The National tribune., 1904-07-28


tions at Last Clears Out This Va ley
Humiliation for tie Union Army-The Bat
ties Of Opequan. Fishers Hill and Ceda-
Creek-The Army of the Potomac in Winte.
Quarters Before Petersburg.
From this time forward the operations
in front Of Petersburg. and Richmond.
until the Spring campaign If 1StII. wrr,
mainly confined To the defense and eXtcn
sion OF the lines. which were pushed west
ward aS far as IIaichcrs Run. The eN-
tension Of the lines was preceded hy Il new
movement to the left. which was very sim
liar. III its general aspects 10 that above
recounted. This operation had the sam,
object az the October movement. whicl.
was to turn the enemy right and SEIZE
the SouthSide Railroad 1t was under
taken by the Fifth Corps. tile Second
Corps, now under Gen. Humphreys. .t3l!
and Gresg's division of Cavalry. and il
execution was begun on the 9th of Fehru-
AIRY. For several days preceding that date
a heavy bombardment was kept up from
all the batteries before Petersburg. for
the purpose of engaging the enemys at
tention. The desi Gnated troops then moved
Out-(ireyg's Division taking the advance
by the Jerusalem plankroad to Reams
Station. and masking the movements Of
the infantry. The plan Of operations CON
templated that the Second Corps should
move directly on the right of the Confed-
crate intrenched line at Hatchers Run.
while the Fifth marched around its right.
From Reams Station the cavalry
moved westward carried the crossing of
Rowanty Creek after Il brisk skirmish.
and marched rapidly on Dinwiddie Court
House. The Fifth Corps also passed TO
the west side of the creek and moved Oh
its appointed route. Meantime Humph
reys. with the Second and Third Divisions
of tine Second Corps. marched down the
Vaughan road to where il crosses Hatch
rr-- tn Intr prlcft-
merits on the opposite bank were not
strongly manned: the stream was, how
ever. 50 obstructed that the cavalry were
driven back i'll an attempt to cross 1t; but
DE Trobriand's Brigade easily carried
the passage with skirmish line. Before
reaching Uatcher's Run, Humphreys's
Second Division under Gen. Smythe was
turned abruptly to the right on q path
leading northeasterly towards Armstrong;
Mill. Advancing about three-fourths of
mile. the enemy was found intrenched in
strong force, and nothing was done save TO
form connection between the two divisions
of the Second Corps. In the afternoon the
Confederates made a furious assault on
Smythe's position, endeavoring to turn his
right flank. This attempt was frustrated
by the tirmness of his troops, aided by
McAllisterS Brigade of Motifs Division,
maintained their ground with the utmost
stubbornness and repulsed repeated at
tacks that were continued till dark.
Next day the Fifth Corps. which had
moved up the west bank of Hatchers :
Run. was brought into connection with the
Second Corps: and Gregss cavalry.
which. had. meanwhile, returned from
Dinwiddie, took position to cover the left
of the infantry. Warren then threw for
ward his left under Crawford. towards
the Boydton plankroad. That officer adj
vanced as far as Dabney's. whence he
L
Pegram- But the Confederates. having
meanwhile found ont where the exposed
flank of this turnin: column lay. put in
practice the usual and always successful
tactics. \ considerable force was sent by
detour by the Vaughan road 10 take
Crawford's Division in the rear and cur
off his retreat. Willie at the same time
they opened an attack i'll front. The flank
ing force first fell upon Gre@g's cavalry.
which was driven back 10 Hatchcr'S
Run. Such movement on the part Of
the enemy had been anficipated and 10
strengthen Crawford. AyreSs Division
was ordered up 10 his support. But while
moving in column that division was at
tackled and driven back. and then Craw-
fOrd's Division was rcpulSed in confusion
and with heavy loss. Wheaton's Division
of the Sixth Corps. which had also been
sent forward 10 reinforce the left. only
arrived in time 10 take part in the general
discontinue. The line Of retreat was to-
wards the position held bv the Second
Corps on Iiatchrr's Run. The Confetlcr-
ates. elated with their easy victory, fol
lowed up vigorously and dashed out into
an open space in front Of that corps.
Here. however, they We're met by a sharp
fire from 1lumphreyss troops, who had
intrenched themselves and the enemy
cnasing the attack. hastily retired. The
Union loss in these operations was about
1000. Of which the larger part fell on
f.. In Il.
is stated TO have been near 800. and IL
cluded Gen. John Pcsram, who was
killed
Tile action Of the 9Th put an end to tie
contemplated advance towards the South
side Railroad. and The only reSul. gained
was 70 prolong the left Of the Union line
westward to Hatcher's Run.
WARREN on THE WELDON ROAD.
After the action OF February, Winter
operations were confined 10 expeditions
for the purpose of Gripping the Confcd-
crate lines of supply. OF these operations,
:. the most important and extensive was
that made by Gen. Warren for the com
plete destruction Of the Weldon Railroad.
This road. though the Union lines were
long ago planted across il, was still Of
considerable service to the COnfederateS
who were able to use il up TO within a
few miles of the Union position, and from
the point OF Stoppage supplies were hauled
by wagon. Warron's expedition was 10
completely break up this line for a dis
tance of - miles southwark. The force
consisted of the Fifth Corps, Motifs Di
vision of the Second Corps, and Gregg's
Mounted Division. Setting out on the 7tf
of December. with four days ratons. the
troops moved southwark. and that night
reached Nottoway. The railroad bridg,
over this stream was destroyed by Gen
Gregg. Next day the march was renewed
TO Jewetts Station to which point tn,
railroad-frack was torn up from the Not
toway. The work of destruction was re
sumed early on the morning of the 9th
by forming line of battle on the railroad
each division destroying all of its front
and then moving to the left alternately
A force of the enemy was encountered
but was driven by Gregg across the Me
herrin River. At Hicksford. on the soutl
side OF this stream. the Confederates haG
three forts or batteries armed with artil