The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-08-16
A NORTH CAROLINA BATTERY.

tive) to publish the following extracts OF tetter
written by gallant young officer in Potts Bate
ry, Branch Artillery, from this State:
PETERSBURG, Aug. Sd, l864.-As we have
very lately been engaged in battle, write TO IN
form you that through the protection ct kind
Providence, while many Of our brave soldiers feb
around me- have again been sparee.- AS the
fight on the -3Oth (when the enemy sprung
mine) was very different from any ever saw be-
fore, [ will give you some of the particulars
Our battery was in position on the Jerusalem
plank road, in rear of our regular line OF breast
works about four hundred yards, and about half
mile from Petersburg. On last Saturday morning,
about five o'clock I was awoke by the report OF a
tremendous explosion; the earth seemed. to rock
beneath me. [ being left in command OF the bat
tery. Jumped out of my bomb proof as quickly as
possible, and arousing the men, placed them around
the different guns. just In front OF me perceived
a large volume of smoke arising and soon found
that the Yankees had sprung mine under one OF
our batteries which supported by infantry.
AS soon as the smoke cleared away, saw that We
were having hand to hand encounter with the
enemy in the breach made by the explosion.
| 4 large force was thrown through the opening
and our men gave way to the right and left, and
the Yankees came marching down on our battery.
Knowing [ had no support, perceived that we
must fight and fight hard to save ourselves and
perhaps the city, as there were no troops between
our battery and Petersburg, and the Yankees ere
pouring through the breach. Prisoners say they
were surprised at finding any force in the rear OF
of our main line.
Our guns all being loaded with canister as the
enemy came out into line, we fired two rounds into
them which so astonished them, that those who
were not killed or wounded broke and fed back to
the works Numbers of them threw down their
arms and ran into lines, among them many
negroes. They ran into my gun pits crying out,
'Massa, l hav' mt done anything" An old negro
ran up to me, the exact counterpart of cid George,
the drummer in ~. He showed me his cart
ridge box and said be had not fred shot [ ex-
amined and found but cartridge missing, and
that in his gun. He said he a slave. He
may be harmless creature, but our men say that
some Of his comrades fought like dogs. Well, as
soon as battery broke their lines, the infantry
took advantage Of it and drove them from our
works with slight loss to but with great loss to
the enemy. The negroes were slaughtered on
sight by our man, and General Malone had to is
sue an order to stop the bloody work before they
were all killed.
On Monday morning truce being granted the
Yankees to bury their dead, went down to the
place where the explosion occurred, and there was
one OF the most appalling and heart rending scenes
have ever witnessed. The chasm was about sew
enty-fve yards in circumference and forty feet
deep. Some of our men were blown to pieces and
others crushed to death, entirely buried and
some with their limbs protrudng out of the earth
party Of men were digg ing out the dead bodies
and others were standing around ready to recog-
nze their friends as they were taken cut. The
two pieces Of artillery in position here, were
thrown thirty feet outside works, and bat two
Of the artillery were left alive. [ looked out
side and saw a sight that convinced me that the
Yankees had met just retributon, for the ground
was literally covered with them. Four hundred
Of them were lying dead in the small space of half
| off, nod Irbi lo
our battery was firing on them Two men would
take one dead one and drag him along While
they held our lines threw shell and schrapnel into
them killing great many L saw afterwards
some with their heads half off, others with the head
off and lying ten feet from the trunk. This was
certainly done by artillery, and was the only
battery playing on them.
| The Yankees admit loss Of 5000 here, while
ours is comparatively small.
The negroes do not deserve our sympathy but I
can't help feeling for the poor creatures, as but few
OF them survive after their capture. But few
white Yankees engaged in the fight. guess
Grant will fed that mining Lees army will not
| pay. While We were working our battery, five
Yankee forts firing US, though our works
| were SO strong that not man in the battery was
Killed Or wounded. Our pits were struck often
and we several times. covered with dirt, but
not one hincled from duty. I have written you
this letter that you may see what part we took in
the fight as [ see no mention made Of US at all I'm
the papers. North Carolina troops seldom men
toned in Virginia papers except when they hap
pen to make failure. Ransoms North Carolina
Brigade was the first to retake any of our works.
Gen. Pendleou, the chief of artillery Of this army,
complimented US on our firing. =.
Whether we saved Petersburg or not, it is GER
tain that there force between US and the
city, and tne Yankees were charging US when we
broke their lines.
SOLDIERS ENDOWMENT FUND-Rev. Dr.
Deems has given full expose in the last Deaf
Mute Casket of the origin, progress and design of
this Fund, together with interesting reflections
and facts The subscriptions paid and unpaid up
to lst July last, amount to S345,094 Of this
amount $40, 504 is from North Carolina, S3,77O
from South Carolina, $500 from Nirsinia and