The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-06-26

gadier- General) Bankhead, to give the orders TO
the division commanders TO bring up their
commands, specifying the order which l
thought they could most rapidly move in. !
then went up the Five Forks road in advance
of the infantry, TO see Gen. Sheridan and to
inform myself of the use to be made of my
troops, so that no time would be lost on their
arrival. Gen. S. explained TO me the state of
affairs and what his plan was for me to do.
This entered upon most cordially. He had
placed an officer back on tho road to mark the
point where my command was to turn off, /
then rode back to the point indicated, turned
up the road which led by Gravelly Run Church
and examined the ground and employed my
escort, which had by this time reioined me, to
picket tho front / was to take up so as to pre-
vent the enemy discovering the presence of
the infantry"
Gen. Bankhead, not long after, wrote to Gen.
Warren in reference to the movement of the
corps in these words Il have the honor 10
state that / WAS with you April at the time
you received some instructions from Gen.
Sheridan, through one of his staff officers
As TO the nature of the orders | was not aware,
further than that you Immediately turned to
me and directed mo 10 bring mp the corps at
once along the road we were on Mt the time,
and that you would meet the column yourself;
that the divisions would march iii tho follow
ing order. viz: Third. First, Second. | imme-
diatoly gallopcd back and gave the orders in
person to Gems. Griffin and Crawford. AS |
was to see that the head of the column was
started on the right road, sent the order to
Gen Ayres, commanding the Second Division,
(who was further of to the right,) by ono of
your Aids, either Mai. Cope or Capt. Wads-
worth. The orders were obeyed promptly and
the troops moved out as expeditiously as tho
nature of the road and the crowded state IL
was in (being blocked up with led cavalry
horses) would admit Every exertion appeared
h. IL
vance, to keep the road clear for the infantry
90 pass. / remained with the head Of the
column until within short distance OF tho
place it was halted and placed in position to
make the attack"
The Third Division was commanded by Gen.
Crawford, and in this movement had the adj
vance, Bakers Brigade leading the division
and tho l07th Pa. leading the brigade. / well
remember that the road leading TO the church
was so deep with mud and so obstructed with
cavalry horses that our column had TO leave IL
aud march through the woods slirting the
road. So that very rapid marching WAS i'm
practicable under the circumstances, and yet
the troops moved under the difficulties without
halting moment at any point until the
ground was reached.
GEN. CRAWFORD SAYS THAT HIS DIVISION
moved with all practicable dispatch in forming
prior TO our attack on the enemy at the battle
of the Five Forks I" ! have the honor TO state
that tho troops under my command moved
at once upon the receipt of the order, and that.
in my opinion, no unnecessary time Was lost
from that time until they were formed as di-
rected."
Gen. Griffin says: sin reference TO the move.
ment of the First Division just prior to the
battle of the Five Forks, Pril l. 1865. have
TO state Was in command OF that division on
that day, and abont o'clock p. IN. received,
through Col. Bankhead, Corps Inspector. an
order 10 move down the road leading north
ward with all possible dispatch, rs the cavalry
and infantry were 10 attack the enemy at once.
] moved my troops rs promptly as could aud
on arriving near the place where the Corps
was formed for the attack WIS met by your
self You Immediately pointed ont tho ground
that my troops were 10 form on, remarkiug in
substance, that you wished mo 10 be as expe-
ditious as possible. The order was executed nc
once. aud then reported in person to you. In
my opinion the division was formed without
any hAlting or Unnecessary delay"
Gen. Ayrcs, commanding the Second Division,
writes 10 Gen. Warren: +" ! have the honor TO
acknowledge the receipt Of yours asking
official statement concerning the movement OF
the Fifth Corps Oh the lsi Of April, from the
position where 1t was masscd 10 that where tho
lines of battle were formed previous 20 that at
tack. 10 not know al what time tho order
was given % commence tho movement. ! was
done. and my division was kept we'll closed mp
the troops IA front. 1rt ARRIVING AIsar the
! position whero the lines were forming. you
! qncstod me 10 form MY troops as cxpedtlously
"a poss blc, Gen. Sheridan desired 20 attack
the cucmy Immediately. Once again during
the formation you desired me 10 be- expediti-
/ Gus. Ny division being q very small one. was
soon formed, wheTeupon / reported 10 you that
/ ] was ready"
THE FORMATION OF THE TROOPS. -
The troops were marched right into position
| ms they came up. the ground having been pre-
/ viOusly indicated. and this saved time. A col
nmn OF troops containing 1900 men. with n
! four front. filled very long stretch OF road.
/ It came up with an energetic pace To have
urged quicker pace through the woods aud
/ deep roads would have tended TO exhaust the
men and nnft them for the important work
I upon which they were about 20 engage.
/ Gen. Sheridan's order" says Gen. Warren,
WAS 10 form the whole corps before nd yancing,
so that all of IL should move simultaneously
/ lie specially stated that the formation was 10
! be Obliqne To the road with the right ad yAnccd
| with two divisions IN front and tbe third in
reserve behind the right division. The number
| OF lines and consequent extent Of front he left
| inc 10 decide. Upon examination determined
! on an equivalent of three lines of battle for
each of the front divisions, arranged as follows:
| Zach division was 10 place two brigades ia
/ sfDnI, tdcH bflkHue IN TWO ltHtb Oh DabIit, hnu
| the third brigade in two lines Of battle behind
| the center Of the two front lines The Third
Division 10 be posted in column of battali0ns in
mass behind the right. To Gen. Ayres / as
| signed my left. Gen. Crawford my right, aud
| Gen. Griffin my reserve behind the right. In
moving they were instructed 10 keep closed to
the left, aud preserve their direction in the
woodg by keeping the sun, then shining
brightly, in the same position over their left
shoulders.
Gen. AyTes placed the Maryland Brigade on
his left in two lines, and Gen. Gwyn's on his
right. This last brigade was formed III three
lines instead Of two, I'D the regiments could not
be 50 we'll disposed Of in two lines. Gen. Win
throP's Brigade Gen. Ayres formed as his re-
serve. Gen. Crawford formed his line so as 10
place Col KollOgg's Brigade on his loft, Gen.
BaXter's Brigade his right. and Gen. Coul,
ter's Brigade as his reserve. Thus formed. the
length of the front We occupied was about O
thousand yards.
while the troops were forming. !, says War
Ten. prepared a sketch, with explanations, fol
each division commander, and directed them
30 far as time would permit 10 explain IL TO tbG
| brigade commanders. Ia this WAS a diagram o
the formation aud these words Of instruction
The line will move forward as formed till II
reaches the White Oak road, when ii will swing
| round 10 the left perpendicular To the White
Oak road. Gen. Merritt's and Gen. Custer
! cavalry will charge tho enemy's line soon NJ
the infantry get engaged. The cavalry is Oh
: which Is moving up the White Oak road, from