The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-07-04
yym. B. TAYLOR, Colonel.

| WM. B. TAYLOR, Colonel"
l accordingly sent out my escort
to demonstrate and make as much
ado as they could by continuous
firing in front OF the enemy at or
Inear Amelia Court house, pending
ithe arrival of the Fifth Corps. That
corps came up IN the course of the
afternoon, and was put into position
at right angles with the Richmond &
Danville road, with its left resting
on n pond or swamp on the left of
the road. Toward evening General
Crook arrived with his division of
cavalry, and later General Merritt
With his two divisions, and all took
their designated places. The Fifth
! Corps, after its arrival, had thrown
up eartb-works and made It's posi-
ton strong enough to hold ont
against any force for the period
which would intervene before the
arrival ofthe main bodyof the army
of the Potomac, nowrapidly coming
tup on the line over which I had
travelled.
THE FIGHT OF THE FIFTH.
On the afternoon and night of the
4th no attack was made by the en-
envy upon the small force in his
front-the fifth corps and three
divisions of cavalry-and by the
morning ofthe 9TH began to believe
that he would leave the main road if
he could and pass around my left
flank to Sailors creek and Farm
vile. To watch this suspected
movement, early on the morning of
the 9TH | sent Davies brigade of
/ Crooks division of cavalry to make
n reconnaissance in that direction.
| The result was an encounter by
Davies with q large train of wagons,
under escort, moving in the direction
anticipated The train was attacked
by him and about two hundred
wagons were burned, and five pieces
of artillery and a large number OF
/ prisoners captured. In the afternoon
Of April ), the main body Of the
army of the Potomac came up. Gen.
Meade was unwell and requested me
to put the troops in position, which
I did, in line of battle, facing the
enemy at Amelia Court House. |
thought it best to attack at once, but
this was not done. | then began to
be afraid the enemy would, in the
night. by march to the right from
Amelia Court House, attempt to
pass our left flank and again put Us
In the rear of his retrea:ing columns.
Under this impression 1 sent to
General Grant the following dis
patch:
SEES No ESCAPE FOR LEE.
CAVALRY HEADQ'Rs, JEFTsyILLE,
April ), 1865, 3 p. m.-Lieut. Gen.
L. 5. Grant, Commanding Armies of
the United States. General: | send
you the enclose4lsetter, which will
give you an idea Of the condition Of
the enemy, and their whereabouts.
| sent General Davies brigade this
morning around on my left flank.
He captured at flames Cross roads
five pieces of artillery, about 200
weapons, and eight or nine battle
flags. and q number of prisoners.
The Second Army Corps is now
coming up. | wish you were here
yourself | feel confident of captur-
ing the army Of Northern Virginia
if we exert ourselves. / see no escape
for Lee. Will put all our cavalry
On our left flank except Macken zie,
who is now on the right.
=. II. SHERIDAN,
Major General.
On receipt of this ne Immediately
started for my headquarters at Jet
tersville, arriving there about III
o'clock Apri! 9th. Next morning,
April 6, the infantry of the army ad-
vanced on Amelia Court House 1t
was found before reaching it that the
enemy had turned our left flank and
taken another road to Sailors Creek
and Farmesville. The cavalry did
not advance with the infantry on
Amelia Court House, but moved to
the left and rear at daylight on the
morning OF the 9th, and struck the
moving columns OF the enemy's in
fantry and artillery, with which
series OF contests ensued that result
ed in the battle OF Sailors creek,
whore Lieutenant General Eweli lost
mis- command of about 10000 men.
and was himself taken prisoner, to-
gether with ten other general oili-
GERS.
SURROUNDING THE GREAT CoNFEDER
ATE.
We now come 70 the morning Of