The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1905-02-16

Warren ana t.ceg.; lt.. 18th P,sse, -
beyond HUMPHREYS position. but Wa
OFT stifriIs Gp Il SEQ is. zoe -, q
eoe.,aande8 tIrncd aJoCt to join HuHi
pilreys. but Before re. cling the fe.,.
other re-cnforcc.Ie..,' ia co.-c "
from the main Federal lines at Peters-
burg, and G7e-g and Warren move
on ieyond Humphreys to threaten the
enemy right flank.
Finding that the march of Gregg ana
Warren in the new direction taken
meant disaster to the line confronting
Humphreys and ais) to his route of
supply. General Lee dispatched the di-
visions of Pegram and Evans TO avert
the danger. Warren's advance division
had a spirited fight ut Dabney's Mills.
This division. under General Crawford.
first encountered an intrenched picket
line of C0nfederateS. which was hand
somely carried by a charge of Bragg's
brigade. the pickets rctreating to Dab
ney's Mills. RallyinG, the Confcderutes
turned around and forced Bragg back.
compelling Warren to send in two
fresh brigadeS under General Ayres.
\ line consisting of Bragg's, Nor
rows and Bakers brigades moved
forward and again drove the Confeder-
ates back into a woods beyond Il small
cleared field. The fighting continued
until Warren's men had fred away all
their ammunition. General Morrow.
one of the heroes of Gettysburg, was
had pushed forward rapidly, marching
his troops by the flank through thick
underbrush to ridge where he sudden
ly encountered body of Confederate
cavalry. brushing the cavalry aside
and not halting to reform. Ayres
pushed forward and swept over the
Confederate intrenchmentS near the
mill.
Up to this point the two Confederate
divisions of Pegram and Evans had
alone battled with the Federal divi-
sions of Crawford and Ayres Warren
was getting the best of the affair." and
General Robert e. Lee. who was on
the field directing the operations.
brought out the division of General
Billy Malone to try to turn the tide
Malone led his men into an interval
between Evans and Pegram, and the
whole line rushed forward CALAMITY.
pouring n terrible rain of bullets into
the ranks of Ayres.
The Federals We're not to be outdone
in gallantry, but rushed forward in
turn, and the firing line swayed for
ward and back until the ammunition
of Warren's troops had all been fired
at the foe. The Confederates had field
guns in the fight, while Warren had
none. When night came on and War
rem saw no promise of aid he drew
back his line and reformed ready for
battle
During the fight General Gregg
brought up his cavalry on the flank.
but was unable TO make Roadway with
out the aid of the infantry Finally,
after the Confederate skirmishers had
been brushed aside, Gregg's troopers
advanced to the attack, but were
roughly handled in Il close fight with
Mahone's infantry and driven back,
the enemy at their heels A fresh bri-
gade sent in by Warren held up the
Confederate advance. The Confeder-
ate General Pegram was killed in this
last attack.
Although not brilliantly successful i'll
fighting for the destruction of Lees
bread line, both Warren and Hum
phreys held on, and the army was per-
manently established in new works
which extended the left flank of
Grants army nearer to the debatable
ground These lines were maintained
until the arrival in March from the
Shenandoah valley of Sheridan's
mounted column.
The weather was very severe during
this operation on the Confederate
flank, and in reporting to the war de-
partment at Richmond what action he
had taken to ward off the danger to his
lines of supply General Lee wrote:
Yesterday, the most inclement day of
the winter, they the troops had to be
retained in line of battle, having been
in the same condition the two previous
udS anu ulSulS. L TGSEeL 10 ne ODllHpi
to state that under these circum-
stances, heightened by assaults and
fire of the enemy, some of the men had
been without meat for three days, and
all were suffering from reduced ratiOne
and scant clothing, exposed to battle
cold, hail and sleet | have directed
Colonel Cole, chief commissary, who
reports that he has not a pound of
meat at his disposal to visit Richmond
and see if nothing can be DONE >
The physical strength of the men. if
their courage survives, must fail under
ihis treatment. Our cavalry has to be
dispersed for want of forage FitZ
Lees and LomaX's divisions are scat
tered because supplies cannot be trans
ported where their services are re-
quired. l had to bring w. +. Lees di-
vision forty miles Sunday night to get
him in position"
1t was a party of w. f. Lees cavalry
which suddenly rode against Ayrcs
column, as described above, during the
Uccessful attack on the intrenchments
hsar Dabney's Mill.
GEORGE l.. KILMER.