The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1882-05-18
NUMBER 20.
Sketches of Army Life.
SECOND SERIES. NUMBER SEVEN.
''FIyt, FORKS

1t is four o'clock in the afternoon of March
3lst, 1860. The battle of Gravely Run has been
fought and won; but fearful conflict is raging
elsewhere. Away beyond Us. far down on our
extreme left we can hear the roar of battle the
booming of cannon, and the heavy crash of
muSketry. We have no infantry at that point.
| 1T must be sheridan and his cavalry coping
with the enemy down near the South Side rail-
road, How intently we listened. The battle
tides were receding, and it was evident that
| >heridans force was being borne back by the
enemy. General Warren. commanding our
corps, became nervous and restless. His mis-
sion is to support Sheridan'S movement. He
| has already led his troops through many obsta
| cles and is now awaiting further orders. His
| black eyes fash forth the intensity of his
| thought. His classic features become pale rs
he listens to the sounds Of battle growing
each moment more mdistinct. At last he ,N-
claimed, II can endure this no longer, and with
ont orders | will endcavor to send aid to Shcri-
dan Bartlett's old brigade must endeayor to
make its way to Sheridan'S relief" 4 staff
| officer dashed away to Bartlett and soon our
| lines were formed, and we marched in the di-
| rection of the distant battle The narrow road
along Which we marched was lined on either
! hand with a dense growth of pine trees The
sun was sinking from view. The tall trees cast
| their lengthcning shadows across our pathway
| 1t wa. 70 u time Of thrilling interest we all
| understood the situation. cur brgttlc was de-
| tached from the army, and was marching
| through that great forest to meet an enemy Of
whose strength and location W. kncy nothing
The sounds Of battle in our front died away
| The darkness became 50 intense that it was not
prudent to proceed further, especially as moth
| ing was to De gained by such Il c0u Sc. The
picketS Were sent out and We laid downto sleep
and rest At midnight we were aroused with
| the information that our pckcts had discovered
| the enemy was in great force in our immediate
front, 50 near that they could easily listen to the
conversation Of their pickcts, and also of the
soldiers behind their breastworks. Silently we
fell into line, and rctracing our steps along the
way we came for several miles. cncamped for
| the remainder of the night
The morning OF April ls was clear, but cold
and frosty. We were early on the march, moy-
| lnS t. The left Of the point from which Wc had
! fallen back the previous night. Ihe whole corps
! had arrived We were moving in It direction
that would bring Us to place known IL Five
| Forks near which Sheridan had fought the da>
before. About ten o'clock in th, forenoon we
| halted in the edge of an oak wood. and there r,-
manned until two O'Clock in the afternoon. The
South Side railroad wa> of great Importance. to
| General lee. because over that road lie brought
all the provisions for his army in Richmond and
| Petersburg. II was the life line that connected
the confcdcracy and il capitol If that line of
| connection was cut Richmond must b" ADAM
doned, TG guard this road General Ice had
sent 4 large force Of troops, who had construct
ed long line Of breastWorks running parallel
with the road for is defense The center Of
| TINS line Of defen>e> was at point known Us
! tlve Forks, so named from the fly" roads THAI
centerrd there. sheridan had advanced upon
| these works on the 3l>t, Int not being support
ed by infantry, had been crowded back for >cl-
eral miles. But General Warren had now M
rived, and Sherilan'S plan was H. advance with
| his cavalry in front Of the works. ana White thus
attracting the cnrmy'> attention have, tht Fifth
corps advance in their rear and take Them by
| surprise. Al two o'clock our corps wa, formed
for the advance i'll two lines Of battle, our lrgi-
mcnt being in the second line We We're to- aI-
vance over rough. broken country. flied with
| rayinc> and covered with thick growth OF tol.-
/ r~t frees. We marched for some tW, Or tur,c
miles and thc lirr. 1yrrp 81 h,no,.l white M.
wcr.. marchf,Y tbat we soon, fo,rd W., =, .., il,
| tLr front line t1, r4o,,c,,+ ,,,d tb. ~ N+.I-
| ioan v-or, Irae,, +r,. ,,,,,,,,,l AZ rl,,.s ,,.l
ter & NorrirT 2rJ L, iii ,o,. ,,...,.;,.,,. ..,,..
cnco We. ba, nc,, br,n Inl I,,., Ir,,..,..,.,
| >kilful con,uardrr W., oIi,,,.d =, min .l,,l.-
| I'd down through the tr.,> 9pd ..v. ti,a l,,.o.t- !
| works bI,t u I,o,,+ li.t,,,.,. i, ,,, t,, ~.
| had ,jy,urrd 50 l,,,i.tIy that tb ,,,,.,.,. ,,,,
NOT aware. ,,f ain, ,,,,....,,,.
! r0l1n4.! ana tb,n v-itl 4 Win M. ,I,o,,,,ad -.
| forp M. nnn,n,- b.,l tf,,, II, ,.,.., +,, -.
.urnris,. yvr w.rar,nn tb.,n rb.,. tI...,,.,l
their ,rnns without fi,in,,. .b.. ,,.l .,,,,.,,1,
cd The n,lmbr,. III ,,ri.n,.r. ,,nI,,,,,.,...I ii.