Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-22

ton and giving assurance that he would hold on
at Dinwiddie to the last. Sheridan prepared for
the morrow.
Meanwhile Gen. Warren had also had some
hot work with the enemy, now directed nlong
that front By Gen X. E. Lee in person. Tho
advance Of Warren and Humphreys was alarm
ing and they must be stopped at all hazards.
The confederates attacked Ayres' division with
the greatest vigor, driving it back on the 9TH
ers behind a branch of Gravelly run. But the
enemy were struck in flank by somo Of Hum
phreys' troops and in turn fell back into their
intrenchments. Warren advanced again at
ESQ p. m, effecting q Judgment on the White
Oak road. His losses in these affairs were quito
heavy, 406 killed, wounded and missing. But
he had established himself we'll west on the
White Oak road, within two miles OF Picketts
rear, and hearing SherIdan's battle had sent
Gen. Bartlett's brigade to his assistance by o
cross road to the southwest.
THE ENEMY OUTSIDE OF HIS roRrIFIcArIoNs.
What Gen. Grant had long desired had now
come to pass-a portion of Lees army was out
side its Notifications and within striking dis
lance. That night Warren proposed that he
move out and attack in flank the enemy hold
ing in front OF Sheridan. Both Meade and
Grant saw their opportunity and he was
promptly directed to do 80. To Sheridan word
was sent that q division of Warren's was march
ing to him that night and the two others would
north. Gen. Mackenzie's cavalry was sent to
Sheridan.
Warren sent Ayres' division via the Boydtown
road toward Sheridan and prepared to move on
Pickett's rear with Crawford and Griffin, but it
appears to be q fact that at this juncture he
was wanting in energy. a: a. m. of April l
Sheridan, waiting with Impotence, sent him
intelligence Of the situation, urging an attack
on Pickett at daylight. Expecting this to be
done, Sheridan on his own part advanced the
cavalry against the confederates promptly ut
that hour. Warren here had splendid oppor-
tunity to strike Pickett fatal blow
if he had been inspired with
the energy and nerve Of Sheridan.
But he was timid about his TANKS;
he always wanted to know what was going on
about his right and left. He had not moved as
rapidly as he ought with Griffin and Crawford,
and Pickett, apprised of his presence, early
that morning easily escaped past him up the
road to Five Forks. 1t was undeniably Warren
who caused Pickett to withdraw SO rapidly from
Sheridans front when the cavalry advanced.
sheridan now determined to attack the
enemy at Five Forks; Merritts cavalry to feint
against the enemy's right (wesD flank and also
attack his intrenchments from the south when
the proper time arrived square in front; War
ren's infantry was to advance from the south
against the angle of Picketts refused left (east)
flank on the White Oak road, with q left swing
to get into rear: Warrens right, as 1t swung
from any surprise from the direction Of Peters
burg. The plan was not only to defeat but to
destro Pickett, or isolate him entirely from
Lee and drive him 10 the westward. 1t re-
suited partially in both.
Warren understood the plan thoroughly. he
and Sheridan going over it together. Diagrams
were also made and given to the division COM
manders. Gen. Sheridan much chafed,
however, by what he regarded as tho unreason-
able tardness of Warren's preparations. When
the advance made at p. m. il transpired
that the enemy's. position he was to attack was
not where Sheridan had represented it to be to
Warren. Warren's troops moved forward in
g,od order, Ayres on the left, Crawford on the
right, in line of battle. with Griffin behind
Crawford Long before Ayres reached the point
where Griffin was supposed to be he received a
flank fire from the west, where the angle to the
north of the rebel intrenchments actually was
end nearly half q mile from the point of its
location by Sheridan. Ayres promptly changed
| front from the north and attacked vigorously
toward the left and west what turned out to be
the return Of the encmy's works. He carried
their line speedily, capturing many prisoners
and battle flags.
Griffin soon pushed in on the confederates
above Ayres, working southwark, and Craw-
ford had swung around west to the Ford road
| cutting Pickett's direct line of retreat on
Petersburg. exactly rs Sheridan had planned
| Warren found Crawford on this road facing
! west. Changing direction to the south, Craw-
: ford now advanced square against the rebe
right rear. Met by a sharp fire from some
| works west of the Ford road and south Of the