only to coo
four close lines Of battle waiting to drive
them across the field ,aud Ut tho right horse
men charged them in their vain attempt 10
tight out. and in their rear foot aud cavalry
poured 10 cross IRE, cutting down their
bravcst officers, and strewed the field with
bleeding men: Their own artillery was
turned upon them. ~
oT l~s-
paTapet and chrrged down upon thew, clash.
They bad 90 commanders to lead them out
of the toll into which they had fallen. A
few moro volIeys, . new charge, aud the
command was left to die or surrender.
and B 900 muskets we're thrown upon the
grouud, and 5000 men were Sberidau'a
prisoners. Those Who escaped we're pur.
sued BY the fiery Custar far into tho desc
late forest. ~.
sHERIDAN's GALLAHrRY.
Sheridan 10 represented by those present
as being the impersons,ion of overythine
Isoldierly. He rode up and down tho lines
under fire, continually encouraging bis men
by waving his sword, comms ndipg in per.
son, exhortieg them to seize the opportuni.
ty within their grasp, and sweep their enc.
mics 10 destruction. "Take your men i'm
make your men fght"-"Push on your
column-"Go in, boys, 60 in"-Ha! the
id rascals are running 1.-THE cowardly
scoundrels cant fight such brave fellows a.
mine kill that damned skulker" "--."Sboot
every man down like dog. that offers to
skulk. we're yelled 10 thunder tones a. he
dashed along, where the ere was hottest aud
the result most uncertain. His presence
was consuming fire to the rebels, and
tower Of strength to our men. Probably
no living soldier is to terrible in battle %
Sheridan. With the FIRST smell of. powder
he becomes q brilliant blazing meteor, and
q pillar of FIRE to guido his own hosts. The
Lsmall, unpfetendpg man when in re.
pose, rises to the sublimity of heroism in
action. and infuses like spirit in all who
are under him.
SCENE AT GRAvELLY RUN CHURCH,
The scene at GravelIy Run meeting house
at and 10 O'Clock on Saturday night, 10
one OF the solemn contrasts of the war, and,
| hope the last one. A little frame church,
planted among the pines, and painted white,
with cool green window shutters, holds at
tits foot gallery for the negroes, andat the
head vanished pulpit. found its pews
moved 10 the green plain over the thresh-
hold. and on it's bare floors the screaming
wounded. Blood ran in little rills across
ltbe planks, and human feet treadipg in
them. had made indellible prints in every
direction; the pulpit lamps we're doing duty.
not to shed holy light npon holy pages. but
Ito show the pale and dusty faces of the be-
|seecbing. and as they moved in and out. the
(groans and curses Of the suffering replace
the gush of peaceful hymns and the deep
responses to the prayers. Federal and con-
federate lay together, the bitterness of noon
|assuaged in the common tribulations OF the
might, and all the while came in the drip