FIFE FORKS AND THE PURSUIT OF LEE.

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INTERIOR VIEW ON THE CONFEDERATE WORKS COVERING PETERSBURG. FROM A WAR-TIME PHOTOGRAPH.

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found to be leaving, to let the troops attack in theirown way. The corps commanders reported thatit would be impracticable to make a successfulassault till morning, but sent back replies full ofenthusiasm.

The hour for the general assault was now fixedat 4 the next morning. Miles was ordered tomarch with his division at midnight to reenforceSheridan and enable him to make a stand againstLee, in case he should move westward in thenight. The general had not been unmindful ofMr. Lincoln’s anxiety. Soon after my arrival hetelegraphed him: “I have just heard from Sheri-dan. He has carried everything before him. Hehas captured three brigades of infantry and atrain of wagons, and is now pushing up his suc-cess.” He had this news also communicated tothe several corps commanders, in accordance withhis invariable custom to let the different com-mands feel that they were being kept informed ofthe general movements, and to encourage themand excite their emulation by notifying them ofthe success of other commanders. A little aftermidnight the general tucked himself into his camp-bed, and was soon sleeping as peacefully as if thenext day were to be devoted to a picnic instead ofa decisive battle.

About 3 A. M. Colonel F. C. Newhall, of Sheridan’sstaff, rode up bespattered with more than theusual amount of Virginia soil. He had the latestreport from Sheridan, and as the general-in-cliiefwould, no doubt, want to take this opportunity ofsending further instructions as to the morning’soperations on the extreme left, he was wak-ened, and listened to the report from Newhall,who stood by the bedside to deliver it. The gen-eral told him of the preparations being made bythe Army of the Potomac, and the necessity ofSheridan’s looking out for a push in his directionby Lee, and then began his sleep again where hehad left off. Newhall then started to take another

fifteen-mile ride back to Sheridan. Every one atheadquarters had caught as many cat-naps as hecould, so as to be able to keep both eyes open thenext day, in the hope of getting a sight of Peters-burg, and possibly of Richmond . And now 4o’clock came, but no assault. It was found thatto remove abatis, climb over ehevaux-de-frise,jump rifle-pits, and scale parapets, a little daylightwould be of material assistance. At 4 : 45 therewas a streak of gray in the heavens which soonrevealed another streak of gray formed by Con-federate uniforms in the works opposite, and thecharge was ordered. The thunder of hundreds ofguns shook the ground like an earthquake, andsoon the troops were engaged all along the lines.The general awaited the result of the assault atheadquarters, where he could be easily communi-cated with, and from which he could give generaldirections.

At a quarter past five a message came from Wrightthat he had carried the enemy’s line and was push-ing in. Next came news from Parke, that he hadcaptured the outer works in his front, with 12pieces of artillery and 800 prisoners. At 6:40the general wrote a telegram with his own hand toMr. Lincoln, as follows : “Both Wright and Parkegot through the enemy’s line. The battle nowrages furiously. Sheridan with his cavalry, theFifth Corps, and Miles’s division of the SecondCorps I sent to him since 1 this morning, is sweep-ing down from the west. All now looks highlyfavorable. Ord is engaged, but I have not yetheard the result on his part.” A cheering dis-patch was also sent to Sheridan, winding up withthe words: “I think nothing is now wanting butthe approach of your force from the west to finishup the job on this side.”

Soon Ord was heard from, having broken throughthe intrenchments. Humphreys, too, had been do-ing gallant work; at half-past seven the line inhis front was captured, and half an hour later