Benson J. Lossing, Pictorial Field Book of the Civil War. Volume 3.

[543]

the shout of victory at the five Forks had scarcely died away on the evening of the day of battle, when, by Grant's orders, the National guns in position before Petersburg were all opened on the Confederate lines, from right to left, from the Appomattox to Hatcher's Run. Sheridan, at the close of the battle, had ordered Griffin, then in command of the Fifth Corps, to impel two divisions in the direction of Petersburg, to reopen communication with the rest of the Army, while Griffin's own division, now commanded by General Bartlett, was directed to push northward up the Ford road to Hatcher's Run, supported by McKenzie's cavalry. Wright, Parke, and Ord, holding the intrenchments in front of Petersburg, were ordered to follow up the bombardment by an assault the next morning. Apprehensive that Lee might withdraw his troops from the intrenchments during the night, and fall upon Sheridan in heavy force, in his isolated position, Grant ordered miles's division of the Second Corps to his support.

the cannonade at Petersburg was kept up until four o'clock in the morning.

April 2, 1865.

the assault began at daybreak. Parke, with the Ninth Corps, carried the outer line of the Confederate works on his front, but was checked at an inner line. Wright, with the Sixth Corps, supported by two divisions of Ord's command, assaulted the works on their front at about the same hour, and speedily drove every thing before him to the Boydton plank road, where he turned to the left toward Hatcher's Run, and, pressing vigorously along the rear of the Confederate intrenchments, captured several thousand men and many guns. In the mean time, Ord's other division had broken the Confederate line on Hatcher's Run, when the combined forces swung round to the right, and pushed up the Boydton road, toward Petersburg, from the southwest.

when the triumphs were known, Humphreys, holding the Union left to the westward of Hatcher's Run, advanced with the divisions of Hays and Mott, and stormed and captured a redoubt on his front. The Confederates retired, and the two divisions moved up the Boydton road, and took position on the left of the Sixth Corps. Miles, in the mean time, had joined Sheridan, by whom he was directed to push toward Petersburg by the White Oak road, and attack the remains of the Confederate Army west of Hatcher's Run, gathered at the intersection of the Claiborne road. Sheridan followed with the divisions of Bartlett and Crawford, of the Fifth. Miles carried the Point designated, drove the Confederates across Hatcher's Run, and pursued them sharply to Sutherland's Station on the South side railroad, well up toward Petersburg. When about to attack them there, Humphreys reclaimed miles's division, when Sheridan returned to the five Forks, and then, with the Fifth Corps, took a route across the South side railway at Ford's and Wilson's stations, to strike the Confederates at Sutherland's, in the rear. Miles, by Humphreys's order, had, meanwhile, attacked and routed the foe, capturing two guns and six hundred men. And so it was, that on the 2d of April,

1865.

the South side railway was First struck at three points and the long coveted triumph in cutting that very important line of Lee's communications, was achieved. At about the same time the Confederate lines at the South of Petersburg were assaulted by Gibbon's division of Ord's command, and Forts Gregg and Alexander--two strong redoubts — were carried, by which the defenses of the City were much weakened, and the besieging