The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-04-07

eastarly direction to the Boydtown Plank
Road, q little east of north from Dinwiddie
Courthouse, on which this portion of the
command during the evening moved to
that place.
Gibbs brigade for long time held its
position, and made two successful charges,
in one of which the LIST q. 8. Regiment,
Captain Lord, and the LIST Pennsylvania
drove the enemys strong line of infantry
and captured about 100 men. During
this charge several hundred of rebels threw
down their arms and attempted to rush
into our lines, but unfortunately the move
ment was not generally observed in season
to prevent volley being fred into them.
This caused a hesitation long enough for
their officers to cover them with fire from
the rear.
At five O'Clock Gibbs had fallen back to
within a mile of Dinwiddie Courthouse,
and was covered by Capt. Hales brigade
of Gustav division, which was soon
strengthened by the arrival of Col. Pen
nington with part of his brigade. From
this time until after dark Gustav had the
fight and the enemy did not advance to
hold the ground after striking his line.
When Gustav came to the front the wild
est excitement prevailed. Captain Heart
had his brigade on the left.
They took shelter in the breastworks
The enemy made several Intellectual at
tempts to dislodge them. A fierce fire of
artillery and musketry pouring death into
the ranks of the rebels. At l O'Clock
Mills division was ordered to strike the
enemy on the left flank while the 9Th corps
essayed to get possession Of White Oak
Road by advancing simultaneously.
The 9th corps moved upon the enemy
who stubbornly held his ground for some
time when the heavy vollies from Right,
and loud cheers of the successful issue of
Mills attack on the rebel flank as he raj
lied up, the enemy's line now broken and
routed and falling back continually follow
ed by Warren's 9Th corps which was soon
in possession of the coveted White Oak
Road.
The field shows on every hand traces of
sanguinary conflicts, Huge pines cut
down ty shot, and the ground over which
Mills swept down in echelon upon the ene-
my's flank was covered with rebel dead.
While this was going on heavy skirmishing
was taking place on our lines as far as
Hatcher's Run.
NEW YORK, April 4.-Of Saturday 3
operations the Iribune,s correspondent
says: At 7 M. the 9th corps was again
in motion, passing to the left along White
Oak Road to join Sheridan, executing the
difficult movement of marching by flank
in the presence of the enemy-withdraw-
ing divisions in rear of each other, and
marching them off successfully from right
to left; the left division, Crawfords, exc
cutting the same movement by brigades
While this was taking place the I'd corps
moved toward White Oak Read by a
northern route, and establishing commune
cation with the right of the 9th corps.
Meanwhile Sheridan with four cavalry
divisions, passing around the left of the
whole army, went through Dinwiddie
Courthouse and toward the South Side
Railroad with his usual rapidity, though
the force which drove Crawford and Ayres
across Gravelly Run, however, at once
turned their attention to him, moving rap
idly to the right, and after a desperate
conflict he also was forced back within q
mile of Dinwiddie Courthouse; but soon
Joined by Warrens corps, he again took
the offensive and in turn drove the enemy,
captured position known as Five Forks,
together with about 1000 prisoners and
several batteries of artillery.
He was then joined by Niles division of
the I'd corps and pushed westward for the
South Side Road. This he soon reached
and took position upon it.
The 9th corps supporting cavalry, also
took fifteen guns and about two thousand
prisoners, enabling Sheridan to drive back
the force which on Friday afternoon check
ed his advance near Dinwiddie Court
House.
~ On receiving this news it was determin-
ed to give the enemy no time to send
troops to their right, and at once a stimuli
taneous attack was ordered all along the
lines, but to the 9th, 9Th, oath and I'd corps
and order was given about 9 o'clock at
night, and in less than an hour furious
assault was begun on the reoel entrench-
ments in front of their several commands,
resulting in the enemy being driven in
from their first into their second line Of
works with the loss of over 5000 prisoners,
several forts and about twenty pieces of
artillery.
The I'd corps was engaged all day in
their front, and in spite of the terrible fire
OF musketry poured into their ranks be-
hind their works, succeeded in maintain
ing their new line, several hundred yards
in advance of the line they occupind in the
morning.
The 24th corps occupied the centre of
Que line, its right connecting with the Cd
corps on Hatchers run, and its right going
to the left of the 9Th corps. :
The Fight on sunday.
Before daylight Sunday morning the
rebels made furious assault on the posi-
s4vn IS l.