The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-08-21
THE WAR DAY BY DAY
Fifty Years Ago.

Fifty years ago today, Gen. g. X. War
ren's Corps (the Fifth Crafts army,
after four days of furious fighting, made
good its hold on the Weldon Railroad.
south Of Petersburg, thereby breaking
one OF Gen. Lees most important lines
Of supply.
The operations which terminated in
Warren's securing q firm hold on this
road were among the most trying TO
which Grants army had been subjected
since arriving before Petersburg June Is
49,. They embraced a simultaneous move
ment, by Gen. Warren on the left and
Gen. Hancock on the right, against both
TANKS Of Gen. Lees lines, at points fully
twenty miles aoart.
While Hancock was making feint
against Richmond. north OF the James,
to draw the bulk Of Lees forces away
from Petersburg. Warren was striking a
decisive blow at the Weldon Road and
performing service which was to re-es-
tablish him In Grants esteem. At vari-
Gus times in the Virginia campaign Grant
had felt that Warren was inexcusably
slow in carrying out his orders. His bril-
liant work on the Weldon Road gave
Grant an opportunity to show Gen. War
rem that he was as quick to commend as
to censure, and he handsomely praised
Warren and his men.
Grants generalship in striking Lee at
points twenty miles apart for the pur-
pose of seizing the Weldon Road was
flawlass II might be said that on this
occasion he commanded the movements
OF both armies
His deeper object Of preventing Gen.
Lee from sending re-enforcements to Gen.
Early's army In the Shenandoah Valley,
was also accomplished. while his process
Of wearing down the enemy by mere
attrition" was employed to the full He
estimated that Lees losses in the opera
lions on both ends Of his line, between
July II, when Hancock attacked north
OF the James. and July p. when the
fighting in the movement TO the Weldon
Road ceased, at 1000 men in killed,
wounded, and prisoners. This doubtless
was above the mark; but in these opera
lions the losses Of the Confederates
were fully as great as those OF the Fed
erals, which were about 1000 men.
seizure of Railroad.
When Gen. warren's movement began
the Federal lines ended on the left, or
west, three miles from the Weldon Rail-
road. Lee was in undIsputed possession
OF the road, the main line southwark
through North Carolina.
Warren put his corps in motion at day
light, August IS and marching rapidly
10 the railroad, struck it at Globe Tavern.
about four miles south of Petersburg
Only a small command of cavalry. under
Gen. James bearing. held the road at
this point. The bulk Of Lees infantry
had been sent across the James to meet
Hancock, only enough being left at
Petersburg TO hold the works.
bearing was quickly brushed aside. and
Warren's infantry began extending up
and down the railroad. tearing up the
tracks as they advanced. The day was
Oppressively facilitating and hot. A rain
fell that TO the soldiers seemed like hot
water The few roads traversing the
wooded country on either side OF the
railroad were deep in mud. The railroad
line itself was the best means OF travel
While the division OF Gen. Charles
Griffin destroyed the rails the divisions
OF Gen r. b. Ayres and Gen S. w.
Crawford were pushed up the line toward
Petersburg. At a highway crossing known
as Naughans road they encountered a
force Of two brigades under Gen Henry
Heth-the same whose troops opened the
battle of Gettysburg for Gen. Lee-hurry-
ing down from Petersburg to defend the
railroad.
Gen. Heth had the advantage Of know