The National tribune., 1904-08-11

rushing to the menaced right with the
view of checking-if possible, of beating
back-the turning column.
LEE UNAWARE OF GRANTS WEAKENED
LINES.
At this time two divisions of Long
streets Corps guarded the lines Of Rich
mOnd, and Mahone's Division of Hill 8
Corps the front of Bermuda Hundred.
These Lee did not dare to weaken, for,
not so well informed as usual, he was not
master of all the bearings of the Union
Grant had already removed three Of the
four divisions that had been confronting
| the Richmond force, Lee retained Long
street where he was, but instructed his
lieutenant to move to the Petersburg side
as soon as he should detect any weakening
of the adverse lines. (Not till four days
afterwards, and when too late, did Long
street detect how feeble was the force op-
posed to him. On the Petersburg side
were the divisions of Wilcox, Pickett
Bnshrod Johnson, and the remnant of
Ewefs Corps, now under Gordon. TAX
| ing from these corps all he dared-two di-
visions and three brigades-he assembled
force of about 5000, and with this he
hurried to the protection of his menaced
right. He left behind him 6OOO or 1000
men in the Petersburg intrenchments; but
as these were strung out to garnish nine
miles of breastwork, they made little more
| than sentinels. To the force set foot-free
Lee added Fitz Lees Division of Cav
airy, and during the night moved TO the
! right to take position within the lines in
front of which the two Federal corps had
been arrested by the darkness.
WEATHER SAVED LEE ON MARCH 30.
The morning of Thursday, the Both, saw
the Union force in position, ready to
strike Lee was yet poorly prepared to
withstand blow, though all night long
his troops had been filing to the right.
But in this situation fortune intervened in
his behalf, and Grant, who ''felt like max
ing an end of it," found himself embar-
coed by adverse weather just when all
was ready for the stroke. During the
night of the Goth heavy storm of rain
fell. and this continued without cessation
during the 3Oth so that the roads became
almost impracticable for wheels or hoofs.
the swampy country in which the army
was operating was flooded, heavy details
had to be sent to assist the trains, which
were nearly immovable in the mud, and
all aggressive action had to be suspended.
Yet Lees infantry could tramp through
the mire when wheeled vehicles might not
move, and the days delay permitted the
Confederate commander to complete his
dispositions.
Nothing was done on the Union side
save to push up the corps of Humphreys
and Warren close in front fof the Confed-
crate line on the White Oak road and
Hatcher's Run: Sheridan, indeed, dis
patched body OF his cavalry towards Five
Forks, but the Confederates were found
there in numbers too strong to be dis
lodged by the force sent forward. 1t there
fore returned to Dinwiddie H)
Friday. the 31st, saw the ground still so
N f1 hI1 IN Y1anv fhaf ooft
erations were formally pretermitted by
Gen. Grant. But while the Union COM
mander thus proposed, his opponent willed
otherwise. 1t now remains to show how.
by the initiative of the Confederate com
mander, action was precipi1ated: how, ag-
gressive to the last, he sought to repeat
the bold stroke whereby he had foied so
many previous turning attempts. But,
first of all, it is needfnl to describe the
precise position Of Warren's Corps, which
held the left of the Union line, and certain
changes in its disposition that had that
morning taken place. Though these
| changes had not. as has been supposed
any important bearing on Lees action
| (Which had been predetermined). they are
| nevertheless necessary to the just appre.
| citation Of what followed.
wARREN's PREPARATIONS.
| During the Both Warren had held posi-
ton, with the divisions of Griffin and
Crawford, on the Boydton plankroad
only the division of Ayres being thrown
forward to the west OF it. But at day
light Of the 31st. his right division under
Griffin, was relieved by the division OF
Miles, of the Second Corps, SO as to per.
NIT greater development to the left
Warren then moved his entire corps to the
westward Of the Boydton plankroad. and
pushed it forward so that its pressure was
directly upon the extreme right of the Con
| 4. The following extracts. from the re.
ports of Gems. Warren. Humphreys. and