National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-01-31
BATTLE OF FIVE FORKS,
now GEN. A. p. HILL RECEIVED HIS DEATH
WOUND.
urt,,en for THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN.

federal lines in front OF Petersburg anu
Richmond, and it was evident that y
general battle was immin emit Both north
and south Of tho James river active de-
monstrations were made, though tho
grand assault was expected to be made on
the confederate right flank, Is sfterward
proved to be the case. From the first Gen.
Grant had maneuvered to turn the con-
federate right, but at Hatcher's Run and
other points his attacks had been bloodily
repulsed, and the only success he had so
far met with was the seizure Of tho We'll
don railroad, the South Side and Dam
willie roads still keeping up Gen. Lees
communications with the states south.
It was mainly to make diversion aud
TO compel Gen. Grant to contract his left
wing to re-en force his center that the des-
perate night attack which WAS made
upon Fort Steadman by Gen. Gordon was
ordered. In connection with this assault,
cavalry was ordered TO be ready to move,
should the infantry succeed in breaking
the federal lines, 10 City Point to destroy
the stores and transports there.
THE CONFEDERATE GUNBoATs
were likewise ordered to proceed down
tho river at the same time and attack the
small fleet of federal unboats, the greater
portion of the feet being away, IL / mis-
take not, at Fort Fisher, N. G. Well,
Gordon attacked in splendid style, cap
tured Fort stoadman and turned its guns
upon the enemy, who were completely
surprised, but soon rallied and held firmly
the second and third line of redoubts, the
guides Of the confederate commander
being utterly useless, as the con6guration
NJ pdt,,a RI NJ ba hah haan
wholly changed by the Notifications
thrown up, &c. The attack failed of Its
object and the gunboats got aground be-
fore they were in reach of the Point, Had
they been enabled to take possession of
City Point, II would have been n serious
blow to the federal army. The ill-success
of the confederate movements left Gen.
Grant free to send Gen. Sheridan with q
large force on
GEN. LEES RIGHT FLANK AND REAR.
This movement had been anticipated
by the confederate general, and l rec
ollect we'll when, in the gray gloom of
early morning, / saw Pickett's division
marching along the telegraph road by
bur camp. l had served In the ranks Of
.his division for the first three years of
the war, and was mighty glad to greet
my old comrades and schoolmates once
lhoEos luby huoW LHoy Wotb W u1hTCu
in the direction of Dinwiddie Court
House, and it was believed for tho pur-
pose of pushing back the cavalry who
were pressing our flank and endeavoring
to cut the Danville railroad. Alas how
many Of those gallant fellows lay cold in
death or mangled in the hospitals
within twenty -four hours thereafter. On
the morning of the 3lst of March Pickett,
in conjunction with Fitzhugh Lees cav
airy, attacked Sheridan's cavalry and the
9Th corps near Five Forks 10 place
where i've county roads meet)
and after hard fighting drove back
both the cavalry aud infantry beyond
Dinwiddie Court House, and took Dos
session Of White Oak road which Gen.
Warren had seized upon. The country
was very much broken aud heavily
wooded, and tho pursuit by the confed-
crates Of the retreating enemy was neces-
sarily slow, but the night of the first
days fight settled down on o decided
confederate success. in spite OF tho fact
that they were even then contending with
superior numbers. When darkness came
on the confederates fell back to good
position, and erected some slight breast
works. The next day Sheridan, having
been re-enforced by division Of the ed
corps and McKenzie's division Of cavalry,
ADVANCED TOWARD FIVE FORKS
and asssiled the entrenchments. Lees
and Picketts men fought savagely, and
again and again repulsed heavy attacks
until finally their left wing was turned
and literally smashed by Warren's corps
while the cavalry charged them in front
There was nothing to do but retreat, and
it must be confessed in utter disorder,
many throwing down arms and surrend-
sring. but 1t should be remembered that
these troops were outnumbered five t.
one, and they were fercely pursued by
Merritt's and McKenzie's cavalry. This
battle nearly broke up Pickett's division
ms an organization. Fitzhugh Lees
cavalry did not fare 80 badly as tho in
fantry, their horses enabling them to re-
treat more swiftly.
The sorrowful news Of tho collapse OF
Fitzhugh Lees force was received in
Petersburg the night of tho fight, and il
may we'll be imagined that it created
something like CONSERVATION among all
classes. Before daybreak the next morn
ing the camps were aroused by the noise
of cannon and musketry on our right a.
If all Hades had broke loose. The battle
seemed to be raging more hotly in from
of Fort Malone, which was on the line
WHERE GEN. A. p. HILL COMMANDED.
That general, aroused by the firing
left his headquarters without either aid
or escort and galloped swiftly toward the
scene OF conflict, or, rather, where the
firing was heaviest, for there was pretty
smart fighting going on all along the
lines. He was not aware that oven al
this time portions of his line had beer
forced and that the enemy were already
in his rear. AS he went along he cam,
upon three soldiers whom no doubt h,
deemed 10 be his own men. When he wa
close to them they ordered him to halt
and he realized his mistake. He, how
ever. boldly commanded them to sur
render, but, as they pointed their guns q
him, he suddenly wheeled his horse
bending low in the saddle. The soldiers
fred and Gen. Hill
DROPPED FROM HIS HORSE MoRTALLl
WOUNDED.
Gen. Phil. Kearney. Of the federal army
who was killed at Chantilly, was shot IL
identically the same way and under tn,
same circumstances. The fall of Gen
Hill so early in the fight was a seriou
disaster to his corps, as for some time his
death was not known, and his division
commanders we're not acting with unan
unity because they we're waiting for order
which never came. Now, Fort Mahon,
mounted some fourteen or fifteen gun
and, II l recOllect Alright, was defended
by the artillery battalion of young Lieut.
Col. Will Pegram. The fight was ferces
at this point, and desperate charges wer
made on the face aud TANKS of the re
doubt, and were as desperately resisted
by it defenders. Sometimes the fedora
regiments charged literally
UP TO THE MuzzLEs OF THE GUNS,
before they were beaten back by tn
rapid discharges Of canister shot. l
was currently reported afterward, and
numbers of the confedorates believ,
the story, although ! cannot vouch TO
the truth Of it, that after the redoubt hal
been entered at several places by tn,
enemy, Pegram, revolver in hand
mounted one Of his oaissons and PLEADED
with his men to continue the fight will
whatever weapons they could seize upon