Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 8 [ Sept. 12, 1864-Apr. 14, 1865, undated, appendices].

To Ulysses S. Grant1Jump to section

Head Quarters Armies of the United States,
City-Point,
Lieut. General Grant. April 1. 5/45. P.M. 1865

Yours showing Sheridan's success of to-day is just received, & highly appreciated. Having no great deal to do here, I am still sending the substance of your despatches to the Secretary of War.

A. LINCOLN

Annotation

[1]   ALS, owned by Joseph Block, Chicago, Illinois. Three telegrams were received from Grant on April 1, the first at 9:15 A.M.: ``Yesterday as reported the left of the 5th Corps attempted to push north so as to cross the White Oak Road about W Dabneys House but were driven back Sheridan at the same time was pushing up the right branch of the 2 Roads from J. Boisseaus North to the same Road he was at the same time holding Dinwiddie C H & the line of Chamberlain Creek he was met by all the Enemys Cavalry & four or five brigades of Infantry & gradually forced back until at 8 P.M. last Evening he was holding a line from Chamberlain Creek to the Boydton Road probably not more than one mile from the C.H. after [the] falling back of two Divisions of the 5th Corps they again pushed forward and gained the position on the White Oak road first sought finding however the situation Sheridan was in, orders were sent to [Gouverneur K.] Warren after dark to leave the position he held & to push two (2) Divisions down by J Boisseaus & one down the Boydton Road to his relief I had much hopes of destroying the force detached by the Enemy so far to our rear I have not yet heard the result but I know that Sheridan took the offensive this A.M. Ord yesterday pushed the Enemys pickets from the left

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of his (Ords) line next to Hatchers Run Capturing 189 men & 2 officers with but very little loss to us this puts Ord so close to the Enemy that he cannot put out pickets in front this Morning before day the Enemy attempted to drive him from this position but was repulsed without loss on our side and leaving over 60 prisoners in our hands'' (DLC-RTL).

The second telegram was received at 11:24 A.M.: ``In my dispatch this morning I made a mistake in saying Ord lost nothing in the attack made on him this AM his casualties were about 30 killed & wounded he reported no casualties in [John W.] Turners Division which led me into the Errer. The quicksand of this section exceeds anything I have ever seen roads have to be corduroyed in front of teams and Artillery as they advance We were 56 hours moving 600 teams 5 miles with 1200 men to help them through the woods when it is perfectly dry for infantry horses will go through so deep as to scarcely be able to extricate themselves I have nothing special to report at this hour.'' (Ibid.).

The third was received at 5:05 P.M.: ``The following dispatch is just recd from Col [Horace] Porter of my staff who was sent to communicate with Gen Sheridan You remember I told you the 5th Corps was sent to him last evening. . . . `Gen Sheridan's HQrs J. Boisseaus Cross Roads April 1st 1865 2 P.M. . . . Divens [Thomas C. Devin's] Div of Cavalry has just carried the barricade at the five forks held by [George E.] Pickett's Div capturing about two hundred prisoners. The enemy now seem to hold a line across the ford & White Oak roads The whole 5th Corps is now moving from here up to five forks & Gen S. will attack the enemy with every thing the Head of Warrens column is now about a mile & a half from five forks moving up rapidly Our men have never fought better. All are in excellent spirits and anxious to go in The enemy is said by all the officers to be fighting badly giving away constantly before our dismounted Cavy The enemys loss yesterday was very heavy many of their dead are lying in the woods I [saw?] several old men with heads perfectly bald. The enemy threw away many arms in their retreat & seem to have been pretty much demoralized H. PORTER Lt Col A.D.C.''' (Ibid.).