Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1865-04-03
III! ,NEl!!l!s


cial givss the following account Of the Fri
days lighting. Al daybreak movement
Was made 70 secure = position to advance
upon the enemy, covering White Oak Road.
The object was to possess that portion Of
the road which intersects the Claiborne
Road, leading to the south side OF the Rail.
road. At 8 o'clock Agrees Division, supcrin-
tended BY Orawford's ana Griffin advance,
and Immediately met resistance from the
rebel skirmishers, who were pushed bark
within mile Of White Oak Road. At this
junction the enemy massed with their usual
yell and charged On our cDlumn, which vav-
cred FIR time and gave way, retiring slow-
" towards the Boydtown Road, halt,ng in .
hill where they were supper ed BY Grifin's
Division, which had just come up. They
took shelter in the breast works. The enc
my made several attempts to dislcdge them.
A fierce fire Of artillery and musketry in the
meanwhile were pouring death into the re.
bel ranks. At o'clock, Miles Division was
ordered to strike the enemy on the left
flank, while the 9TH corps again essayed to
get possession of White Oak Road by ad
vancing simultaneously. The 9th corps
moved upon the enemy, who stubborn. held
his ground for some time, when rapid VOL
leys from the right, and the loud cheers OF
the successful issue Of Miles attack on the
rebel flank an he rolled up the enemys line
now broken, routed and falling back in con.
tinentaly followed by Warren's 9th corps.
who was soon in possession Of the coveted
White Oak Road
The field showed on every hand trace $
OF sangulnary conflicts-huge pines were
cut down by the shot, and the ground over
which Miles swept down in escheon upon
the enemys flank was covered with the re.
bel dead. While this was going on, heavy
skirmishing was taking place on our line as
far rs IIatchcr's Run, and our troops in that
direction we're advanced several hundred
yards and entrcnched while the sharp shoot
ers were engaged in silencing the rebel bat
teries. fsigned) CnAs. j. MILES.
The Times says:
ALP. NJ. Smiths brigade Of Crooks d.
vision rested on Stony CIR elk, west 81 Din
widdie Court House. supported by Gregg ;,
Davis and Fitz llughs brigades, the latter
facing and covering place near Stony
Greek. where five roads come together.
known as the Five Forks, held by the enc
my, and which we tried to take the day be-
fore and failed.
Stages Michigan Brigade was in position
on Graye'ly Branch, and a portion Of Gibbs
brigade WAS in reserve.
At o'clock p NJ. the enemy attack d
Smith in considerable force, I'm unsuccess.
fully.
An hour later Maj Robbins, of Davis
brigade, holding the bridge over stony
Creek, with n battalion Of the LIST New York
was attacked and driven slowly bacl, to
their brigade.
At this luncture the enemy moved three
columns across the creek at three points at
once with superior numbers, and was ena-
hled to flank Davis brigade after stub
born fight with the column .yancng in
front
Other commands at once changed their
respective positions to meet the change Of
affairs. The fight continued till about 5 Z.
NJ at which time the enemy had cut off n
division with Fltz Hugh's and Stages brig
AIDES, and forced them back in northeast
erly direction to the Boydtown plank road,
a little east of North from Dinwiddie Court
House, and IN which this portion Of the COM
mand during the evening moved to that
place.
Gibbs brigade for long time held its pc
siton, and made two successful charges, in
one Of when the Isl T. S. drove the enemy's
strong line Of infantry, and captured about
100 men, Duirg this charge several hun
dred of the rebels threw down their arms
and attempted to rush into our lines I'm
fortunately the movement was not generally
observed in season to prevents vollcy being
opened into them. This caused hesitation
long enough for their officers to cover them
with fire from the rear
At 8 o'clock Gibbs had fallen back to
within one mile of Dinwiddie Court House.
and was here relieved by Copeha,t'~ brigade
Of Cu,tar's division, which was soon
strengthened by the arrival Of Col. Penn ng-
ton with part of his brigade
From this tine until after dark Cus'ar
had the fght, and the enemy did not adj
vance to hold tie ground single rod alter
str king his line.
When Cu,tar came TO the font scene Of
the widest excitement pr, vailed. Cope
hart had his brigade on the left and PEN
nington on the right, and before anything
TO fight behind could b" pat up the enemy
came swarming out of the woods in front as
ii confident Of domolishiny every thing i :
fore them. Custar and his men were re
csivcd with cheers. He in ,tuntly 1T
Cop,hart's band to play "llail Coumhf,
and other patriotic pieces This revived the
spirits OF all present, and the music bought
forth cheers from thousands of wcared men
Az the enemy opened upon the line Gems.
Sheridan and Gustav, with their respective
staff officers, rode along the Inc with their
respective colors displayed. This demon
s'rat on ELECTED renewed enthusiasm along
the hole line, and by the time this was
over heavy fire had been opened with ar
tillerv, accompanied by lords and Wood
rufus guns. The enemy charged several
times, and were Iopulscd with great
slaughter.
Copehart saw one of his Regiments, the
LIST Va. dashing OH and not having given
tire ORDER he followed and found Gen Mer.
lit, Col. FORSYTH Of Sheridan's staff, and
others, at the head Of the regiment The
enemy fell bac, tilv before these troops,
and did not attempt to again force our line
there.
OF the result of Fridays fighting the
Times correspondent says: We swept the
left around three miles North Of the Boyd
town Plank Road. crossing between it and
the South side Railroad swift line OF
breastworks was thrown up since Monday
night. We captured about 1900 prisoners
and our own loss does not exceed over 3
600 in the aggregate.
The enemy have suffered mncn more
heavily and their forces were becoming de-
mogalized very rapidly. In theevening they
could not be induced to make another charge
on the 9th corps in front. although they had
fought desperately early in the day.
The Trihune's Washington special says
1t is understood here that Grants plan was
that Sheridan shout cut the South side r.
X. and reach over to the Danvile Road
The armies Of the Potomac and James were
t" push over toward the left and lam Lees
right flank while the line in front of Peters.
burg was still to be held, and i. possible
advanced.
Judging by the latest dispatches the
whole plan seems to have been successful
the cutting up Of the South side
Railroad, turning Lees right and carrying
portion of the rebel works in fropt Of Peters
burg. Two lines Of policy only, it is be-
licved, are opened to Lee-retreat to On
vile or failing in this, fight til Johnston
4 Yt-