Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-04-04


says: Shortly after o'clock, heavy firing
was heard on the left of the oath corps,
now OCCUPYING the works formerly held by
the 81 corps.
The enemy msssed his troops in front OF
the fort recently constructed near Hatch
er's Run, and charged impetuously, hoping
to break our line at that point, capture and
destroy our train which was parked in
the resr. The extension of our line prob
ably led him to believe it was weak in
front of the works occupied by US prior
to the recent moveu ent. He g nd it
stronger than he contemplated, and the
attack resulted in great slaughter. Soon
after our troops at that point assumed the
offensive and charging on the rebel line,
drove them back, capturing fort two
heavy guns and large number of prison
ers. The rain slackened about 9 o'clock,
and skirmishing began along the line of
this corps, which continued for an hour
without any important result. At eleven
o'clock the rebels made fierce assault on
the tight of the 5th corps, near the Boyd
town plank road, where it connects with
the left of the LIST division. At this time
the 9TH was moving its line farther to the
left, which was prevented by the enemy,
who hasteneo the attack before the troops
could be placed in position to meet him.
The attack was made with great vigor.
and for q moment promised TO be success
full. Our line was driven back short dis
tancs, when the Sd and 4th brigades, Sd
division, whose line had been extened to the
left simultaneously, was, with that of the 5th
corps, Immediately advanced to the support
of the 9th Corps, and after fierce conflict
the rebels were driven back from the
ground they had gained. Our lines still
confined to advance, the enemy retreat
ing before them, leaving their dead and
wounded on the field. Our lines advanced
three-fOurths of a mile, the enemy aban-
doning their line of breastworks with but
slight resistance. Skirmishing and srtil-
lery firing continued till about six o'clock.
Nothing of Importance occurred in front Of
our lines after the advance stated. The
I'd and Sd divisions have not been engaged
during the day.
The Herald special correspondent of
the 3lst says; We have had severe fight
ing to-day. Our losses in killed, wounded
and captured have been not less than 600.
1t has not been q pitched battle but a
long, contested fight, a splendid sue
cess to our arms. General Ayers sent
Winthrop's brigade to fell his way in the
direction of White Oak road. The whole
of Ayers division, as also Crswford's was
then across what is called Big Swamp,
near Boydtown plank road, and five miles
from Dinwiddie.
Grifin's division was moved on this side
of the swamp, over which our troops, in
the meantime, had constructed temporary
bridge. The enemy met Winthrop in
large force, and succeeded in fanking him,
hurling his troops in confusion on General
Coulter's brigade. The remainder of the
I'd division and Sd division coming to their
aid, outfanked the enemy by overwhelm-
ing force, and united in the assault on
them with incesssnt musketry.
Gen. Bsrtletgs brigade was soon on the
ground. A new battle line was formed,
batteries placed in position, and the work
OF driving the enemy back began. The
battle that ensued lasted three hours. Our
men fought their way up the hill beyond
the swamp and drove the enemy from his
rihs-pits on the crest at the edge of the
woods, scattered his battle lines, silenced
his batteries, and ended with the possession
of White Oak road.
The HsraIEs 9Th corps special says: Not
q gun has been fred in our front to-day OF
tonight. Our pickets are very noisy and
exchanging lesden compliments with the
rebals. The firing is more frequent than
we have heard for some months.
The Hersld's special with the Army oi
the James gives an account of the move
ments of Wednesday, Thursday and Fri
day. On the 29th, occupied the works
vacated by the I'd corps; on the 2slhs there
was no fighting that day; Both, the Army
OF the James formed connection with the
right of the I'd corps without much oppOsi'
ton; on the 3Ist, threw the line forward
and threw up strong entrenchmsntsi very
little fighting on this front.
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