The National tribune., 1892-08-25
HISTORY OF THE CORPS.
Continued from first page0
wounded, and two officers and 154 men
captured or missing.

wounded, and two officers and 154 men
captured or missing.
Early in March, 1865, it was determined
by the Confederate authorities to abandon
the Petersburg and Richmond line and move
the Army of Northern Virginia to Danville
to unite with Gen. Johnston in an attack
upon Gen. Sherman. Preparations with this
| object in view were Immediately begun, and
in the meantime it was proposed by Gen.
Lee to make sortie with the view of gain
| ing some of the works on the right Of the
line held by the Army of the Potomac near
the Appomattox River, hoping that by such
movement Gen. Grant would be forced to
concentrate there, and thus defer the ne
cessity for abandoning Richmond and Peters
burg until the weather should be more
favorable for falling back to Danville.
On March % Gen. Sheridan was ordered
to move early on the following morning and
cross Hatcher's Run at point below Monks
Neck Bridge, the point at which the Fifth
Corps was to cross, pass through or near to
Dinwiddie Courthouse and reach the right
and rear of the enemy with all possible
haste. The Second and Fifth Corps were to
take position on the Vaughan road, south of
Hatcher's Run, extending to or near to Dim
widdie Courthouse. Gen. Humphreys was
to cross Hatcher's Run by the Vaughan road
on the morning Of the 29th as soon as Gen.
Ords troops should occupy the intrench-
ments held by the Second Corps, take posi-
tion with his right near Hatcher's Run, with
his left in communication with the Fifth
Corps, and advance toward the enemy.
The Fifth Corps was ordered not to pro-
ceed beyond the junction of the Vaughan and
Quaker roads until the Second Corps was in
position, when it would advance toward the
enemy by the Boydton road, its right con-
Meeting with the Second Corps; but at mid
night on the 29th these orders were modi-
fed, and the Fifth Corps was directed to
move along the Quaker road. After advanc-
ing Griffin's Division to within short dis
tance of Dinwiddie Courtl,asee, Gen. Warren
withdrew it to the Quaker road in accord
ance with his modified orders, and in the
afternoon the corps moved up that road with
mile from the junction of the road with the
Boydton plank road the leading brigade
(Gen. Chamberlains) came into contact with
Wise's and Wallace's Brigades, of Anderson's
command, when sharp engagement ensued,
resulting in the enemy being driven back
into their intrenchments on the White Oak
road, after suffering severe loss, including
200 prisoners, besides the wounded left on the
field. In this engagement Bartletts Brigade
also participated. The loss in Grifin's Divis-
ion was 367 killed and wounded, Gen.
Horatio G. Sickel being among the latter.
On the 30th the Fifth Corps moved along
the Quaker and Boydton roads as far as the
Dabney Mill road, and occupied line COW
ering the Boydton road as far as Gravelly
Run. Gen. Ayres's Division then made
reconnaissance northwestward to the vicinity
of the point where the intrenchments of the
White Oak road turned north to cover the
Claiborne road, where picket-line was es-
tablished, supported by part of his divis-
ion, the other part remaining on Griffin's
left.
Early On the morning of the 30th Gen.
Fitz Lee marched to Five Forks, and in adj
vancing toward Dinwiddie Courthouse en-
countered Sheridan's cavalry, when sharp
skirmishing ensued. Gen. Pickett arrived at
Five Forks at sundown and assumed COM
mand of the operations to be begun against
Gen. Sheridan on the following morning
It was the intention of Gen. Lee to get on
the left flank of the Fifth Corps, the ulti-
mate object being to defeat the attempt
upon the South Side Railroad aud his right
rear. In accordance with suggestion Of
Gen. Warren, Miles's Division, of the Second
Corps, relieved Griffin's Division, of the Fifth
Corps, before daylight of the 31st, and Gen.
Warren was directed to place Crawford's
and GriAin's Divisions within supporting
distance of Ayres; the object of these
changes being to enable the Fifth Corps to
occupy the White Oak road early on the
morning of the 31st, so as to cut off Lees
direct communication with Pickett at Five
Forks.
At the close of the battle of Five Forks,
which was the last in which the Fifth Corps
participated, and which resulted in a brilliant
victory for the Union troops, Gen. Warren was
relieved of command. Of the total number of
Confederate prisoners (more than 5000 cap
tured in that battle, 3,244, besides II flags and
one battery of artillery, were taken by the
Fifth Corps. The casualties in that corps
from March 81, 1865, to April 8, 1865, includ-
ing Gravelly Run, White Oak road, and Five
Forks, amounted 1851 in killed, wounded,
and missing.
The order relieving Gen. Warren from
command of the Fifth Corps was a severe
blow to him, as we'll as to his many friends,
who believed it to be wholly unjustiGed. 1t
appears that the order from Grant to Sheri-
dan authorizing him to relieve Gen. War
rem if in his judgment it was for the best
interests of the service to dose" arose from an
apprehension that misunderstanding might
arise between Gen. Warren and Gen. Sheri-
dan similar to those which had arisen be-
tween the former and Gen. Meade during the
campaign of 1864.
In a report made by Gen. Sheridan May
16, 1865, he states that in bringing up and
forming his corps at Gravelly Run Church,
Gen. Warren did not exert himself to get up
bic oorna as ranidlv 40 he MIGHT have done