The National tribune., 1885-11-26
UNCLE DANIELS STORY.
inued from LIST page.D

and severe battle Cn>Geu, WHICH
until dark, Sherlin hoi.iing his ground.
Both parties lay upon their arms that
night within a stones throw of each other.
During the night the Fifth Corps was ordered
30 the support of Sherin. The enemy. dis
covering this movement, retreated early in
the morning, Sherlin following and assault
ing them at every opportunity. Laws had
instructed his infantry aad cavalry that Five
Forks must be held. Sheyiin well knew the
importance OF this position PetersvIlle must
fall with this in our possession. de ordered
Muiiett TO assault in front with his cavalry,
while the Fifth Corps and MckeHon, with
his cavalry, were to hold the White OAK
road and 10 drive the enemy back towards
Petersville AT o'clock the assault was
made. The cavalry dIsmounted and fought
on foot The division Of the Fifth Corps
under Griffith and one brigade under Ames
charged the rebel ranks and under the IN
SEPARATION of the bands playing aud the lead
OF The intrepid Sheriin, the works were
storiHed by sur men and the rebels routed,
leaving $500 prisoners in our hands. Five
Forks was oars and a noble days work had
been accomplished. This was the first great
battle fought in the last campaign against
the rebel Capital.
Gen Silent now ordered the eDemy's
WORKS assaulted AZ three points at O'Clock
the next l.otning, April 2. Promptly on
time Wight and Parker moved against the
strong works of the enemy in their front
They broke over the enemys pIcketllne
with ease; but now in their front frOwned
heavy earthwOrks and forts. They moved
under CALLING and deadly fire, tearing away
shatjs and all kinds of Instructions until
they came to the main works. Here the
contest was severe and bloody. Bayonets
cla>hed and musketry ratified but our troops
seemed 10 know that the end was near, and
nothing could stay OF resist them. They
climbed and leaped over parapet and wall
and INTO the enemy s trenches, capturing men
and guns The advance of our men could
not be stopped They pressed forward TO
the railroad, tore mp the track, and turned
and swept right and left down the enemy's
lines. Soon the whole line, from the point
of attack to Hatcher's Run, and all the artll-
Iery and forts were in our possession.
'Prrker made his assault near the Jeru-
salem road His column stormed and carried
the works in his front, capturing II pieces
OF artillery and about 900 prisoners
"Orden now assault ed, Gen. Anderson
leading The fighting was severe as the
rebels now saw that this kind of fighting
meant the capture of Richmond Anderson
led his men In person, and was one OF the
first to scale the enemy's works. The enemy
re.rca,ed in great haste. Anderson again
recognized, leading one of the brigades in
retreat, Joseph Whittherne.
My God!' he exclaimed, am always
to Inc,.t this man in battle!
"Orden turned his command to the right
ard Joined on with Wight aud they now
made their lines strong in order TO resist the
enemy, as they expected him to attempt
/, nr,ac
ous battlefield. from PetersVille TO and be-
yopd FIVE Forks. Silent now determined to
face M~s3nr's entire command, as well as
Oricn's. In toward Petersyille, and take 1T If
possible The entire rebel army was rushing
to he defense of Petersville. Sherlin was
moving on the White Oak road towards the
civ. Laws WAS exertiug himself to stay the
tide gladden. was ordered to drive Parker
back from his line. Hitler and Mahoney
were gathering ali the fragments OF COM
mands that they could find aud re0rganizing
them Longpath, who had not been engaged,
was ordered 10 cross the James River to the
south side, for the defense of this portion of
the line. Laws teiegraphed his chief, the
President of the Confederacy, of the immi-
nent danger to his army.
The enemy now aSsailed Parker's line,
which was on both sides of the Jerusalem
TO disIodge him, but being re-enforced he
held his position. His line included several
forts and also commanded the bridge aero IS
the AgponiattoX almost the only exit now
left 10 the enemy. The rebels were now con-
centrating their forces within an interior
line Of very heavy works Immediately sur
rounding the city. There were, however,
two strong forts outside of this line not yet
captured by our forces-Forts Gregg and
Baldwin Orden was directed TO take Fort
Gregg and two of his brigades, commanded
by Turniee and Forest, made the assault
After one or two repulses they succeeded in
storming and capturing the entire garrison.
Both SIDES fought calamity. 1t was finally
taken al the point of the hayonet
Milo was now attacking the enemy near
the intersection OF The White Oak and Clai-
borne roads, but finding him TOO well in
trenehed, had TO fall back some distance.
Late in the afternoon SherlH, with the Fifth
Corps and a portion of his cavalry, struck
the enemy that had repulsed Milo in their
works that day taking them in faux. He
routed them, capturing nearly LOCO pIis-
oners. He pursued, and struck them every
opportunity, until finally they threw away
their arms and took shelter III the woods.
Night covering their retreat with darkness
saved them. The days work left about SO
pieces of artillery and 1900 prisoners in our
hands.
All west of the center of Lawss army had
been driven by Sherlin across the Appomat-
tox, and the rest had been forced inside the
interior lines around Petersville, from which
there was no escape save by bad roads
country highways. Laws was now struggling
to get his army ont and escape, so as 10 join
Jones, and get the best terms he could after
one more short campaign.
Gen. Hitler, Of the rebel army, fell that
day. Laws had hiia buried that night,
and after the last rites were paid, he rode
with his staff out OF the city, and in accord
ance with orders previously given the whole
rebel army, save a small picket-linc, fled
out and moved in the direction of Amelia
Courthouse. Parker, under his orders to
feel the enemy during the night, discovered
the movement, captured the rebel pickets,
and the city was surrendered at o'clock the
Rext morning Laws burned behind him the
small bridges on the Appomattox and blew
up his forts on the James River.
The next morning Silent ordered Meador
Immediately up the Appomattox River.
Sberlin was ordered to push for the Danville
Railroad with Hume and Griffith and all the
cavalry. Orden was directed to push south
west, on the Cox road. Silent waited until
he got news of the surrender Of the rebel