The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-04-04
= WHEEfrNtfnW w. TUESDAY MORNING, APRIL 4, 1865.
to get possession of White Oak road by
ss5ss isssa aps sass ass IT.

] to get possession of White Oak road by
advancing simqltsneously.s The 9Th
I CORDS moved apd8 ~ eneIhy, who Stub
4 bornly held his ground for some time,
when the rapid volleys from the right
and tile loud cheer of the successful is
sue of Miles attack on the rebel flank,
as he rolled up the euemy's line, now
/ broken, routed and falling back, incon-
tinently followed by Warren's division,
| of the 5th corps who were soon in pos
1 session of the coveted White Oak road.
The field showed on everyshand tracesof
sapguinary conflicts. Huge pines cut
down by shot, and the ground over
which Miles swept down echelon upon
the enemy's flank, was covered with
rebel dead. % ttiW I b AZ ID
While this was going on heavy skir-
1 mishing wastaking place on our line as
| far as Hatcher's run and our troops in
| that direction were advanced several
hundred yards and entrenched, while the
1 sharpshooters were engaged silencing
the rebel batteries
! Among the killed is Major Charles j.
Mills, Adjutant to Gen. Humphrey.
Of the cavalry fight on Friday the
/ Times says: At p NJ. Smiths brigade
| of Crooks division rested on Stony creek,
west of Dinwiddie Court House, support
ed by Gregg, Deyin and Fitzhush's brig
ades, the latter facing west and covering
q place near Stony creek where five roads
come together, known as Eve Forks, held
by the enemy and which we tried to take
the day before and failed. Stages Mich
igan brigade was in position on Gravely
Branch and portion of Gibbs brigade
was in reserve.
At six p NJ the enemy attacked Smith
in considerable force, but nnsnccessfully.
An hour later Major Robbins of Davies
brigade, holding the bridge over Stony
| creek with battalion of the first New
York, was attacked and driven slowly
back to their brigade. At this juncture
4 the enemy moved three columns across
the creek at three points, and at once
/ with superior numbers was enabled to
flank Davies brigade. After stubborn
fight with the column advancing in
! front, other commands at once changed
their respective positions to meet the
1 change of affairs The fight continued
! until about five o'clock p. NJ, at which
time the enemy had cut off Davies, with
Fitzhugh's and Stages brigades, and
1 forced them back in u northeasterly di-
rectiOn to the BOydton plank road, a lit
| tie northeast from Dinwiddie Court
House, and on which this portion of the
command, during the evening moved to
that place. Gibbs brigade for a long
time held it's position and made two sue
cessful charges, in one of which the lst
United States, Capt. Lord, and some
| Pennsylvania troops drove the enemy's
strong line of infantry and captured
one hundred men. During this charge
down their arms and attempted to rush
into our lines. Unfortunately the move
ment was not generally observed in sea-
son to prevent volley being opened in
to them. This caused u hesitation long
enough for their officers to cover them
with fire from the rear.
At five o'clock, Gibbs had fallen back
to within one mile of Dinwiddie Court
House and was here relieved by Cape
harts brigade of Clusters division, which
was soon strengthened by Col. Penning-
ton with part of his brigade From this
time until after dark, Custar had the
1 fight and the enemy did not advance to
hold the ground of Il single roo. After
striking his line, when Custar came to
| the front, scene of the widest excite
ment prevailed. Cape art had his brig
ade OIL the lett and Pennington OH the
right, and before anything to fight be-
hind could be put up, the enemy came
swarming out of the woods in front as if
confident of demolshing everything be-
fore them. Custar and his men were
received with cheers He instantly seq
Capeharts band to playing Hail Column
ba" and other patriotic pieces. This
revived the spirits of all present and the
music brought forth cheers from thou
sand of wounded men.
AS the enemy opened upon the line,
Generals Sheridan and Custar, with their
staff officers, rode along the line with
their respective colors displayed. This
demonstration elected renewed enthusi-
asm along tile whole line, and by the
time this was over a heavy fire had been
opened with artillery, accompanied by
Lords and Woodrutf's guns. The enc
my charged several times and were re-
pulsed with great slaughter. Capehart
saw one of his regiments-the lst Fir-
ginia-dashing OFT Not having given
the order, he followed and found Gen.
Merritt, Col. Forsyth, of Sheridan's staff,
and others at the head of the regiment.
The enemy fell back hastily before these
troops and did not attempt to again force
our line.
The result of Fridays fighting, the
Times correspondent says, was that. we
swung the left around three miles north
of the Boydtown plank road. leaving be-
tween it and the Southside railrOad but
single line of breastworks, thrown up
since Wednesday night. ..Is...
We captured about thousand priso-
ners and our loss is not over 1000 in ag'
grecate The enemy have suffered much
more heavily and their forces We're be
4 coming demoralized very rapidly in the
evening, and could not be induced to
make another charge on the 9th corps
front, although they had fought desper.
| ately during the day. u The TribHne's
Washington special says it is understood
4 there that Grants plan was that Sheri-
dan should cut the Southside railroad,
and reach over to the Danyille road, and
the armies of the Potomac and James
were to push over toward the left and
turn Lees right flank, while the line in
front of Petersburg was still to be held
I and if possible, advanced.
/ Judging By the --latest. dispatches, the