tremendous volley of musketry greeted their advance, causing them to waver and fall back. The Second Brigade now came up to the support of the First, and the latter rallied and stood firm. Sharp musketry continued for nearly an hour, and in the meantime Battery B, of the First United States, was got into position and commenced firing with considerable effect. The enemy used

no artillery at all.

While the fight lasted, General WARREN was engaged forming his line of battle, placing the Third Division (General CRAWFORD'S) and the Third Brigade of the First Division (GRIFFIN'S) respectively on the right and left of the Quaker road. The enemy perceiving the force that was being massed against them retired to a point further back. We captured here about one hundred prisoners. Our loss in killed and wounded was estimated at nearly three hundred. The action commenced at about half past three o'clock P. M., and closed soon after four. It was short, but extremely sharp while it lasted. BUSHROD JOHNSON'S Division was the force engaged on the part of the enemy. No other fighting occurred at any point on the line.

SHERIDAN was on the extreme left at Dinwiddie Court House and beyond.

That night, General MEADE's headquarters were on the Vaughn road, some three miles beyond Hatcher's Run, and General GRANT'S about a mile further out.

A heavy rain prevailed throughout Thursday, and the army moved with difficulty, yet portions of it were advanced. The Second Division of the Second Corps, General HEYS, being the pivot of the army moving, remained stationary during the day on the line assumed the previous night, the right being at Dabney Mills. General MOTT, with the Third Division, had been slightly advanced; General MILES with the First rather more; the

Fifth Corps still more, the movement as a whole having developed itself into a grand left wheel.

THE BATTLES OF FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.

During Friday, March 31st, Saturday, April 1st, and Sunday, April 2d, General GRANT's whole line was engaged with the enemy, and he telegraphed the progress of the battle at intervals through each day to President LINCOLN, who remained at City Point. The following brief despatches which the President transmitted as he received them to the War Department at Washington, tell in few and modest words the story of the victories won at all points on those eventful days.

FIRST BULLETIN.-TELEGRAPH FROM

PRESIDENT LINCOLN.

CITY POINT, Va., March 31, 1865-8.30 P. M. HON. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War :-At 12:30 P. M., to-day, General GRANT telegraphed me as follows:

"There has been much hard fighting this morning. The enemy drove our left from near Dabney's House back well toward the Boydton Plank road. We are now about to take the offensive at that point, and I hope will more than recover the lost ground."

Later he telegraphed again as follows:

"Our troops, after being driven back on to the Boydton Plank road, turned round and drove the enemy in turn, and took the White Oak road, which we now have. This gives us the ground occupied by the enemy this morning. I will send you a Rebel flag captured by our troops in driving the enemy back. There have been four flags captured to-day."

Judging by the two points from which General GRANT telegraphs, I infer that he has moved his headquarters about one mile since he sent the first of the two despatches. A. LINCOLN.

SECOND BULLETIN.

WASHINGTON, April 1-11 P. M. MAJOR-GENERAL J. A. DIX, New York:-The following letter from the President, received to-night, shows the desperate struggle between our forces and the enemy continues undecided, although the advantage appears to be on our side.

EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War.

"CITY POINT, Va., April 1, 5·30 P. M. "HON. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War:-A despatch just received shows that SHERIDAN, aided by WARREN, had at two o'clock P. M., pushed the enemy back so as to retake the Five Forks and to bring his own head-quarters up to Boissua. The Five Forks was barricaded by the enemy, and was carried by DEVIN'S Division of Cavalry. This part of the enemy seems to be working along the White Oak Road to join the main forces in the front of GRANT, while SHERIDAN and WARREN are pressing them as closely as possible.

THIRD BULLETIN.

"A. LINCOLN."

WASHINGTON, April 2-6 A. M. MAJOR-GENERAL DIX, New York:-A despatch just received from General GRANT's Adjutant-General, at City Point, announces the triumphant success of our armies, after three days of hard fighting, during which the forces on both sides exhibited unsurpassed valor.

EDWARD M. STANTON, Secretary of War.

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"CITY POINT, April 2, 5·30 A. M. "EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War-A despatch from General GRANT states that SHERIDAN's Cavalry and Infantry have carried all before them, capturing three brigades of infantry, a wagon train and several batteries of artillery. The prisoners captured will amount to several thousand.

"T. C. BOWERS, A. A. G."

FOURTH BULLETIN.

WASHINGTON, April 2-11 A. M.

MAJOR-GENERAL DIX, New York:-The following telegram from the President, dated at 8:30 this morning,

gives the latest intelligence from the front, where a furious battle was raging with continued success to the Union EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War.

arms.

"CITY POINT, Va., April 2—8.30 A. M. "HON. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War: Last night General GRANT telegraphed that General SHERIDAN, with his cavalry, and the Fifth Corps, had captured three brigades of infantry, a train of wagons, several batteries, and several thousand prisoners. This morning, General GRANT, having ordered an attack along the whole line, telegraphs as follows:-'Both Wright and Parke got through the enemy's lines. The battle now rages furiously. SHERIDAN, with his cavalry, and the Ffth Corps, and MILES' Division of the Second Corps, which was sent to him since one o'clock this morning, is now sweeping down from the west. All now looks highly favorable. General ORD is engaged, but I have not yet heard the result in his front.' "A. LINCOLN."

FIFTH BULLETIN.

WASHINGTON, April 2, 12:30 P. M. MAJOR-GENERAL DIX, New York:-The President, in the subjoined telegram, gives the latest news from the front. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War.

"CITY POINT, Va., April 2, 11 A. M. "HON. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War: Despatches come in frequently. All is going on finely. Generals PARKE, WRIGHT and ORD, extending from the Appomattox to Hatcher's Run, have all broken through the enemy's intrenched lines, taking some forts, guns and prisoners. SHERIDAN, with his cavalry, Fifth Corps, and part of the Second, is coming in from the west, on the enemy's flank, and WRIGHT is already tearing up the South Side railroad. "A. LINCOLN."

SIXTH BULLETIN-VICTORY-TWELVE THOUSAND PRISONERS AND FIFTY GUNS CAPTURED.

WASHINGTON, April 2.

MAJOR-GENERAL DIX, New York:-The following telegrams from the President report the condition of affairs at half-past four o'clock this afternoon:

EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War

"CITY POINT, Va., April 2—2 P. M. "To HON.E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War: At 10:45 A. M., General GRANT telegraphs as follows: Everything has been carried from the left of the Ninth Corps. The Sixth Corps alone captured more than three thousand prisoners. The Second and Twenty-fourth Corps both captured forts, guns and prisoners from the enemy. I cannot tell the number.

66 6

'We are now closing around the works of the line immediately enveloping Petersburg. All looks remarkably well.' I have not yet heard from SHERIDAN. His head-quarters have been moved up to T. BANKS' house near the Boydton road, about three miles southwest of Petersburg. "A. LINCOLN."

CITY POINT, Va., April 2, 1865, 8.30 P. M. HON. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War: At 4·30 P.M. to-day, General GRANT telegraphs as follows:—

"We are now up, and have a continuous line of troops, and in a few hours will be entrenched from the Appomattox below Petersburg, to the river above.

"The whole captures since we started out will not amount to less than twelve thousand men, and probably fifty pieces of artillery.

"I do not know the number of men and guns accurately, however.

"A portion of FOSTER'S Division of the Twenty-fourth Corps made a most gallant charge this afternoon, and captured a very important fort from the enemy, with its entire garrison. "All seems well with us, and every thing is quiet just now. "A. LINCOLN."

THE DECISIVE BATTLE OF THE WAR-SUNDAY, APRIL 2d, 1865.

On Sabbath morning, April 2d, 1865, amidst the roar of artillery, and the crash, and flame, and smoke of burning houses, the great Rebellion died. Richmond and Petersburg were captured. Hundreds of guns, and thousands of prisoners taken. Lee's army shattered, broken, and scattered to the four winds! This is the history of the day. How can it be told? What pen can so write it that all who run may read its full significance-its mighty import ?