Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1865-04-13


Potter and Wilcox. The Notifications at this
es are rendered difficult by formidable line
of abatis. The troops advanced steadily un-
til they reached the abatis, encounteringa o ter
rible fire of grape, canister and musketry.
Here they wavered for moment, and recoiledi
and fell back nearlyto Fort He'll; but at once
trenewed the effort and rushed forward again
pulled away the obstruction, swarmed over the
works with dash worthy of the Old Guards
Of Napoleon. They captured four forts in
cluding Fort Malone, directlyin front of Fort
He'll turned the guns and poured canister and
grape into the retreating enemy The works
taken here are the most formidable in the
eastern front Of the Petersburg defences. Bre-
vet Major General Potter, commanding the
I'd division, was dangerously wounded at this
point 1t was believed that he could not live,
but this morning hopes are entertained for
his recovery. The 9th corps held the posi-
ton that was gained until this morning The
rebels yesterday made a number of desperate
assaults to re-take Fort Malone, in some of
them even reaching the ditch But they were
each time repulsed with terrible slaughter.
At four o clock yesterday morning, General
Wright had massed the whole 9th corps, and
silently advanced to within hundred yards
of the rebel lines in front of Fort Fisher,
where the men lay down to await the signal
The lst division, Gen. Wheaton, had the right !;
the Sd division, Gen. Seymour, the center,
and the Cd, Gen. Getty, the left Each brig
ade and division had its own front and sup
port. About half past four o'clock, every
thing being in readiness, the order was given,
and the battle-scarred veterans arose and ad-
| vanced once more to their work of death
The rebels opened tremendous fire of artil-
lery and musketry, but nothing could stop the
onslaught. The men rushed forward with
| fury, forced the abatis and carried the works.
advancing over and capturing successfully
several lines of earthworks Gen. Wright
moved forward, and about nine o'clock A. NJ.
struck the Southside Railroad about four miles
west of Petersburg
They followed up their success by moving
toward the city and assaulting and carrying
several of the inner and real defenses, which
here cross the Boydtown road and run at right
angles to the line of works which we have held
during the past winter This charge was one
of the most magnificent ever made in this Or
any other war
Owing to the rapidity with which they have
been executed the loss in this, as well as the
assaults made by the other corps are compar-
atively light Some of the Notifications were
carried by the troops advancing in column
with arms at right shoulder shift. Brevet
Major General L. O. Grant. commanding the
ID brigade, I'd division, 9th corps, was wound
ed in this charge.
AS the different forts were taken, their guns
we're turned upon the enemy The I'd brig
ade, Sd division, in which are the | 10th, l22d
and 10th Ohio, commanded by Col j. w.
Keifer, Colonel of the 10th, covered itself
with glory. In one Of the Notifications carried
by them the rebel gunners fired charge Of
solid Shot and loaded with grape but before
they had time to fire, our men bad taken the
pieces, and they were at once put in charge
of the 9th New York, Heavy Artillery, who
saluted the retreatiug rebels with their own
shottcd guns
| The 10th Ohio captured three rebel flags
and one ofthe l22d took the battle.Aag of the
rebel General Ord General Wright sent this
man to the rear with the flag, telling him he
had earned his thirty days furlough p.
While the gallant old 9th was thus engaged
the whole left Of the line was in notion
General Ord, with the divisions of Foster and
Turner attacked the enemy's lines ON his front
at Hatchers Run, nearly at the same time
with the charge of General Wright, and car
ried them in fine style. The l23d Ohio Reg
iment was the first to enter the works Crook S
brigade, of Heath's division of Hills corps
occupied one ofthe forts at this point AT this
time also, Humphreys, with the I'd corps moved
forward, sweeping everything before him
Hays Mott,s and Miles divisions carried the
works in their front, swung to the right and
moved rapidly across the open country which
skirts the Boydtown road toward the left of the
9th corps, now considerably in advance.
Gen. Sheridan advanced from the Five
Forks on the White Oak road, keeping to the
west of the Boydtown road, and scattering the
enemy before him in his onward course. He
also struck the Southside Railroad at po MT
further to the westward, after some sharp
lighting.
The hospitals were left far in the rear at an
early hour in the day, and were quickly cleared
out and, sent to the front, to keep within reach
of the advance. ll 4 r. Dr.. a.i-
| The country in the rear was wonderfully
bare of skulkers and none of the usual squads
of stragglers were hanging about the hospit-
ais and trains. Last night the enemy still
held contracted line of forts close to the
CITY, from which they kept up a sullen can
nonade upon our encircling troops. The 9Th
corps had connected with the right ofthe 9th,
which had become temporarily isolated by its
rapid advance, and Cen Ord had joined it on
the left, the extreme left OF the investing force
Fresting upon the Appomattox above Peters
burg. Sheridan with his command was NOV
ing upon the Danville road, to embarrass the
retreat of the foe, and the I'd corps, with pom
toon trains had moved upon the Appomattox
several miles above Petersburg. Should the
rebels remain, they were to be attacked at
daybreak. ,5A-1.. .sg f.- Or
Skirmishing was kept up all night and ut
half past three o'clock this (Monday) morn
ing Wilcox division, preceded by the first
Michigan, entered the city, driving the en-
emy rear guard of skirmishers before them.
The rebels set the bridges on fire, blowing up
that of the Southside Railroad Petersburg,
is finely built Southern city, and contains
many handsome residences. Frequent marks
are visible of the unwelcome Yankee visitors
who have dropped in during the past four
months; though the damage done by the can
nonade is not veryextensive.a .ae Several houses
were burned yesterday by our shells before
the enemy left The rebels destroyed very
large quantity of tobacco. Three pontoon
bridges had been laid across the river to ia
ciltate their retreat Gen. Lee was in Peters
htIru yesterday drectinp in, person the onera-