Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 11.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[641] Hatcher's run. to take position with his right resting on Hatcher's run, and his left extending to the Quaker road. Major-General Warren, commanding Fifth corps, was directed at first to take position at the intersection of the Vaughan and Quaker roads, and subsequently, about noon of the twenty-ninth, he was ordered to move up the Quaker road beyond Gravelly run.

These orders were duly executed, and by evening Major-General Humphreys was in position, his right resting near Dabney's mill, and his left near Gravelly meeting-house, on the Quaker road. In taking this position Major-General Humphreys encountered but little opposition, meeting only a small force in a line of rifle-pits, who were quickly driven out. Major-General Warren was delayed in his movement by having to rebuild the bridge over Gravelly run. The advance of his column, Brigadier-General Griffin's division, was attacked about four P. M., when about a mile and a half beyond Gravelly run, by Bushrod Johnson's division. A spirited engagement ensued, in which Griffin handsomely repulsed and drove the enemy, capturing over one hundred prisoners.

On the thirtieth, Major-General Humphreys again advanced, driving the enemy into his main line of works, and by night occupying a line from the Crow house, on Hatcher's run, to the intersection of the Dabney's mill and Boydton plank-roads.

Major-General Warren during this day advanced on the Quaker road to its intersection with the Boydton plank, and pushed Ayres' division in a north-westerly direction over the White Oak road. No fighting of any consequence occurred this day except picket skirmishing and exchange of artillery shots from the respective lines, now close to each other.

During the night of the thirtieth, Major-General Humphreys, who had intrenched his line, was directed to relieve Griffin's division, Fifth corps, by Miles' division, and Major-General Warren was ordered to move both Crawford and Griffin within supporting distance of Ayres, whose position on the extreme left was considered likely to invite attack.

On the thirty-first, about ten A. M., Ayres, under General Warren's orders, advanced to dislodge the enemy in position on the White Oak road. Ayres' attack was unsuccessful, and was followed by such a vigorous attack of the enemy that Ayres was compelled to fall back upon Crawford, who, in turn, was so strongly pressed by the enemy as to force both divisions back in considerable disorder to the position occupied by Griffin, when the pursuit of the enemy ceased. Immediately on ascertaining the condition of affairs, Major-General Humphreys was ordered to move to Warren's support, and that officer promptly sent Miles' division to attack in flank the force operating against Warren.

This movement was handsomely executed by Miles, who, attacking the enemy vigorously, drove him back to his former position on the White Oak road, capturing several colors and many prisoners.

In the mean time Warren advanced with Griffin's division, supported by such portions of Ayres' and Crawford's divisions as could be rallied, and regaining the position held by Ayres in the morning, Griffin attacked with Chamberlain's brigade, driving the enemy and securing a lodgement on the White Oak road.

These operations over, hearing heavy firing to the left and rear, which was presumed to be the cavalry moving up from Dinwiddie Court-house, Warren was directed to send a brigade down the White Oak road to cooperate with the cavalry. This brigade by night reached the crossing of Gravelly run, by the road leading through J. Boisseau's, where, not meeting any enemy, it bivouacked.

During the night, having been directed to send support to Major-General Sheridan at Dinwiddie Court-house, Major-General Warren was ordered to move with his whole corps, two divisions by the White Oak road and one by the Boydton plank-road. Major-General Humphreys was ordered to extend his left as far as practicable, consistent with its security.

During the foregoing operations, the Sixth and Ninth corps remained in the lines in front of Petersburg, with orders to watch the enemy closely, and, in the event of the lines in their front being weakened, to attack.

On April first, after consultation with the Lieutenant-General commanding, believing from the operations on his right that the enemy's lines on his left must be thinly held, orders were sent to Major-Generals Wright and Parke to attack the next morning at four. About seven P. M., intelligence having been received of the brilliant success of the cavalry and Fifth corps at Five Forks, orders were sent to Generals Parke and Wright to open their batteries and press the enemy's picket line. At the same time, Miles' division, Second corps, was detached to the support of Major-General Sheridan, and Major-General Humphreys advised of the intended attacks of the Twenty-fourth, Sixth, and Fifth corps, and directed to hold his two remaining divisions ready to cooperate in the same, should they prove successful.

On the second of April, Major-General Wright attacked at four A. M., carrying everything before him, taking possession of the enemy's strong line of works, and capturing many guns and prisoners. After carrying the enemy's line in his front, and reaching the Boydton plank-road, Major-General Wright turned to his left, and swept down the enemy's line of intrenchments till near Hatcher's run, where, meeting the head of the Twenty-fourth corps, General Wright retraced his steps and advanced on the Boydton plank-road toward Petersburg, encountering the enemy in an inner line of works immediately around the city. Major-General