The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-07-16

And Other Events Of the Last
Days OF the Con
fcderacy.
THE APP0MATTOX sURREN DER
Graphically Told BY Lieutenant
Colonel Robert Nj. Stribling,
Of Virginia Artillery.

or NlISlIlld IhlIilSl :. srga4tE
Colonel Robert Er. Striking, who Was
CAPTAIN Of the Fauduier Artillery,
more commonly called after him STRIP
linr's Battery and who became the dis
t;nruished commander Of battalion Of
artillery, is we'll known MS one OF the
most intelligent and gallant officers or
the Army Of Northern Virginia. He is
also a student of military science ana
has written many able articles OH mills
tary matters, displaying fine ability as
an historian, and also striking and origi-
nal views as a critic. Is
1t will be pleasing to his many friends
to know that he has composed military
work, which will soon be published. re-
lating to the history OF the Army Of
Northern Virginia. No ono who knows
him can doubt but that IT will be Of
great value and an Instructive contrih,i-
ton to the history or that immortal
army, In which he was II brave, able and
faithful officer.
The enclosed article on Five Forks Is
from his pen. 1t is composed by REFER
ence 10 the record, which Is the primary
and best of all sources OF information. ~
study Of that record will disrcl many
illusions produced 10y hasty and erroneous
publications, and II has been closely
studied by Colonel Strlbling
JOHN w. DANIEL.
IA a,,jp NJ rui n1
his cavalry corps at Dlnwidd.e Courthouse
after some skirmishing, on the 3lst
of March moved against General Fitz
Lee. who had assembled the Confederate
cavalry corps Mt Five Forks, from four
to five miles west of Bur1ess's Mill. F'itz
Lee had called for some infantry to equal
ize, as far as possible, his strength with
that OF Sheridan. Pickctt's division was
sent to him that morning. These two
commands, then, drove Sheridan back In
confusion to Dinwtddie Courthouse. On
the same day (3lst Of May Warren adj
vanced his corps from the neighborhood
of Armstrong; Mill towards Five Forks;
so that when the engagement between
Sheridan and Iitz Leo closed for the
night Warren's corps was on Fitz Lees
flank and almost in his rear. Pickett
and Fitz Lee, percelvlng the conditions
fell back at light the next morning Npril
1st), and arranged their commands In line
of battle at, Five Forks. with Pioketts
division in llne, Munford covering its
left flank, w. III, r. Leo It's right flank
and Rosscr in reserve on the other side
of Eatchers Run. Between this limo
and the fortified line Mt Burgcss's Mil.
held by Lieutenant-Genernl r. Fl. Andcr-
son, with Johnson's division, was gap
of several miles In Width only picketud
by Roberts's small command,
Sheridan, reinforced by Warren with
his corps, that had been placed under
bis command, advanced, ana by T. NJ.
had uncovered Fltz Lees line. Having
ascertained the extent Of tho lnc War
rem was directed to move around It's left
flank, between 1t and Durgcsss Mill. ana
thus to completely sever 1t from tho body
OF the army, and cut off It's retreat
or any reinforccments to It; and then
he was to press In upon It, whilst tho
cavalry, dsmounted, engaged Pickett's
attention In front.
WARREN's ADVANCE.
In the advance OH the flank Warren
vas encountered only by Munford. with
his two small brigades OF cavalry that
he drove back until lie had room to de-
ploy in line unon the flank and rear
OF Pickett's division. lie then quickly
moved upon II, doubled 1t up, and drove
it from the field In tho utmost confusion
towards the west, and captured tho great
er part of the artillery and many prts-
oners Warren then arranged his corps
so ms to preclude tho possibility OF those
forces rcuniting with the body Of the
army, 1t had happened that Fitz Lee,
during the day. notified Lieutenant Cen
eral II. II. Anderson, who was ut Bur-
sess's MIL with JohnsOns divt,ion, that
the Firth Corps was with Sheridan, and
that Sheridan, now with overwhelming
force. was pressing upon him. Anderson,
in person, with Wise's and Gracos br-
gadcs moved to his relief, hut as Warren
had already crossed the White Oak road,
Tho direct line Of COMMUNICATION between
tho two places. and Humphreys (sce hi;
report had sent Afles's division around
or that road to confront the forces at
Hurgess's Mil, Anderson made circuit
around Miles and Warren, reached Tho
neIghborhood after Fit2 Lee and Pickett
had been routed and without affording
any assistance whatever, added those
brgades TO tho routed and dIsorgan2cd
2 und left the right wing Of Lees army
with almost no infantry and without any
cavalry,
WARREN SUCCESSFUL, BUT RE
IIEYED.
After the very successful operations Of
I this day. IN which Warren had played ~
important and conspicuous a part, ant
his corps had done tie wofs, that eve,
ming he received the following orders.
Fields Orders. No. ------.
Cavalry Headquarters, Arm I, 1885,
Major General Warren, commandint
Fifth Corps, is relieved from duty ant
Will report AZ once Tor orders to Lleuten