Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1865-04-07
DETAILS OF THE FIGHTING.


TUESDAY.
The Tribune's dispa'ch gives the following
account Of T1esasy's fighting At dsybreak
a movement was made to secure position to
advance On the enemy covering White Oak
road. At s o'clock Ayres' division, support
ed BY Crawford's and Devius' advanced, and
immediately met with f re from rebel Skin
nishers who were pushed back to within
mie of the White Oak road. At this june
ture the enemy massed and with their usual
yell chsrged. Our column wavered for a time,
aud finally gave way, retiring slowly toward
Boydtown road. halted on a hill where they
were supported by Griffn's division. They
took shelter 10 breastwofks. The enemy made
several Intellectual attempts to d'slodge them.
A fierce FIRE Of artillery and musketty in the
meantime pouring death into the ranks Of the
rebels. At o'clock Miles division was Or
dered to strike the enemy on the left flank
while the 5th corps again essayed to get pos
session Of the White Oak road road. The 5th
corps moved upon the enemy who stubbornly
held his ground for some time when apd vol.
leys from the right and the loud cheers that
followed told OF the successful issue Of Miles
attack on the rebel flank as be rolled up the
enemy's line, now broken and fallen back, was
instantly followed by Warren (5th corpsl who
WAS soon in possession Of the coveted White
Oak road The field showed on every hand
traces Of the sanguinary conflict. While this
was going on heavy diminishing was taking
place on our line as Ter as Hatcher's Run. Dor
troops in that direction we're advanced several
hun lfed yards and intrencbed while the sharp
shooters we're engaged in siencing the rebel
batteries.
FRIDAY.
The result Of Fridays fighting, the Times
correspondent says, was that we swung the
left round three miles north Of the Boyd
town plank road, leaving between it and
Southside railroad but single line OF breast
works,-the works being thrown up since
Wednesday night. We captured about 900
prisoners and our loss is not over 1000 The
enemy have suffered more heavily and their
forces we're becoming demoralized very rapid-
ly. In the evening they could not be induced
to made another charge on the 5th corps front
although they had fought desperately early
in the day.
SATURDAY.
This has been an anxious day here. We
know that the troops engaged yesterday have
not only held their ground, but have ad-
vahced, winning several skirmishes almost
worthy the name Of battles, but there has
been some az xiety about Sheridan's cavalry
which swept clear around the infantry until
it came in on the left of the 9Th corps which
formed tint left of the troops which advanced
yesterday.
Sheridan has had Longstreet's corps to con-
tend with, the bravest and most determined
of the rebel defenders OF Richmond, and to-
night we hear hat he has utterly routed,
vanquished and smashed it, taking whole
brig4des prisoners.
This virtually settles the questi as far as
Petersburg is concerned, although it is not
the impression here that Gen. Grant wants to
occupy the Cockade City, but that he wants
to either capture or destroy Lees army.
OF course this is surmise, for Grant is not
at all communicative, but PAGES to and fro,
smoking continually, or mounts his horse to
ride to some point where he can famil.arize
himself with what is Transporting.
To-day's operations can thus be summed
up; On the extreme left Sheridan, who ned
swept around until be faced the northeast,
and who is reported as having won brilliant
successes at place called the Five Points.
Next was the 9Th corps. Gen. Warren, which
ton plank road and then took road leading
westward to Join Sheridan. On this road he
encountered the rebels formed in line II
battle and cleared them out.
The second corps pushed forward until they
were square up to the rebel forts at hather's
Run, which is now useless as the shsrpshoot-
ers in Gen. smyth's brigade pick off the ar
tillerymen when they attempt to man the
guns.
Further on the right Maj Gen Gibbs ad-
vanced with Foster and Turner's divisions of
the Oath corps, having Birney's division OF
colored troops of the 25th corps as a reserve.
sweeping further around o L the right are the
entrenched works so long and so patiently
held by the Mon troops, garrsoned under
the command of Gems. Ord and Parke.
Tomorrow 1t is expected that there will be
a general engagement, and the silence of the
Sabbath will be broken by the roar of artil-
lery, the sharp peals of musketry and the din
of battle. 1t is not impossible that the fleet
in the James river may join in the onset For
the result we have no fears here for the arm
is determined to show the rebels that the old
las is TO be advanced until it can float in tri-
umph over the focus of secession.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE PoroMAc, !
April LIST, 1865.
The greater portion Of this army has not
been engaged with the enemy to-day The
time has been occupied in erecting works on
new line and repairing the roads connect
ing with the different corps
The !ate rains had rendered it impossible
TO move the wagon trains as fast as the troops
advanced. One train took fcrty-eight hours
TO move five miles with the assistance of one
thousand men. But through the untring in
dustry and perseverance, OF the officers and
men the army has been almost as we'll sup
piled as while in their old quarters.
When the news OF Sheridan's repuse
reached here last night, part Of the Fifth
Corps was at once dispatched to his aid, and
IL is expected that tonight or in the morning
we shall receive good news from that quarter.
IL appears that Sheridan was moving on the
road leading to a place called the Forks, when
two cavalry brigades of Pickett's division
came down on road running from Sutherland
Station.
As sheridan's cavalry had mostly all pass.
ed the junction, this movement threatened to
Put him off. He however discovered his dan