From Another Correspondent

Headquarters Armies Operating
Against Richmond Friday, March 31 p.m.

Special Correspondence of the inquirer

My Letter Yesterday

Stated the formation of our lines of battle and announced the result of the tentative operations of this day, viz – – The occupation of the Boydton Road by the Fifth Corps, and a considerable advance of our line along the entire front of our presence extension, without any serious fighting. This morning, another advance was commenced, but this time the enemy objected and the result was that the state has been marked by a great deal of severe fighting.

The Circumstance At the Left of Our Lines:

The Operations of the Fifth Corps

are first in order. Last night its line extended in the front of the Boydton Plank Road, from a point near the junction of that road with the Quaker Road, a distance of between one and 2 miles to the left. Early this morning

The First Division, General Griffin

which was on the right of the Corps, was relieved by General Miles’ division of the Second Corps, and marched up the Boydton Road as far as the Butler house, a point which will indicate the locality more clearly, if the reader remembers that it is on the direct road from Petersburg to Dinwiddie courthouse, and is further informed that its distance from the former place in front of the point.

The Advance Commenced

At about 8 AM the advance was commenced, and the enemy skirmishers were pressed back without difficulty the distance of from one and a half to 2 miles, where supports came up on the side of the enemy, who Now attacked our advancing column in vigorous style.

Our Forces Checked

for some reason our men were not equal to the occasion, and retreated, the enemy following them closely. The explanation given is that they were outflanked and found themselves attacked on all sides at once. The nature of the country was such as to render maneuver of the kind difficult to guard against; the right flank has also been left exposed by a break in the connection between the Second and Fifth Corps, occasioned by the advance of the latter.

The Fifth Corps was massed for an advance in three lines, of which General Ayres, 2nd division, was first; General Crawford, the third division, was second, and General Griffin the first division, was in the rear. The projected lines of advance were in the direction of Dabney‘s house, on the white oak road – – the road which diverges from the Boydton Road at a distance of I think about 7 miles from Petersburg, and extends westward to Cleburne Road, which from the junction runs north westerly to Sutherland station, on the southside railroad. The distance from the Butler house on the proposed point on the White Oak Road was about 2 miles and a half, in a direction nearly north, the intervening country is in the main thickly wooded, somewhat hilly, and intersected by the number of ravines and small creeks. The country is rather difficult to move through and presenting considerable advantages for defense.

Griffin’s Division to the Rescue

The first division, General Griffin’s, having been held in reserve, did not become engaged to any great extent, but on the repulse of the other two divisions, General Griffin, went forward, and posting two brigades, those of Bartlett and Gregory, behind a slight breastwork of logs on the crest of the hill, some half a mile in front of the Boydton Road, rendered material aid in checking the advance of the enemy, who was there brought to a halt.

In the Casualties in the Retreat

we sustained considerable loss and killed and wounded.. Whether we lost in a considerable number of prisoners I have not ascertained, but I think the number was insignificant. The (column three ends) Number of wounded in the hospitals indicates that the third division suffered most severely.

Another advance on the enemy

At 1:00 PM another advance was made. The first brigade of Griffin‘s division, General Chamberlain’s, supported on the right by the second brigade, Colonel Gregory, led the charge, followed by the second and third divisions, while General Bartletts brigade of the first division was left in reserve. The advance was commenced under cover of a sharp artillery fire from batteries D and H of the New York artillery, commanded respectively by Captain Hazelton and Major Mink.

Our troops moved steadily forward, driving the enemy rapidly before them, until the latter reached their line of earth works on the White Oak Road.

A Splendid Charge

these were gallantly charged by General Chamberlain’s brigade and the next minute were in our possession, with the road which formed the object of our attack. A rebel battle flag was here captured by Major Glen of the 198 Pennsylvania volunteers, who took it with his own hands from the rebel color sergeant. The road was captured about 3 PM. Skirmishing continued for some time, but no attempt was made by the enemy to dislodge us. Tonight, our line is being reestablished in the advance position. This White Oak Road runs nearly parallel with Hatcher’s Run and is about a mile south of it. We are just gradually pressing back the enemy’s lines on the south side of the stream, and another night may see them driven to the northern bank.

The Second Corps

on the right of the Fifth Corps, General Miles Division of the second corps was sharply engaged with the enemy for a considerable length of time, and their line was pushed forward so as to maintain a connection with the fifth Corps. It is unnecessary, however, for me to give any details of the operations of this Corps, as it will be done by another correspondent.

Army of the James

On the right of the second corps the divisions of the army of the James now cooperating with the Army of the Potomac, have advanced the left of their line about 500 yards, and established a new line of entrenchments within a few hundred yards of the enemy’s works. On the advance of our skirmish line at about 9 AM sharp fire was opened from three rebel batteries in front of General Turner’s division Of the 24th corps. Our skirmish line was forced back but being strengthened, advanced again, and this time was successful. An attack will probably be made on the batteries mentioned early tomorrow morning.

General Ord’s forces

The losses in General Ord’s forces have not been large. Captain G. H. Brown of the corps of Sharp shooters,of Foster’s division, was mortally wounded, and I believe is the only officer who has been hit during the day on that part of the line.

Reports from Sheridan

There are there is a report brought that Sheridan was attacked this afternoon west of Dinwiddie courthouse, by a largely superior force of cavalry and infantry combined, and forced back, With considerable loss, a distance of two or 3 miles. He had been attacked this morning, but held the enemy at bay for several hours, until fresh forces arrived to reinforce them, when he was compelled to give way.

The firing could be distinctly heard from near the left of our infantry line and was of a character to indicate that severe fighting was in progress. The engagement has now ceased, and Sheridan is said to be in a safe position. Longstreet’s corps of the enemy, or at least a considerable portion of it, has been brought from the north side of the James, and placed on the rebel right.

The Main Force of Lee’s army

The great mass of General Lee’s army must be now opposite our left, and their lines elsewhere must be correspondingly week.

The Loss In killed and Wounded

I have heard of no definite estimate of our losses in today’s engagement. The Fifth Corps has suffered most severely, and the losses will probably be about 800

E. T. Peters