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On the night of March 31st, Gen. Sheridan, without infantry, had his cavalry at Five Forks. At 10:15 p. m. Gen. Grant sent the following order from Dabney's Mills to Gen. Meade: "Let Warren (Capt. Stackhouse) move in the way you propose, and urge him not to stop for anything. Let Griffin (Capt. Stackhouse) go on as he was first directed." Grant informed Sheridan that Warren would arrive about midnight, and at 3 a. m., April 1, not having heard from him, Sheridan sent a dispatch to Warren to attack "at daylight anyhow."

At 1 a. m., Pickett, threatened by Warren's 5th Corps (Capt. Stackhouse) on his left. ordered a retreat to Five Forks to protect his communications with the South Side Railroad. Sheridan followed him at daylight with Devin's and Custer's (Capt. Blough) divisions, Crook's division (Capt. Black) being thrown on roads to the left. Pickett was found behind his intrenchments at Five Forks. About 1 p. m. Sheridan's cavalry had worked close up to Pickett's lines, when Sheridan ordered up Warren's 5th Corps (Capt. Stackhouse). McKenzie's cavalry division (Capt. Hads) advancing on the extreme right, drove Robert's cavalry and gained the White Oak road.

At 4 p. m. Warren formed Ayres' and Crawford's divisions in double lines, on the left and right of the Gravelly Run Church road. In a few minutes these divisions were on the White Oak road, where Ayres received a severe fire on his left and at once changed front and attacked the enemy in its entrenchments. Crawford continued to advance straight through the woods, with Griffin (Capt. Stackhouse) following. But Griffin saw the situation, and marching his division by the left flank, protected Ayres' flank, which had been thrown into confusion. Ayres finally connected with the cavalry on his left, made a gallant charge, carried the enemy's left, and swept down inside its works to and beyond Five Forks, capturing many prisoners. The enemy tried to make a stand on the road leading to the railroad, but the men were pursued so closely by Griffin (Capt. Stackhouse) and Crawford that they soon gave way.

Warren changed Crawford's division from the right to the left, and advancing in the rear of the enemy's infantry, with McKenzie's cavalry (Capt. Hads) on the right, drove them north of Hatcher's Run, taking four guns and many prisoners.

On the extreme left Custer (Capt. Blough) had a severe fight with cavalry and infantry, and gained but little ground until Devin and Ayres advancing from the rear, drove the in

fantry out. The enemy retreated, and Custer (Capt. Blough), with a small body of infantry led by Gen. Warren in person, followed until long after dark. It was a total rout for Pickett, he losing over 5,000 men captured, with 6 guns and 11 colors. Sheridan lost 830 men, of whom 634 were of Warren's corps. The enemy's entire loss was 8,500.

Just before the assault was made, Gen. Chamberlain rode up to Maj. Glenn, who was commanding the 198th Regiment, and said: "Major, if you will take those works you shall have a colonel's commission." The major turned to his men, "Boys, will you follow me?" Their reply was a wild shout. Away they dashed with colors flying, and reached the breastworks, where a severe struggle ensued. Maj. Glenn received the brevet commission, but lost his life. As he was seizing one of the enemy's colors from the hands of the bearer, he fell mortally wounded, and died at City Point, April 4.

Because he did not march more promptly and did not show sufficient spirit in action, Gen. Sheridan was dissatisfied with Gen. Warren's movements, and relieved him. Whereupon Gen. Charles Griffin succeeded in the command of the 5th Corps.

About 11 a. m., April 2, the 198th Regiment with the 5th Corps and Sheridan's cavalry marched eastward on the White Oak road and defeated the enemy at Claiborne's road. Sheridan followed northward across Hatcher's Run to Sutherland's depot on the South Side railroad, when Miles' division, which had been with Sheridan, returned to the 2d Corps. The march continued late into the night, much of it on the double-quick, through dense thickets and swamps, with but a few short halts.

The victory at Five Forks caused President Davis to flee from Richmond, and Gen. Lee to give up Petersburg. His army marched out on the west side of the city on the night of April 2d, between 8 and 3 o'clock, to assemble at Amelia Court House. On April 3d, at 4:45 a. m., Gen. Willcox's 9th Corps (Capt. S. W. Davis) entered the city of Petersburg and took possession. On the same day Richmond was formally surrendered to Gen. Weitzel, who entered it from the north side of the James river.

In the first assault on Petersburg, April 2d, Gen. Grant lost 3,361 and Gen. Lee's estimated loss was 3,000.

The killed and wounded in Company F, 198th Pennsylvania:

Hatcher's Run, October 27, 1864: Daniel T. Stineman, private, killed.

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White Oak Road, March 31, 1865: John Kagarice, private, killed. Wounded: Gilson Boler and Augustus Keiflin, privates.

Lewis Farm, March 29, 1865: Wounded: Sergeant William J. Jefferson, Corporal Edward C. Thomas, Privates John D. Allstadt, John Custer, Henry Dible.

Five Forks, April 1, 1865: Wounded: Private John Gillinger.

ASSAULT ON BATTERY GREGG.

This was one of the assaults made in pursuance to the general attack made by Gen. Grant on Lee's intrenchments after the battle of Five Forks. It was a desperate hand-to-hand conflict, and Johnstown had five companies in the action.

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It is usually known as Fort Gregg, but it is properly designated at Battery Gregg. There were three strongholds at Petersburg called Forts Gregg, two of them Union and one Confederate, the latter being on the outer line of Lee's intrenchments. The principal one under Gen. Grant was less than a mile west of Fort Lee, at the southwest angle of Lee's powerful line of defenses, and the other one was two miles south of it, near Peebles' Farm. The battery known as Fort Gregg was located west by north of Fort Lee, north of Grant's Fort Gregg and west of Indiantown creek, which flows north into the Appomattox river.

At 1 p. m. the assault was made. Lieut.-Col. J. H. Duncan with about 300 men and two rifled cannon made a desperate defense, but in a half hour the assaulting column had taken the parapets; then a bloody hand-to-hand struggle continued until 2:30 p. m. Fifty-seven of the enemy were dead and about 250, including the wounded, were taken prisoners. Maj. Nathan Davis had been wounded early in the combat, but he gallantly led his men and had surmounted the parapets when he was killed. Color Bearer James P. Ryan was also killed as he was planting his flag on the rampart. It was on this day that Capt. Decker was promoted to major and John McCune was commissioned Captain of Company H.

Headquarters Second Brigade,
Independent Division, 24th Army Corps.

Capt. C. H. Hurd, Asst. Adj.-Gen.

April 3, 1865.

Sir: I have the honor to make the following report of the part taken in the assault and capture of Battery Gregg, near Petersburg, Va., on the 2d instant, by the 2d Brigade, composed of the 12th West Virginia, 54th Pennsylvania and 23d Illinois Volunteers.

This brigade formed on the left of the line and was the first to mount the parapets and enter the work, capturing the entire garrison of 300 men, 56 of the number being killed. The colors of the 12th Regiment West Virginia Volunteers were the first planted upon the parapets, and the color-bearer, Private Joseph R. Logsdon, Company C, was shot down just as the flagstaff was fixed in the ground. Three pieces of artillery were taken in the fort, and immediately turned upon the enemy in another quarter. Capt. William A. Smiley, Co. D, 12th W. Va. Volunteers, received the surrender of Lieut.-Col. J. H. Duncan, who commanded the fort. James P. Ryan, color sergeant, 54th Pennsylvania Volunteers, was killed in the act of planting his colors. Two rebel flags were captured, one each by Privates J. W. Johnston, Company B, and Charles A. Reeder, Company G, Twelfth W. Va. Volunteers (awarded a medal of honor).

Maj. Nathan Davis, 54th Pennsylvania, nobly led on in the charge after being severely wounded, and was killed after climbing the parapet. Second Lieut. Joseph Caldwell, Company C, Twelfth W. Va. Infantry, was one of the first to enter the fort, when he was instantly killed with a bayonet. The resistance of the enemy was desperate. Those who were foremost in entering the fort were shot down or bayoneted, and several men killed on the top of the parapet in the act of leaping inside. The officers and men of the entire command acted with the greatest bravery. Altogether the number of prisoners taken by this brigade amounted to 440 men, as reported by the provost guard. Part of them were captured on the skirmish line.

I am, sir, very respectfully,

Your most obedient servant,

WM. B. CURTIS, Col. Com'dy.

THE ASSAULT ON PETERSBURG.

Gen. Grant was fully aware that the war would end very soon, if proper caution were exercised; however, he was apprehensive that Lee might escape and join Gen. Johnston. Gen. Sheridan's Army of the Shenandoah Valley had joined him at City Point, March 27th. Grant now had 124,700 men and 369 guns, and Lee had 57,000 men with 190 guns. Gen. Grant's plans were to move before Lee could attempt escape; therefore, on

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