The Washington herald., 1915-04-04


the enemy's position and getting into
position to strike him to advantage.
The delays in getting ready to
strike had caused Sheridan much
anxiety. He feared the day would be
gone before the blow could be deliv-
cred. and that by the time all was
ready the cavalry would have ex-
pended all their ammunition. To a
STAN oficer who saw him late in the
afternoon he seemed like "a Gagged
tiger"
The chief cause Of Gen. sheridan's
impatience was the time taken by the
Fifth Corps in getting into position.
1t seemed to him that Gen. Warren
was not handling the corps with as
much energy as the occasion de-
manded.
"They'Il Get Away"
The principal road running through
Five Forks Is the east and west high
This was the route from Lees works,
which were four miles away. Behind
this road the Confederates had thrown
up line Of intrenchments about q
mile and a half long, and behind these
they retired shortly after noon.
Sheridan's plan OF battle was to
press up to this line, make a feint Of
turning the enemy's right with cavalry
and to strike his left with infantry
and cut him OF from Lees army.
Gen. Sheridan's cavalry. dismounted.
pressed forward in extended order In
the pine woods and fields in front Of
eral position. on a road bisecting the
White Oak road. were placed the three
Of Warren's Corps.
When, about 4 o'clock. the word for
the attack was given, the cavalry
moved forward. foot by foot, in a long.
irregular line. while the three divi-
sions Of the Fifth Corps were moved
forward through small clearings and
woods to strike the left (east) end of
the enemy's line. The division Of Gen.
Romeyn B. Ayres was on the left. that
Of Gen. Samuel w. Crawford on the
right. and that OF Gen. Charles Griffin
behind Crawford.
Gen. Sheridan expected Ayres' and
Crawford's divisions to strike the end
Of the enemys line, where the works
turned back at sharp angle. His
plan miscarried. however, 1t being
claimed later by Gen. Sheridan that
Gen. Warren did not form his troops
as ordered.
Gen. Ayres' division. the smallest of
the three, struck the works, the others
gong past them-
Frem the angle came a fire which
checked Ayres' troops. They began to
waver. At this instant Sheridan. ac-
cording to Col. Horace Porter OF Grants
staff. who was with him on the field.
put spurs to his horse and dashed along
the line Of battle from left to right,
words Of encouragement to
every regiment.
Come on. men," he cried. "go at 'em
with will. Move on at the clean jump
or you'll not catch half Of them. In five
minutes they'll every one get away from
you."
sheridan Leads . Charge.
The line moved on. The fire from the
angle grew heavier. Tho division changed
front to meet it. Men fell, and the line
again wavered. Then Sheridan furiously
rode his black charger "Rienzi." the
horse that had carried him in the famous
ride from Winchester, into the broken
ines. seized his white and crimson bat
lie standard. and waving 1t above his
head. cheered on the fighting ranks.
The effect was electrical In a storm ;
IF bullets that sent men to the ground
all about him. Sheridan. waving tho
Tag. "entreating. threatening. praying.
swearing" in the words Of Col. Porter.
'teadied the line, which soon went on.
,allantly led by Gen. Ayres.
With q rush it carried the works be-
ore it. though not without heavy loss.
N the midst Of tho rush was Sheridan, |
jumping his black charger over the
works. and landing in the midst Of a
yroup OF bewildered and detected Con- |
ederats prisoners.
Put down your guns" he told them. |
You'll not need them any more" and |
q xaA fn n
Over the works with Ayres had gone |
he cavalry to the left. Gen. Thomas c. |
0evins' division and beyond that q part |
Il Clusters. Sweeping down the rear of
he enemy's line the Federals cleared 1t !
rear Five Forks. taking many prisoners. |
BY this time Gen. Pickett was on the |
leld. seeking to repair the damage on |
lis left flank. and to hold the rest Of his |
inc against Sheridan's dismounted cav
Try. The cavalrymen, armed with re-
'eating carbines. pressed up close to the |
works and maintained Q steady fire. On |
he Federal left two Of Clusters brigades, |
mounted, made q charge on the works, |
'ut were beaten of. in a brilliant en-
counter. by Genh ". II. F. Lees COM
nand.
Pickett Covers Retreat.
Meanwhile the two divisions of the
1fth Corps Whlch n1Q ulSSeu tne enQ OF
he enemy's line. through the leading /
vision. Gen. Crawford's, having swerv-
d slightly to the right, marched north
yard through den e woods and then west
,ard. paralleiing the Confederate works,
housh fully half a mile behind them.
Owing to the nature of the country
me was lost in directing the march Of
hese two divisions toward the enemy's
ear. Gen. Warren rode in person to
nd them and did what he could to bring
hem into action.
Gen. Pickett, seeing the danger that be-
ct him in this direction, formed a new
ne at right angles to the old. which he
ontinued for some time to hold on his
enter and right. He thus saved his
ommand from complete disaster. As with
his line he managed by severe fighting
, hold of the Federal infantry while
part Of his own men, cavalry and in
antry, escaped through woods and fields
orthward to Sutherland Station on the
outh Side Railroad, leading into Peters
urE.
Darkness put an end to the fighting and
revented pursuit.
The Federal losses for the day in killed
nd wounded were confined chiefly to the
fifth Corps. which reported GA killed.
ounded and missing. The cavalry
uses were not separately reported.
he Confederate casualties must have
1uallsd the Federal
JEFFERSON DAVIS STARTS