The National tribune., 1892-08-18

Grove Church, the little chapel ill the grove at
the right of the line. This chapel has under
gone no change since the war.
Three days ago was captured by Confed-
crate cavalryman, Marshall Moncure by name,
n cultured gentleman farmer of the 9th Va,
Cav. Accompanied by his son and neighbor
We set out for Five Forks, about Is miles away.
Our journey takes us along the Vaughan road.
across the Quaker and Boydton plank-all
familiar names. Ere long we arrive at Dim
widdie Courthouse. We have followed the
route taken by Sheridan's cavalry in reaching
this point. Along this road the now-lamented
Custer with his command escorted the cavalry
trains. So miry were the roads at this time
that blankets wero taken by the dozen-so the
natives informed me-and laid on the mire to
bear up the wheels.
The courthouse is open, and an examination
of young women for teachers certificates is
going OH under direction of the County Super
intendent-a decided innovation since 1860. /
look in vain for the Diawiddie Hotel. where
the staff of Sheridan spent their nights when
not OH duty, and where they walked the echoes
with merry song, inspired by the presence of
several young Southern bellies, who had sought
refuge here, where they had not expected that
grim visaged war was SO soon to wrinkle his
'front.' The hotel was burned a few years ago.
There is another old time hostelry of this sort
here, but that is closed, and man aud beast de-
string refreshments are directed to the pleasant
home of John Y. Harris, the CommOnwealth's
Attorney, and member of the 56th Va. (Con-
federate) Cav, who with his genial and enter
tanning wife, make strangers sojourn very
pleasant.
There was no fighting at the Courthouse, the
enemy's cavalry retiring before Sheridan as he
occupied the place the evening of March %. But
our destination is Five Forks, and this is more
than Eve miles away. so on we 60, leaving Cham
berlains BED, along which the fighting of the
30th and 3lst occurred to the left, debouching at
Five Forks, which equal, If they do not trans
cend in importance to the world, their Roman
prototype There is little to be said i'll descrip-
ton Of this renowned sp0t. 1t WAS wider
ness in 1865. 1t is little less than wilderness
now but it is improving. Two cabins have re-
Gently been erected there, which rob the spot of
its original loneliness. The earthwork erected
here by Pickett's and Anderson's men still
stands intact so far as man is concerned. 1t
extends from point just west of the Forks
along the White Oak road eastward for dis
tance of nearly a mile, where it refuses sharply
for an eighth of a mile. This angle, forming
the extreme left of the line was strongly forti
fed with second line of artillery epaulements
built for emergency.
Over this strong refused left Ayres's Dvis-
ion swept resistlessly in the assault of April 1.
At the angle they were joined by the cavalry,
when together they drove everything before
them and the day was won. It is an inspiring
spot, and one can in fancy hear the cheers of
victory resoundng through these woodland
shades as he sees those waving lines of blue
rushing forward in pursuit of the foe. No
holiday task did these men have in reaching
the rebel lines, before which the woods very
dense, aud tho wonder is not so much that the
troops did not exactly carry out orders for the
attack that they were able to accomplish so
much under such great difficulties.-B, Boston.