The National tribune., 1904-08-18
THE WORKS AROUND PETERSBURG.

to face westward instead of northward
The Fifth Corps was now directly On the
left flank and rear of the Confederates
with line of battle formed perpendicular
to their position. The enemy had, how
ever, refused his left in a crotchet about
100 yards in length turned northward at
| right angles to his main line, and covered
by strong breastwork screened behind a
dense underground of pines. Thence
northward to Hatcher's Run, the Confed-
crates pieced out the line by a slim picket
Ayres's Division being the pivot on which
CrawfOrd's and Grifin's wheeled, effected
its change of front first, and encountered
the enemy's skirmishers in front of the
position at the crotchet. That division
covered nearly the whole of this refused
line, SO that Crawford and Ayres out
! fanked it to the north. Or nearly So:
Crawfords Division, indeed, in changing
front, having occasion to pass over some
line fire which caused the division to
oblique to the right, 80 as to keep the pro-
lection of the woods and ridge while exc
cutting the manuver. Now, owing to this
circumstance-to wit, that Crawfords Di-
vision on the right Of Ayres, having to
manuver on a more extended radius and
being also thrown more to the right to
change front so rapidly-it came about
| that Ayres's right was for a time 'in
air." and as it received the same fire that
Crawford's left had encountered, the
troops on that flank became very unsteady,
and many broke to the rear. This diff
| Guilty, however, was soon remedied. Grif-
| fms Division was drawn in towards the
left to close up this interval, and Ayres' g
| Division assailing the enemys intrenched
crotchet, carried it by an impetuous charge,
in which above ], 600 prisoners and several
| battlefags were taken. Griffin then fell
upon the rear of the enemy's left, captur-
ing the breastworks and 800 prisoners.
At the same time Crawford. who was
moving further to the right. advanced
back the skirmishers all the way, and con.
| tinually turning the left Of any force Op-
posing Ayres and Griffin, till he attained
| the Ford road, which runs directly north
ward from the center of the Confederate
rear, and thence across Hatcher's Run.
The outlet for the enemy's escape north
| ward being thus closed, Warren directed
Crawford's line to swing round to face
southwark and advance upon the reverse
side of the enemy's line.
ATTACKED FROM BOTH SIDES
The Confederates were now completely
entrapped. Held as in wise by the cav
airy which enveloped their whole front
and right, stung them with a biting fire
and charged at the signal of the musketry
OF the infantry, they now found line OF
battle sweeping down OH their rear. Thus
placed, they did all that men may. Form
ing front both north and south. they me,
with n desperate valor this double onset
But it was vain. From the rear Warren
swept down towards the White Oak road
Crawford taking four guns: and stimuli
taneously the cavalry from the front
charged upon this road with resistless i'm
petuosity. The whole center was now car
ried, rs the left had been before, and the
Confederates. pressed front, flank, and
rear, mostly threw down their arms. Hav
ing gained the White Oak road, Warren
changed front again to the right and ad
vanced westward, thus constantly taking
in flank and rear whatever hostile force
still continued to hold the right of the
Confederate line. This had originally
been about three miles in extent, but above
} two-thirds Of it were now carried. Yet