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lewis m. grist, proprietor. : |lit litirtjpbflrf Jamil]! UriospajJtr:, Jor l|o |)romofitm if \\)t Ijolifiral,. Soria!, ^iaillttr?l aitb Commmial luteals of % j&taljjJ; |terms--$2.50 a year, in advance. "TOL.,39! ; . .." ' ' YOEKYILLE, S. C., T*?tmSID.A.Y; MARCH 15, 1883. ,/ "NO. 11. mmmm ftimcs of the Wm. ' THE . FIGHT AT GRAVELLY RUN. M . , .'a thrilling story of deathless deeds. ; i . hi , 'By Major J. Fitz James Cat dwell. First JRegimentS. C. F, McGoican*s Brigade. ; The closing scenes in the career of the Army of Northern Virginia were in keeping with its former record. It has generally been supposed that that starved and tattered band collapsed from exhaustion in itself rather than under the blows of its adversary. But such was not the case. It is true that its powers of resistance had been greatly diminished by the long and continued mental ???? imniuuul im/\n if onfl hvtho PYnnunrp 9tiam impuocu u^a/ii v<?v v^w*fVj insufficient food, insufficient clothing' and constantly bodily labor, which had characterize^ almost its whole existence, and which were particularly characteristic of its last term in winter-quarters; but it is undeniable that it preserved to the last a large share of that courage which had rendered it worldrenowned, and that its physical ability for hard inarching, rapid manceuvering and brilliant fighting was not excessively abated. I do not mean that it could have repeated the Maryland campaign of 1862, or that it would fight again as it had fought at Cold Harbor or Gettysburg; it certainly was not equ<o another Second Manassas or Chancelhnrsville. It had lost too much of its moral energy, and too much of its physical strength, for such performances as those. But the physical force which it still retained was so THOROUGHLY TRAINED AND DISCIPLINED as to be capable of very considerable effect, if properly managed, and it had not lost its YM-irin nr Hnororprl rlptprmination. These sol JlU1V4V V* v%vbevv* ? diers were not now "That strength which in old days moved earth and heaven," but they were still, as Ulysses claimed for his warworn Greeks: "One equal temper of heroic hearts, Made wdak by time and fate, but strong in will Tostrive, to seek, to find, and not to yield." Or as Swinton has expressed it, this army possessed such vitality in all its parts that it perished only with its annihilation. - Not many of us fancied, when the Spring of 1866 set in, and more active campaigning looked near, that we were so close to the termination of our warfare. The prospect before us was anything but- flattering; but we were so accustomed to privation, to hard marching, and to fighting against heavy odds that we aid not realize the possibility of our failing to withstand, for a few months at least, even the great numbers arrayed against us. We still felt almost unbounded confidence in ourselves and in our generals, and we resolutely put aside and refused to entertain apprehensions which, we afterwards learned, filled almost all hearts in the Confederacy except our own. When, therefore, we were marched out of our winter-quarters on the night of Wednesday, the 29th of March, and moved westward, we proceeded with all the promptness, if not the cheerfulness, that had heretofore marked the quitting of our places of confinement. We conjectured very accurately what was before us. The stir which had pervaded the Federal army fdr several days, the firing on parts of the line, occasionally, where all had formerly been quiet, the _. weather, which invited active operations, aDfl above all, the fighting we had just haa over the picket line in our immediate front, all led us to expect very serious operations in the near future. We marched through the darkness, and soon through the nun, along the Boydton Plankroad, toward Burgess' Mills, on Hatcher's Run, almost due west from the camp. Just before we moved A HEAVY FIRE OF ARTILLERY began about Petersburg, some four miles east of the camp, and as we progressed we could still hear the frequent though receding boom of cannon and could see the flash of shells and rockets in the air. We halted about three miles west of our winter quarters, and, therefore, about seven miles west of Petersburg, between midnight and day, and remained there in bivouac until some time after daylight. During the morning of the 30th we were carried across to Hatcher's Run and placed in breastworks which constituted a prolongation of THE LINES AROUND PETERSBURG. Here we lay in the rain during the rest of the day and until about 9 o'clock in the forenoon of the 21st. A little before that time Gen. McGowan desired me?his acting aide-de-camp at the time?to ride with him to see Gen. Wise, of Virginia, whose brigade lay near us, and who was temporarily lodged in a cabin near by. On our way Gen. McGowan informed me that it was nrobable that we should be sent in front of the works to attack the enemy there, and that he wished to have from Gen. Wise, who had been here some days, some description of the ground upon which we were to operate. We found the whitehaired Virginian in his rude log-cabin, and he proceeded, briefly but very clearly, to describe the topography of the country before us. He drew a diagram of our own and the enemy's lines, and of the roads and streams in our front, saying that it was very likely we should be sent out to beat back the Federal left and roll it up to Hatcher's run or thereabouts. He had fought on this line a few days before, and his sketch was the result of his own observation. We found the diagram quite correct in its outlines, with the single exception, that he drew Gravelly Run too near a parallel with Hatcher's Run. But this was caused, I have since thought, by his mistaking a small tributary to Gravelly Run, a little to the east of the point which we now fronted, for the main stream, and thus did not disclose to us the facilities which the enemy , _2tf)UlcLhave to throw frysh kQfflftlM'UYffiffl us and our works, if we moved in iroin una at right angles with the works. He described the nature of the surface quite well, and his account of the tangled slashes in ifhich his brigade had -become involved was very graphic and amusing. jiWe returned to the brigade, ana jusi men Gen. Bushrod Johnson desired us?Gen. McQowan and me?to ride with him. The brigade was put in readiness to move, but left mere, while we proceeded to pass out of the works by the White Oak Road, and to pursue that road alongits westerly course. This rood, which runs almost due west from Burgess' Mill for about a mile, turns southward at the point where our breastworks crossed it. So after passing out of the works, and riding a few hundred yards along the road, we nad not to bear far from the road in order to intersect THE FEDERAL LINE, that line stretching, in a general way from east to west, so as to front our line. At this distance of three or four hundred yards from where we crossed the works the Federal line ended, Grant not having continued his movement farther west. Sheridan was indeed west of this with his cavalry, near Dinwiddle Courthouse, but that was several miles southwest from this point. Riding off the road, perhaps two hundred yards, and along the edge of an arm of woocls that ran out southward, we found ourselves on the flank of the Federal line. To this point, Gen. Johnson explained, Gen. McGowan's command, consisting of his own and Grade's Brigades, was to be brought, and then hurled upon the flank of the now quiet and apparently unsuspecting enemy, we were not molested, but had a good view of the Federal troops. I was then , sent back te bring up our brigade and unite it with Graeie's, when both were to attack together. ' I rode back into the works and sooi: brought out m'gowan's brigade, the First Regiment leading, I remembei ;iV". V from the feet that its Colonel, the gallant a MoCreary, walked by the side of my horse, s conversing most hopefully of the expected r engagement. This was his last conversa- 1' tion with me?possibly the last he ever had c on earth. In the woods in front of the t works, and about two hundred, possibly r three hundred, yards from where we passed d out, and on the White Oak Road, we found t what seemed to be a brigade of Confederate o troops, resting on the right of the road and fe just out of it. I was informed that this was o the brigade formerly known as Grade's, ti .but which was this day commanded, as I n have heard, by Col. Munford, of Alabama, v I was told that Gen. McGowan was to com- a mand these two brigades, this one and his v own, and that they were to constitute the n attacking party. It may have been part of fl the plan that Hunton's Brigade, of Bushrod v Johnson's Division, should move out and a join us as soon as our attack should drive v the enemy from their left and reach, or about d reach, those in Gen. Hunton's front. But of n this I speak only from conjecture. Capt. Davie, in a sketch published in September last in the Weekly News, speaks fl of his regiment, the Fifty-ninth Alabama, n I believe, seeing, as they stood or lay in fl line this morning, the enemy's lines mov- g< ing in their front, in open, or comparatively q open ground. That regiment must, there- fl fAW1 oltKnnorV, nurf nfOrntlip's Rriffllflfi. have 11 IWW*VU&14 r"* V V4 o 7 w been on the left of the phice where we found 0 some of that brigade, as just stated. I know p I could not see any of the enemy from the spot where we halted : indeed there were e pretty close woods in the immediate front of c, McGowan's Brigade. Just as we prepared to move the column r( to the point whence our attack was intended p to be made a cheer was raised in the woods p in our front, a rapid fire succeeded: and it p was plain that the enemy were anticipating us, by making, as ?c since appears, a recon- ^ noisance in force of our position. Gen. e, Johnson at once suggested that Gen. Mc- e Gowan should not attempt to get farther up- r. on their flank, but should counter-charge jt the approaching enemy with his two bri- p gades. Immediately the column was front- 0 ed and 0 THE LINE ADVANCED. p Before many seconds we struck the enemy q and charged them, cheering as was our custom, and pouring a rapid volley into their M ranks. Toe assailants, thus vigorously as- ^ sailed, were smitten with dismay, and gave 0 back rapidly, while we pressed on and a drove tnem clear into open ground. d I recall a ludicrous incident that occurred tJ as we advanced through these woods. I S1 heard loud, angry words near me, inter- 0 rupted by what sounded like entreaty and tj protestation, and turning my horse to the ^ spot, discovered one of our men ordering a r( Federal soldier to deliver up his money or u other valuables, adding that he had 110 time n to wait, but must keep on with the line, ti I called to know what all this was about, h Then the Federal soldier cried out in <j( French, beseeching protection. a I then addressed nun in his own language, fc as it was evident that he understood no ai other, and told him that, since }1; THE BURNING OF COLUMBIA . C( and Sheridan's destruction of the mills in the Valley, I though it no wrong for our ir people to retaliate at least, to the extent of lj possessing ourselves of any money or watch- U es they might find on the persons of Fede- ni ral prisonersj but that the soldier would e; not injure him beyond this. I presume te I spoke neither elegantly nor gramatically, e? for I had never been a master of that lan- ai guage, and I was now quite out of practice; bi but the little man understood me quite tl well and was overjoyed at my words. He w rushed to me, caught my stirrup, shook my ni foot as if it were the hand of a long-lost hi friend, called me his saviour, and protested pi his gratitude and devotion as only a French- ir man can. Then he declared he had noth- 1C ing that he cared to keep from his captor, and proceeded to turn his pockets wrong fr side out. He was the poorest man ever I ss saw. Not only had he no knapsack, no ri arms, no accoutrement*^ no blanket, 110 oil- ic cloth, 110 canteen, but his pockets were fc AS EMPTY AS PRINCE NAPOLEAN'S HEAD. al Pie had absolutely nothing?no handkerchief, no knife, nor even a rag or a string. The Confederate eyed him an disdainful 11 silence and passed on with the line. Then <l came my trouble. The fellow adhered to u me, saying that he must stay with me, as I would not suffer him to be killed. I or- D' dered him to the rear. He said he did not know where that was. I told him he had o only to pursue the course we had come for se a distance of a few yards when he would u] find men to. take charge of him. He pro- h; tested they would kill nim, but he wished cl to go with me. I told him he might be e< killed. He said he did not care?ne was st sure to be murdered if he once left me. ei Then I asked how he came here. He an- n swered that he had arrived in New York ij but a few days ago; that before he knew where he was going he was put upon a & railroad train, and that about the next thing he found himself nolens volens, a soldier in n Grant's army. I finally succeeded in driv- ir ing him to the rear and rejoined the line. \y Our troops pressed their advantage. Ay- p< re's Division, of the Fifth Federal army w corps, (Warren's) was soon driven head- ir long upon its supports. Crawford's Divis- it ion, of the same corps, was then encountered, and almost as rapidly beaten as the other. fc It will be remembered that this battle contributed largely to tire tmttv np r;e\*. warren. \? that very efficient and most gallant soldier, tl who recently died, as generally thought , of a ft broken heart, on account of the troubles n brought on by his dismissal from his com- h mand the next day by Gen. Sheridan. His people have not been able to see how, with- b out some fault of his, so large a body of his <1 troops should have been defeated by our al own small force. It was not . creditable to k the enemy, certainly, but the suddenness and impetuosity of the attack constituted a tl most important factor of our battle. I nev- cl er saw faster or more furious fighting. Our t< men seemed inspired with the spirit of Chancellorsville. Line after line fairly mel- rjted before them and dissolved into a heter- u "OgPTTV.-uur> ina.-.-) w? KLMuC . not see when one division was finished and j, another met, nor could I distinguish^ one a brigade from another, but no line stayed v long to face us. ^ Now we had the advantage of overlapping p them somewhat on our right and their left, a so that when a line stood to fire upon us j about the whole length of the First South r Carolina could move forward unimpeded to v any extent, and by a half-wheel get v A SWEEPING ENFILADE FIRE }: along them. The enemy were not quite in \ a panic, for sometimes a hotly of them would r stand until fearfully handled. I remember that following up the line through a scat- t tered growth of small pines, I found the \ dead and wounded of the Seventh Maryland ^ Regiment lying so thick on the ground that c I had to take a good deal of care to prevent i my horse from trampling some of them. a Judge Advocate Sanders, of the United s States army, in his argument before the s Cou# ol inquiry on uen. \\ arrens ease, i in July, 1881, speaks of this fighting as re- \ suiting in the t "UTTER AND COMPLETE REPULSE and rout of Ayre's and Crawford's Divis- * ions." It is not to be inferred that all this wasef- i fected by the two brigades above mentioned 1 of our army, Gen. Eppa llunton's Brig- t ade was also Engaged, and Wise's Brigade s was brought cut of the works. Wise's Brig- 1 ade was but Utte if at all actually engaged, 1 1 believe, for it was brought out of the works 1 some little tim* after the battle was joined, i and was held tiere to meet a possible at- i ! tempt on the tart of the enemy to cut < ! us off from tie works, llunton's Bri- 1 ' gade, however, was in at or about the 1 ' beginning, it thei occupying, according to ; my recollection, he left of Grade's Brigade, i 1 Perhaps 1 shoufl be more accurate about < this than 1 am. Iut as Gen. McGowan had ] to leave his assistant adjutant-general, Capt. [ Kiddick, with his^wn brigade, he had me i \ \ \ s his only staff officer. By a tacit undertanding, the General remained mostly In ear of the brigade oi^pur left, while I folowed up our bid brigade. This was my hoice, partly because I preferred to look afer my old comrades,- ami partly because its ight, reaching out into the air, we were in [anger of being turned on that flank. I, herefore, kept near-the extreme right of ur brigade, except Wiien occasionally riding o General McGowan to inquire for orders r to report, and I sometimes rode clear to he right of the line to observe what efforts aight be made to turn us or cut us off. This fas our danger, for advancing down a line lmost parallel with our breastworks, there fas great likelihood that some of the eneiy's reserves would be thrown upon this ank. And we had nocavalry that I thought fe could entirely rely upon. There was Krtiif a mmniinv nf tlimil nilt tllPrP. hilt, thf'V I -ere some distance off. and I thought they id not keep sufficiently advanced to be of luch service to us. And so we moved on, DRIVING THE TWO FEDERAL DIVLSIONS efore us about a mile, when we reached the anks of Gravelly Run, or, I suppose, its lain tributary, for the maps I have seen of [lis locality, place the main branch of that tream farther south, and about parallel with ur line of advance. The main stream does ike a northward bend just before the tribtary enters it, but that would not put before ur whole line the watercourse that stopped t. Jiut whether our obstacle was the princial creek or not, we found ourselves at the nd of an hour opposed by the swift, turbid urrent of water, much swollen by the rains, ist beyond which was rough, steep ground, tjndered particularly formidable by felled rees, all of whose branches seemed to point iwards us. Besides, our constantfiring had retty well exhausted our ammunition. A furious fire was opened upon us from lie opposite bank, but that was not regardd as sufficient to stop us. We were considrably fatigued, for our progress had been ipid, and the sun, which had burst forth ist after we began the attack, was exceedigly warm, and the ground we had passed ver was very heavy and difficult. Morever, it was necessary to procure a fresh suply of cartridges. So common sense re uireaanan. wnen THE SCARCITY OF AMMUNITION :as made known, Gen. McGowan ordered etails to the rear to meet the ordnance wagns that had already been sent towards us, nd he and I used every effort to direct these etails by the nearest way, and to move lem with the utmost dispatch. But no nail delay resulted, and the third division f Warren's Corps had time to establish lemselves and take in the whole situation, he thirty-five hundred Confederates had >uted eight thousand of the enemy by their nequaled dash and daring; but the sequel lay be imagined when six thousand fresh oops were thrown against these thirty-five undred. And these are the figures conceed by our enemy. Their own officers put .yre's division at 3,308 men for duty, Crawird's division at 4,698 and Griffin's division i 5,985. The first two were the troops we ad driven before us, the last named was the mimand that stayed us at Gravelly Bun. We fought all these men with the followig numbers: McGowan's Brigade, certainr not more than a thousand men for duty ; racie's Brigade, scarcely so large, certainly Dt larger, and Hun ton's Brigade, which is itimated at from fifteen hundred to sevensen hundred and fifty. Judging by the I should not think there were as many Ari. 1 A 1 i Hilton iiunuxcu ui uic mot menuuiicu rigade engaged ; there certainly was not lat number on the field when my attention as called to them. Wise's Brigade was at engaged, as I have said, except, perEtps, ax long range ; and even it was opased by Miles' Division of the Federal arly, which must have numbered more than ),(K)0, probably 15,000 men. We could not pass Gravelly Run. The esh division of Griffin poured its six thoumd veteran soldiers against our front and ght flank ; Miles advanced his large divis>n against our left. We received no rein rcements ; we were never fully supplied *ain with ammunition ; we were weary, id we knew how greatly we were outnum- ! ?red. At 2 o'clock or a little later the enety began to move us. But we were always very sluggish people on the retreat, and : e did not allow ourselves to be hurried aw. We had to retire before flank tires, ut we 1 CONTESTED EVERY FOOT OF GROUND. ur line reformed and fronted the enemy iveral times, pouring a most accurate fire pon every point where a Federal made imself visible. They never attempted to large McGowan's Brigade ; they eontent1 themselves with picking us off as we ood before them without protection, and icircling our flank with their far-reaching | ? iU/v 11G ni 1 nrl r.rn Kr\lrl_ lies, v/ii nic icii< me1y ?.-v>cnicvi n?: .v uumr. Miles' Division pushed its adversaries > closely as to capture prisoners, and it is lid, one or more regimental colors. As we fell back I found Hunton's Brigade : ext on our left?at least Gen. Hunton comuinded these, and all the officers I met 'ere of his brigade. I do not mean to disarage Grade's Brigade, but I do not know hat became of it. Possibly it became so lixed with the other two brigades as to lose s distinctive organization, in the manner escribed by Capt. Davis in the sketch, be>re referred to. Gen. McGowan made a last stand hen about in front of the point where our orks crossed the White Oak Road, and at le distance of about four hundred yards om it. He was readily seconded by the len, and the following reminiscence shows ow cheerful they were : I was wearing a course soft wool hat, so adly shaped and loose that the wind freuently blew it clear away from me. Finlly to make sure of it, I passed my handerchief?a white linen one, or as white s a soldier in our army could keep anyring?over my head and tied it under my liin, as an old woman does when she has a jothache or a "misery in her face." 'he hat had been ugly enough by itself, if hud cost lliefoity UullwJU j ImiIij tt i til Hie UiiVlkeiuil! i iu.il it the spectacle miwt ave been rather absurd. As I rode long the line, reminding our men that we ,-ere not accustomed to running before Yan;ees, and urging them to stand fast,1 I noiced first a smile then a giggle, and finally regular "haw-haw !" and then wherever passed I was told that I looked very funly. I am not sure but some poor jokes cere actually gotten up about me. This cas one time in my life when I rejoiced to le made sport of. What gallantry that was vhich amused itself with jests amid the tunult arid slaughter of battle! Gen. McGowan now directed me to ride o Lieut.-Gen. R. H. Anderson, who, as he vas to be found about where we left the corks, to procure some aruuery 10 proi/eut mr right nank. I left the line quite steady 11 its place, awaiting the attack, and rode it a gallop to the works on our left making a light detour westward so as to avoid, in nine measure, the balls that were flying prety fast between our brigade and the breast* vorks. As I passed down the road, about i hundred yards from the works, the enemy idvanced rapidly up to Hunton's Brigade, iring TERRIFIC VOLLEYS OF MUSKETRY, t large portion of the balls passing above ny head, and not a few of them slapping he growth about me with much noise and scattering of bark. But I passed safely and build Gen. Anderson just at the opening in :he works. I reported my errand to him ; jut he said it was too late, the enemy were ilready forcing their way between the brigide and the breastworks, and this would jompel an abandonment of our position out :here before artillery could reach us. "And jy the way," he added, "I expected to see you shot as you rode in. Do not go back tiow. Stay with me till your brigade reaches the works and then show them into their places 011 the right of us." I told him that the fire was not as dangerjus as it sounded, because the enemy fired very high, and-ftnust go back to the General. "Then," ^aid Tie, "you must not ride by the road;'but through the woodson the right of it. I shouhfmot be willing to see you run that risk again. But," he repeated, "there is rid ne^a for you to go out at all. Your people will'be in very soon, and then I trust the eneiny will come up and let us have a'chance at them." Then he smiled as if he had quite a treat in prospect. I relate this conversation not to create a belief that I was a very reckless young soldier who wouldrisk his life contrary to his superior's injunctions, but to show the exceeding kindness of heart of that most gallant and accomplished officer toward a soldier till that moment utterly unknown to him. Intruththerewas .no great risk in going back, and I went, but making a detour through the woods. As I passed along I found GEN. LEE RALLYING the men of Hunton's Brigade, who gave back to where he sat upon his horse. He did not seem to be excited, but it looked to me that he exposed himself quite unecessarily. This was the first sight of him I had that day, but it has* since appeared that he, in a general way^upervised the whole movement that day."^ - 1 But it was useless. We were all forced back into the works. And thus the battle ended, for the enemy did not give Gen. Anderson his "chance.'' The enemy's loss was in the aggregate 1,407 men. Our brigade lost in killed and wounded about 100 men. the other two brigades lost more heavily, I should say, butour whole loss could scarcely have exceded 500, including prisoners. The night fell within an hour or so after our return to the works. A strong picket was thrown out in front, and we rested with out molestation. SOME OF THE LOSSES. Col. C. W. McCreary, the very brave and capable Colonel of the First Regiment, was mortally wounded about the time our backward movement began, and died soon after he was brought into the works. Capt. D. P. Goggans, of the same regiment, a thorough and efficient officer, lost his leg. Captain F. M. Trimmier, of the Thirteenth?another valuable officer?was severely wounded. We suffered further loss in the mortal wounding of Lieut. J. S. Bowers, of the Thirteenth, a fine soldier; 11 4 in me WOUntling 01 my eswaicin menu, the gallant Lieut.-Col. Edward Croft, of the Fourteenth; in the wounding of Lieut. J. R. Courtenay, of the Fourteenth, and in the wounding of Lieut. George of Orr's Rifles, (the former mortally) both good and useful men to us. Gen. Lee, on the following morning congratulated Gen. McGowan warmly on the conduct of his brigade this day, characterizing it as very gallant. During this night I had an interview of quite a different character, in some of its features, from the usual army routine. While General McGowan and his Assistant Adjutant-General were sleeping before our bivouac fire?the General in that dear old blue blanket which saw so much service, and which I hope he has never parted with?an order came to send out a scout to ascertain the position and doings of the enemy in our front. I sent for Powell, our most distinguished rifle-shot and scout, who belonged to the brigade battalion of Sharpshooters, and when he came, told him what was wanted. He replied that he was quite ready to undertake the task, but that, the night being very dark and the country altogether new to him, he would be very glad if I would send "Jack Indian" with him, adding that "Jack" was a wonderful woodsman, finding his way about as well in the' night as by day, and always exercising the greatest caution. This "Jack" was the survivor of a couple of Catawba Indians who had entered the Twelfth Regiment early in the war, and had served faithfully?the other one, unfortunately having been disabled from field service in the Maryland campaign in 1862. I sent a courier for Jack, and the "stoic of the woods" soon made his appearance, wide awake, but as stolid in look as a mummy. He neither spoke nor saluted, but stood staring at me. I told him what was wanted, supplementing my desire with a compliment. He appreciated neither the requirements of the service nor the personal consideration but merely replied that he was sleepy. I remonstrated with him, but received the same answer, l scoiciea nun, out was umy informed that he was sleepy. I threatened him with summary punishment, 'He repeated what lie had, sefid before. I was puzzled. Jack was a firfe'Soldier, if he;was a savage, and I knew it was hard 't<51eave a warm blanket at midnight and risk his life in the dark, wet forest in front. ' Then I remembered that we had a canteen of the Red man's delight. Then I said: "Well, Jack, I'd rather you should go cheerfully and comfortably; so you shall have a good drink of whisky if you say you will go and do your best." A kind of spasm passed over his countenance?it was THE GHOST OF A SMILE. The "poor Indian's" mind was "untutored" to this frivolity of the Paleface, but he came very near to indulging in it this time. He nodded, fastened his lips to the proffered vessel, after a long "pull" returned it to me, shouldered his rifle and followed me with Powell, to be shown through the picket line to the proposed scene of operations. I may add that he and Powell brought in a satisfactory account, which my observation the next day indicated was quite correct. BATTLE OF SUTHERLAND STATION. mi " ? ? - ^ 1 A *\wi l itrn a nl AO y rue morning ui uio jhu ui >y?*o uwi, calm and balmy. It brought us that fresh, soft breath of early spring which, while it soothes, enlivens and invigorates. We therefore, arose from our bivouac sleep rested from the fatigues of labor and battle, and prepared for the Unties of Ch<n day. ?? -.>< o .iT.ii.u4c the brigade was moved out through the breastworks, and carried to about the point where active operations of the preceding day began. But here we found no foe now to dispute our progress; the woods and fields in front were unoccupied except by an occasional scout. A detail was sent forward to scour the country. I rode with them. We passed over a considerable portion of the ground which we had traversed the day Before; but we found none of the enemy. They had BURIED THEIR DEAD, removed such of their wounded as we had left on the field, and marched away in the night, as Powell ami Jack Indian had reported. It was upon viewing now the liead-boarded graves of the enemy's dead that I learned how many of them were of the Seventh Maryland. At one spot, in a scattering growth of small pines; these had a populous little cemetery of their own. We next marched half a mile down the White Oak road, towards Dinwiddie Courthouse, but were then turned back and carried just eastward of the point where that road passed through the works, and were then deployed along the works. Here we Irv until night. During this day a severe battle was fought about Five Forks, some five miles west of us, between Sheridan's command, reinforced by Warren's Corps, which had left our front to join him, and I Pickett's Division anil a portion of Bush' rod Johnson's Divisicn of the Confederate army. ; The Northern hista-ians generally speak of Bushrod Johnson'sDivision, as a whole, being engaged at that point, but I know that one of his briga4es, and perhaps, two of them, remained with us and on our immediate right; and tint Gen. Johnson himself stayed with then. Strange as it may appear, I heard very it-tie of this battle. I could occasionally aiftinguish the sound of firing, but it seemed M?ry distant and incon siderable. It was owing, no doubt, to the direction of the wind-?although there was little breeze during the day?and to some peculiar condition of the atmosphere unfavorable to the transmission of sound, such a condition as that Gen. Joseph E. Johntson speaks of in connection with the battle of Seven Pines in 1862. So we had nothing to disturb us during the long,.clear April day, and I allowed myself to hope, as THE PEACEFUL TWILIGHT fell around us, that I should be suffered to enjoy during the ensuing night the repose that had been entirely denied me the night before. I recall now the intense satisfaction with which I lay down upon the pine straw, just in rear of the works, after we had eaten a late dinner and lighted my pipe for a long, nuiet smoke, which I fancied should be followed by as quiet slumber. But .it was not to be so. At dark we learned that Gen. Heth was going to Petersburg, and had directed that Gen. McGowan should take charge for the night of three brigades from our corps which formed part of this line?McGowan's, Mediae's and Scales'. The fire along the picket line in front, which had almost entirely ceased during the day, became much more rapid as ni^nt approached, and by the time it was quite dark assumed very serious dimensions. It was now plain that the enemy were determined to press us, and we should probably spend a night of constant activity and annoyance. Gen. McGowan gave C'apt. Itiddiek and me general instructions?to remain on horseback, to keep in constant motion along the line, and to use his authority in moving troops to any point that might be peculiarly threatened. As the line was about a mile long and the night dark, it was not likely that we should always have time to report movements to him with sufficient dispatch to enable him to. act. lie rode as we did, meeting one or the other of us frequentlv, of course, but no two of us traveled together, and we probably passed one another very often without knowing it. Soon after receiving this order I moved to the left of our line. All the way I found the pickets pretty busily engaged, and, when I reached an elevation just west of Hatcher's Run, I could hear firing beyond that stream and far along towards Petersburg, and could discern THE FLASH OF GUNS for what seemed to me the distance of two or three miles. As the night deepened the contest waxed more earnest. The artillery nearer Petersburg opened, the scattering lire of pickets was in places succeeded by heavy volleys of musketry, and now and then the yells of assailants and assailed told us of charges and furiousencounters. Sometimes, indeed, there seemed to be one continuous volley roaring for miles, accompanied by the cheers of thousands. And, when a partial calm took place, it was even more painful than the uproar, for then I apprehended a simultaneous advance upon our thinned and wearied lines. The troops conducted themselves with wonderful steadiness and intelligence. The moment the increasing fire of the pickets disclosed an assault against them those in the works would, at abare suggestion, close towards the place immediately fronting the point of attack;, evidently ready for any encounter. * Not a great while after dark I found the troops on the right of our brigade MOVING OUT OF THE WORKS. As they were unable to tell me whither or why they were going, I rode to Gen. Bushrod Johnson's quarters, about four or five hundred yards in the rear, to inquire of him?these troops being part of his division. His aide-de-camp. Cant. William Henry Whitner?my boyhood's friend and mv former room-mate in college, but whom I had not seen for nearly seven years?met me at the door and showed me in. The General told me that he was about to move still farther to the right and leave us. To my question, whether he had received any orders that would apply to us, or could give me any idea what action we ought to take in regard to the now open works on our right, he replied that his orders were simply to move out. westward, and that we would have todo the best we could. Whitner walked out with me as I retired, and told me that Pickett's Division had been completely beaten that day at some point between here and Dinwiddie Courthouse, and that Johnson was probably ordered up to save the right flank of our army. When I returned to the works I found a company of cavalry waiting at the crossing of the White Oak road, and took them out to prolong our picket line, now broken by the removal of Johnson's command. As we reached about the proper place for their deployment I discovered some infantry coming to us from the right. As we were now nearly a hundred yards in front of the breastworks, I was at a loss to imagine who these were, and the prospect of a volley from the new-comers was anything but agreeable. But we halted, and I rode alone to them. They proved to be a picket of the First Regiment?under the command of C'apt W. I. Delph, I think?who had been posted on the right of even Johnson's picket, (posted the night before, I presume) and who, upon the removal of Johnson's pickets, were moving up to connect with our picket line. We now found that we were very near . THE ENEMY'S PICKETS. I had heard some talking just in front, but took it for granted they were our own people who were there. As I proposed to the officer in command of the cavalry to ride up to these troopfe; he 3aid he thought they were the enemy, and it would be very dangerous. I called his attention to the fires that were burning along their line?small ones certainly, but still enough fto show us where they Were. He persisting'in his former opinion, Cnnt Delnh. (if it was he who commanded the infantry picket) and I approached our neighbors carefully. From my elevation on horseback I soon saw that these careless fellows were Federals. They were making themselves perfectly easy?warming their hands at the little fires, talking, laughing, eating, and evidently dreaming of no enemy neaT, while 1 sat in twenty yards of them, awl while fifty (.VmfrdiM'.'ttc .qnhllprb were not twenty yards behind me. The temptation to charge them was very great. And it would not have been dangerous to us, for we should have stampeded them at the first shot or yell. But a fight at this point was not what we desired, for a charge of the line of battle, which undoubtedly lay behind these men, would soon disclose the absence of troops on our right, and no doubt lead to the capture of the unoccupied works there. So I had the infantry deployed where they stood, so as to make the connection on the left, and was conferring with the cavalry as to the best disposition of them when the enemy discovered us. They at once opened fire, and the cavalry and I clattered ingloriouslv into flip hrenxt,works, callinc-to ournconle there not to return the fire until we and our horses could get in. Fora fewseconds itwas no matter to laugh about, but I was soon able to join in the merriment our retreat excited in the regiment stationed here. This fire, or some other cause, appeared to stir the enemy to increased effort, and soon A RAPID FUSIDADE sprang up along our whole front. Nevertheless our men stretched gradually to the right, thinning our ranks very much, but preparing a force to meet the Federals at every point. They charged at some places. Sometimes they effected a lodgment in our riflepita on the skirmish line; sometimes they were beaten back; sometimes a charge on our part drove them out of such small space as we had temporarily lost. This was most agonizing to the line in the breast works. Tney could not fire agun for fear of shooting our pickets in front. They had, therefore, to stand and listen to the struggle of their comrades in front, without being able to assist them. They could only close to right or left as the occasion seemed to demand, and be always ready to meet whatever force might succeed in reaching the main line. IT WAS A SAD NIGHT FOR US. There was no rest for any man; no one dared sleep. We closed to the right, we closed to the left, we waited, we watched, we prepared ourselves a hundred times for the last deadly struggle, we wearied and ached with waking and anxiety, and all the while , THE TIDE OP BATTLE surged for miles unceasingly. Once, to make some change from this fearful monotony and to be sure of a supply of ammunition, I rode to the ordnance station, a few hundred yards in our rear, There I found Capt. 0. G. Thompson, of Maryland, our accomplished and efficient ordnance officer, at his post, with boxes of cartridges piled about him and his seargeants ready for duty whenever a detail should come for fresh supplies. Even this spot appeared to me enchanting. I could not resist the temptation to dismount and warm my feet at the tire. But almost as .soon as I sat down upon a cartridge box I fell asleep. Nearly forty-eight hours had passed since I had closed my eyes, and I was prostrated the moment I was clear of excitement. I was waked by falling from my seat, and then I saw that I could not venture to rest. I mounted my horse and returned to the line. I think our lines, some three or four miles to the east of our position, must have been broken before daylight, for I heard terrific volleys at that portion not long before dawn, and after that it seemed to me that there was almost a lull there." At length day dawned?a bright, calm day. The firing was not so constant now. It looked as if there might be some rest for us at last. It was said, at one time, that the brush-heaps in front of the right of the line?where by some accident there was a breach in our picket?were occupied by the enemy, and we prepared to search them with canister from the few cannon placed among us. But they proved to be empty, and we were not disturbed. Finally, being so < OVERCOME WITH FATIGUE AND WATCHING, and seeing nothing for me to do, I lay down, with my bridle tied to my wrist, and endeavored to snatch a little sleep. I was conscious in a few minutes of troops moving to the right, but this was so common an occurrence that it did not fairly wake me. At length I was roused by an officer of McRae's Brigade, whom I knew, who told me that McOowan's Brigade had passed on before them, and that I had best catch up with them. I thanked him but lay down again, thinking that it was only a slight change of position going on. After probably four or five minutes I awoke with a start. There was profound silence around me. I looked at the works before me?no soul was there. I looked to the right, and saw the rear of a column moving westward aiong tne Danquen?j-w-?uu of the breast-works a hundred yards away : I looked to the loft, and saw only here and there a single soldier hastening to the rear. The horrible truth flashed upon my mind? THE LONG SIEGE WAS ENDED, and the Army of Northern Virginia was broken and in retreat. I mounted my horse and followed the troops in their westward movement along the works. As the rear of these, McRae's Brigade, I think, were passing by the crossing of the White Oak Road, the enemy showed themselves in front of the works and opened fire. How long a line of them joined in this action I am not able to say, but I have heard that our brigade shared' in the attack. The event proved our adversaries rather too sanguine and precipitate. Our people were not accustomed to panics or to demoralization in any form. The column fronted to them on the instant, and without command returned the fire. It was a withering volley, and it smote the lately confident Federals with such effect that they soon concealed themselves behind any cover that offered itself and allowed us to pass on. And on we went, soon leaving the breastworks and bearing northward towards the Southside Railroad. HWINTON'S STORY OF THIS AFFAIR. Swinton, in his history of the Army of the Potomac, disposes of our affairs on this part of the Confederate line in very few words. He speaks of the line being broken about Hatcher's Run after daylight of this day, and proceeds to say that Humphreys took two of the divisions of his corps up the Boydton Plankroad, that is, towards Petersburg, and left the other divisions of his corns with Miles, to follow us. "The other of Humphray's Division," says he, "under Miles, pursued whatever debris of the enemy remained west of Hatcher's Run. This force retreated northward to Sutherland station on the Southside Railroad, where it was overtaken by Miles, who in a spirited charge dislodged and defeated it, taking two guns and six hundred prisoners." Swinton is, I believe, never intentionally untruthful, but there is a large amount of falsehood in this account, as I shall proceed to show. A TRUTHFUL ACCOUNT OF THE MOVEMENTS. Our lines had been irreparably broken. A passage clear through them had been made about daylight in two places at least? one about the place of our winter quarters, one just west of Hatcher's Run. Our right flank had been beaten and doubled back at Five Forks, the day before Lee was compelled to evacuate the whole line and retreat westward. We were sent back to the Southside Railroad, to protect the line of march for the troops and trains that were to be moved out from Petersburg and all the country east of Hatcher's Run. Our first possible halt, to effect anything, must be in the vicinity of the railroad. We crossed Hatcher's Run?which bends very much westward after you pursue its course upward from our fortifications?and moved, I presume, by the Claibourn Road, almost due north. The enemy did not "overtake" us at the railroad. When we reached a wagon road, which, at the distance of perhaps a mile from Sutherland Station, crosses the road we marched, and extends nearly parallel with the railroad at this point, we halted and WAITED FOR THE PURSUERS. We could have made good our retreat, but we were designed to guard the country between this point and the Appomattox as long as possible, and we stopped and made our preparations accordingly. Gen. Ileth was with us, and one of his staff told me exactly what we were intended to do, which was to fight all odds as long as possible, so as to enable the trains to pass in our rear. General Heth was recalled to the old lines nearer Petersburg. This left us under the command of the senior brigadier general on the field. This was Gen. Cook, whose commission was a little older than Gen. McGowan's. We had four brigades: Cook's, Scales', McRae's and McGowan's. We took the rails from the fences on each side of the road and piled them before us. As the road was a littte lower than the ground between it and the approaching enemy, this gave us pretty good protection against small arms. Our brigade was to the left of the line. We had scarcely more than five hundred men in it, and the other brigades were little if any larger. We deployed the sharpshooters in front as skirmishers, and sent out a portion of Orr's Rifles on the left on like duty. I remained on horseback, and was assigned to the duty of looking peculiarly after this skirmish on the left. I threw these pretty far out, the line heing farther from a parallel with THE LINE OF BATTLE as it receded from us, so as to guard against any near approach of the enemy 011 the left fiank. 1 also placed videttes at right angles with our line and several hundred yards to the left. I also placed inner videttes on gate posts or any other elevation, whose duty it would be to signal me of any movement of the outer lines. Thus prepared, we sat down and awaited Gen. Miles' Division. From what I have since heard, I should say he brought at least ten thousand men, probably as many as fifteen thous-w and. This was heavy odds for two thousand or twenty-five hundred men to fight. THE ENEMY ADVANCE. After a while the Federals made their appearance, marching through open \y09as about half a mile from us. I am not sure that they formed a line of battle at'this distance, but it was certainly not merely their marching column that 1 saw. Possibly it was a column preceded by a skirmish line. They came rapidly, evidently .exp&tiiig an easy victory. They thought "'that a spinted charge" wasall that was needed. I took position at a littie church that stood just at the left of our line of battle, whence I commanded a good view of the whole front, and at the same time, was enabled to communicate with the outposts to the left. In half an hour after we had the first view of our opponents they began to move their line of battle against us. This hurried forward with foolish enthusiasm. I thought then, and shall always think, until I have good evidence to the contrary, that there was a good deal of whisky in this charge. THE WILDEST YELL CONCEIVABLE. Many gaps were made in their ranks at the first fire ; still on they came, giving shot for shot and roaring at the top of their voices. But the end was reached pretty soon. Our fire killed and disabled numbers of them ; they staggered, groped and hesitated; our cry rose higher and our balls flew faster; they paused and ceased shouting; then they broke and fled in utter confusion. A considerable pause ensued. Whoever commanded their movements?Gen. Miles. I presume?seemed to think that it required something more than "a spirited charge" to <'nrrv tho fiplrb Thf?v nrrancod for a some what different direction of attack. But this was not a much wiser one than the other. They formed line, with entirely fresh troops no doubt, farther to the left Irom us, and began an advance against our brigade, and probably the one next on our right. They came up in more soldierly style this time, they were coming to their senses at last, and saw that something more than a great display was requisite for our defeat. This assault was rapid, but it was witli quite well dressed lines. They raised the huzza as soon as they came within fair open view of us, perhaps foirr hundred yards down the slope. "VVe lay silent as before. On they swept, moving faster as they advanced, and cheering all the while. When they reached about the distance at which the Confederated had opened on them before, we answered their snouts with a great yell and poured our volleys into them. THEY FOUGHT WELL. They replied with fierce cheers, pressed obstinately forward, firing as fast as possible. Our blood was thorouglily up. Louder and louder rose our yells, faster and deadlier grew our fire. We shot them down at every point. Their ranks were broken and scattered; but for a time they poured forward' with such steady determination that I wondered if we should not end with a hand^o hand encounter. But this did not come. All their discipline and enthusiasm was not enual to the fearful task. They swayed, surged, recoiled, rallied, broke apart again, and finally fled in utter rout. But we were not content with this. Our battalion of sharpshooters was sent across the works in pursuit, and these drove them with a very whip of scorpions to their reserves. I have rarely, if ever, heard such peals of cheers as now rang along our lines. A SUIdDE AMIDST THE ROAR OF BATTLE. l nave Deen toiu 01 a very sirange uccuxrence as our skirmishers pursued this flying enemy. It is this: That as they passed over the dead and crippled Federals, one of the latter?without any provocation, as I have heard?cried out that he had sworn never to be taken prisoner, and then took out his knife and cut his throat. The story says he was successful in his attempt at suicide, and bled to death before anything could be done for him. M'GOWAN* GIVES ORDERS TO FIGHT EVERYTHING. We now enjoyed a respite of some length, for an hour or more. Some of the enemy's artillery shelled us, but while they made us feel uncomfortable, they did little or po harm. But I was satisfied that the movement against us was likely to be renewed still farther,on our left. I therefore rode out among the skirmishers there, and used every effort to secure the most stubborn resistance possible, against an attack from that quarter. I had seen a line of battle repulsed by a determined skirmish, and I could not see why it should not lie repeated to-day. I sent out additional videttes to the left, examined every point about us. and reported the state of affairs to Gen. McGowan. He told me that we must fight everything that came against us, and as long as we could hold out, and had the Rifle Regiment wheeled to the left so as to face any movement from that quarter. A SAD INCIDENT. As I rode back to examine the railroad cut, just in rear of our left, I met two Federal soldiers who had evidently run in, in the last charge, to surrender. No one was with them. Prisoners were of no use to us i it*. XI -X xl ,--1- A A..i. now, dui learing inai mey migiu get out ut our lines and give dangerous information, I took charge of them and carried them to the field hospital about three hundred yards in rear of the line. I remember that I had to cross a high rail fence. As my horse could not jump it I had the men to let it down. I saw nothing the matter with either of them, except that one seemed to have a flesh wound in his left arm above the elbow. He assisted his comrade to let down the rails and without complaint. When I delivered the men to the surgeons for safe keeping I noticed that the wounded man looked quite pale and sat down hastily upon the ground. I suggested to one of the medical staff that he look after the man's wound. An examination showed that his chest had been entered by the ball that had wounded his arm. I asked if he was badly hurt, adding that I supposed he was not, as he walked with apparent ease and let down the fence. The assistant surgeon answered that he would not live five minutes. And such was the case. The man gave his comrade some message we did not hear, lay down on the ground, and I think was breathing his last when I ijptle away. I need not add that I was inexpressibly grieved to think that my inadvertence"flaitliossttjity cost him his-life?certainly had hastened his death. I returned to the front. The turning movement had already begun. The enemy was beat in our skirmish on the left and clear between me and the line of battle. A number of the outpost men and I had to make a considerable detour in order to get around them and back to the rest of the brigade. The movement continued. They pressed closer 011 the flank, and as they neared the line of battle their comrades in front were put in motion. As I rode to the front the storm burst - ? XL-11 XL A 1? _ ?* 1 Xi.1. in iuii iury. a nue oi umue precipiuueu itself upon our left, while those in front moved on us. The Rifles met their opponents, but the remainder of the line was enfiladed. Col. Hunt, of the Thirteenth Regiment, changed front so as to oppose the force on the left, but he and the rest were now assailed from the main front. To add to the horror of the scene the only element needed to render the situation desperate, all the Federal artillery opened upon us. It is useless to protract the description. "We struggled wildly for a while, but we soon found ourselves hopelessly entrapped and outnumbered. We yielded to the irresistible force and abandoned the field. It was, of course, an utter and crushing defeat. We had the satisfaction, however, of knowing that we had inflicted very GREAT LOSS OX THE ENEMY, had held a vastly superior force at bay for several nours, nan savea dv our devotion a large portion of the artillery and baggage trains that had to be moved from Petersburg, and had only succumbed to an absolutely overwhelming force. This afternoon had never, for us, its equal in sadness, except in that calm, dreary morning when we ended our service on the slopes about Appomattox Courthouse. This was really our last battle. The rest were little more than Parthian skirmishes of hunted and exhausted men.