The Virginia in the Civil War Message Board

NY Times April 1, 1865

Details of the movement – – operations of the several Army Corps – – the fight on the Bardstown Road – – the rain storm – – condition of the roads

From our own correspondent Wednesday, March 29, 1865

This morning the army moved out from its entrenchments. General Grant came up from City point accompanied by his staff. They proceeded as far as Humphreys station, the extreme left of the old position, and then on horse back to a position on the Vaughan road about 3 miles this side of Dinwiddie courthouse, where headquarters was established. General Meade his headquarters in a field, near the Vaughan Road, about half a mile near the old line than those of General Grant.

The Second Corps

met with little opposition on its way out, the enemy’s skirmishers retired before it, firing very slowly. I heard of only three being wounded and one killed on our side. The killed was a lieutenant in the fifth Wisconsin. The enemy lost seven in killed and wounded, and four were captured till the hour I left the front

The Fifth Corps

likewise met with slight opposition. The enemy’s skirmishers fell back before it, without any serious attempt to check the advance. I did not hear of any casualties in the corps while on the march out. It captured some eight or 10 of the enemy’s pickets; and two forager’s belonging to General Shermans Army, who had been captured by the rebels, succeeded in escaping and getting through the lines. This corps took the position assigned bitch about 2 PM, and threw out a strong skirmish line, which connected with the left of the second Corps skirmishers. At 3 o’clock the enemy opened upon the two Corps at their junction, from a strong fort on the Boydtown plank Road. They were however, too far off to do any serious damage.

After advancing about half a mile beyond the one road in line of battle, the first division of that corps, General Griffin’s, formed into column and marched out the Quaker Road to its junction with the boytown Road. They reached this position about 5 o’clock in the afternoon, and found the enemy in pretty strong force. The latter retired slowly before them, abandoning their rifle pits and outer line of works, and took position on the edge of the wood, where they were screened from view. General Chamberlain’s brigade had the advance, and moved forward to the wood. When within a few yards, they found the rebels, securely posted behind a tolerably strong breastwork. They withheld their fire until our forces were almost upon them, and then opened with a murderous volley. The effect was to cause our line to waiver and fall back a short distance, but it is speedily rallied, and the second brigade, General Sickel, coming to its assistance, the rebel entrenchments were stormed and carried. This fight lasted about an hour and a half, and our loss was about 330, of which number about 40 were killed and the rest wounded. The rebel loss was about 250 in killed and wounded, and about 100 prisoners.

The enemy was finally driven from his works, and retired to another line beyond the Boydtown Road, and our troops of the first division followed up and took a position with the left, about 2 miles north of the road. The second division, general Ayres, moved out and connected with the right of the first, and one brigade of the third, General Crawford, formed the link between the right and (column ends) and the left of General Miles’ division of the second Corps. The line now formed an angle where the fifth and the second Corps joined, the latter facing nearly northwest and the former Northeast. In this shape they advanced slowly driving back the enemy’s skirmishers, and rendering the angle more obtuse, until darkness intervened and presented further movements. In the engagement above General Sickles was wounded in the thigh and General Chamberlain in the arm. Neither were seriously injured, although compelled to leave the field. A number of other officers of the fifth Corps were injured, and three were killed. But I have been unable to ascertain their names as yet.

The 24th Corps

One division of the 24th Corps went into line to fill a gap between the left of the 25th Corps and the right of the second, and advanced the skirmish line at the same time that the line of the second Corps was pushed forward. The corps did very little fighting. There was heavy cannonading on its front very late in the evening, but the casualties did not exceed 10 or 12. They captured six prisoners.

The 25th Corps

Two divisions of the corps, composed holy of colored troops, were placed in the front, between the left of the the sixth and right of the 24th. The left of the picket line was advanced slightly when the right of the 24th was move forward, but did no fighting at any point on the front.

The Sixth Corps

remained quietly in the works throughout the day, but at night sustained heavy picket firing on portions of its front, and in one place an attempt was made by the enemy to drive in the picket lines. In this they were unsuccessful and were themselves driven back.

The Ninth Corps

on this front the day was quiet, and the troops remained in their camps. At night the first division sustained a terrific bombardment which was promptly replied to by our cannoneers. To a spectator who could view the scene from a point where the shot of both sides could be seen, the site was truly ground. I do not think I exaggerate when I say that as many as 50 shells could be seen in the air at one time coming and going like so many shuttlecocks, between well handled battledores. Our loss was 5 killed and 18 wounded. Among the killed was major Brown of 18th New Hampshire. He was struck by a piece of shell. The rebel skirmishers also attacked the Ninth Corps picket line in three different places but were speedily repulsed with considerable loss to themselves.

The Artillery Corps

great credit is due to General Tidball and his subordinate officers for the efficient manner in which the artillery was handled. The pieces in the fort and in the field were handled alike with judgment and skill and must have inflicted severe damage to the enemy. In the bombardment, at night, our forts threw shell with great rapidity, and as far as we could see, with great efficiency. The fuses were so well timed that nearly every shell burst in the air apparently just above the enemies works or troops in line of battle.

At about midnight quiet was restored except the customary picket firing and the heavy clouds pour down perfect torrents of rain.

The Rain Storm

Thursday, March 30

The rain which commenced at midnight, continued until 4 PM today, and was so heavy that the roads soon became impossible for artillery and army wagons. This prevented an important movement, and the operations of the day were confined to skirmish firing between the picket lines in front of the fifth and second corps. I have not been able to ascertain our loss as yet but it will not exceed 50 in the aggregate. The enemy again opened upon the right of the fifth and left of the second corps with artillery but were not successful in damaging us seriously. The cannonading was only continued about half an hour, and. At this hour, midnight, the picket firing along our entire line is furious, and shelling is going on at various points. We are within the reach of these missiles but we expect a busy day tomorrow, everything around me save the guards, are sound asleep dreaming, no doubt, a friends and homes. How many will live through tomorrow?

The Effects of the Storm

I had fully expected this morning to be able to inform you of the of further and still more important movements but the copious showers which fell during Wednesday night and since have rendered the roads so bottomless as to make it exceedingly difficult to move artillery, and this too, despite the exertions of the engineer corps. There is no body of men in the army who deserve more credit than this engineer corps. During all day yesterday and all night they were out in the rain working upon the roads/ They build in that time several miles of road, and probably a dozen substantial bridges.

I quitted the extreme left at seven last evening, and arrived at my quarters about 10. From that time to the present, 5 AM the picket firing on this front has been incessant and several casualties have been reported. Since the affair of last Saturday, the enemy appears to feel especially vindictive towards the ninth corps, and 6we have hardly for a moment been free from the sputtering of their guns and whirring of minie balls at any point on our line. while I write these disagreeable noises and their proximity is such that I frequently find myself judging at an unexpectedly loud report

Henry H. Young
New York Times
April 2, 1865
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