58 



ARMY OPERATIONS. 



line, in front of Petersburg. The loss was 

 small on each side. 



On the next day, Thursday, the 30th, Tur- 

 ner's division of the 24th corps was moved 

 down the Vaughan road and across Hatcher's 

 Run. It then turned to the right and advanced 

 to make connection with the right of the 2d 

 corps. A brigade of Gen. Foster's division 

 then moved out and connected with the right 

 of Turner, thus making the line complete. 

 Field works were thrown up, and some skir- 

 mishing with the enemy took place. The two 

 divisions of the 25th corps held a place be- 

 tween the right of the 24th and the left of the 

 6th. The 9th corps remained on the right of 

 the 6th. 



Early on the same day Gen. Sheridan con- 

 nected his right with the left of Gen. "Warren 

 near the Boydton plank-road. The enemy had 

 a strong line of intrenchments already erected 

 to cover a position known as Five Forks. The 

 force of Gen. Merritt was sent in that direction 

 for the purpose of turning the right of the 

 enemy, and the advance brigade, under Gen. 

 Devin, soon encountered their cavalry, and 

 drove them back to their works. Their in- 

 fantry in turn drove back the 'advance. Their 

 line of intrenchments covered the White Oak 

 road, which runs from the Boydton road to 

 the Southside Railroad. From the White Oak 

 road toward Hatcher's Run the enemy were 

 in strong force. All attempts to turn his right 

 by cavalry were baffled. 



Meanwhile some changes were made in the 

 position of the different corps. The 5th at 

 night occupied a position about a mile north of 

 the junction of the Quaker and Boydton roads. 

 During the day it had advanced westward 

 about three-fourths of a mile, and lay fronting 

 northward, with the pickets of Gens. Ayres's 

 division withim five hundred yards of the White 

 Oak road, but at a spot between two and 

 three miles west of its intersection with the 

 Boydton road. The divisions of Gens. Craw- 

 ford and Griffin were on the right successively. 

 On the right of the 5th corps was the 2d, ' 

 which now had its right near Hatcher's Run. 

 Gen. Sheridan remained at Dinwiddie and 

 covered the left. The movements of the day 

 had been accomplished with skirmishing and 

 some artillery firing, making the losses of the 

 Union troops about two hundred. 



The object now was to get possession of the 

 enemy's position, known as Five Forks, by 

 carrying which their right flank would be 

 turned. At this point five roads meet in the 

 woods, three of which run back to the South- 

 side Railroad. The White Oak road was here 

 strongly fortified with logs and earth, with its 

 approaches blocked by fallen trees. Sharp- 

 shooters were also stationed to resist any ad- 

 vance. 



Early on Friday morning, the 81st, Gen. 

 Warren massed the division of Griffin in the 

 rear of those of Gens. Ayres and Crawford, 

 for an advance upon the White Oak road, 



which commences at the Boydton road and 

 runs westward, crossing the Quaker road and 

 the Claiborne, which latter extends northwest- 

 ly to the Southside Railroad. About 8 o'clock 

 the advance commenced toward the Dabney 

 House, Ayres's division leading and supported 

 by the other two. After moving about a half 

 mile beyond the plank-road the enemy's skir- 

 mishers opened fire, at the same time falling 

 back upon their main works, a mile and a half 

 below the White Oak road. A severe fire was 

 now opened upon the advance under Gen. 

 Ayres, which broke and fell to the rear, fol- 

 lowed by a vigorous charge upon them by the 

 enemy. The attack of the enemy was so impet- 

 uous, and they were so well handled, that they 

 swept the field, notwithstanding the obstinate 

 resistance, Each division met the same fate 

 until the whole 5th corps was driven back to 

 the Boydton road, when Miles' division of the 

 2d corps came to their aid and checked the 

 enemy. They now attempted to cut off 

 Sheridan's cavalry, which were greatly ex- 

 posed by the failure of the 5th corps to ad- 

 vance. The 2d division was on Stony Creek, 

 southwest of Dinwiddie, consisting of three 

 brigades Smith's, Davies', and Gregg's and 

 holding the left of Sheridan's line. The bri- 

 gade of Gen. Fitzhugh was next, and facing 

 southeast, and next was Stagg's brigade, on 

 Gravelly Run, six miles from Dinwiddie. 

 About two miles from the latter place was 

 Gibbs' brigade. Early in the afternoon the 

 enemy attacked the left in force, but it held 

 its ground. Davies' brigade, on the right of 

 the extreme left, was next attacked, and, being 

 flanked, was driven back with severe loss. 

 The enemy next attacked the left centre, and 

 forced it back, when the commands were faced 

 into new positions, and reinforcements hurried 

 up. At 5 P. M. the greater part of botli divi- 

 sions had been repulsed and driven back sev- 

 eral miles to the Boydton road, and Gibbs' bri- 

 gade had fallen back about a mile from Din- 

 widdie. The troops of Gen. Merritt were now 

 reformed, and held a firm position on the right. 

 The enemy, reenforced by the infantry which 

 had driven the 5th corps, renewed the attack, 

 but the artillery being in position, and a large 

 force of cavalry having 'been rallied by Gen. 

 Sheridan, the desperate charges of the enemy 

 were successfully resisted, and they drew off 

 to the woods. Meantime the 5th corps had 

 been rallied, and advanced and regained the 

 whole ground which had been lost. The divi- 

 sion of Gen. Griffin captured the earthwork 

 from which the enemy had issued, and ad- 

 vanced and took a position on the White Oak 

 road, east of Five Forks. At the same time the 

 1st and 3d divisions of the 2d corps, next on 

 the right, advanced, and a hot engagement with 

 the enemy ensued. The latter resisted stub- 

 bornly, but at length withdrew, and the whole 

 corps advanced three-fourths of a mile, captnr- 

 ing about one hundred and fifty prisoners. 

 The two divisions of the 24th corps were on 



