Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-02-11
Fourth OF JULY LETTER TO LINCOLN.

Fourth JULY LETTER TO LINCOLN.
On tie 4th of July sent the following to the Pres
HEADQUARTERS Army OF TIE PoroXAo,)
Harrison's Bar, James River,
July 4, 1868.
have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your
dispatch of the I'd Inst.
shall make stand at this place. ant enccavor to
give my men the repose they 80 much require.
After sending my communication Tuesday the
enemy attacked toe left of our lines and fierce battle
ensued lasting until night. They were repused with
great slaughter
Had their attack succeeded the consequences would
have been disastrous 10 the extreme. This closed the
hard fighting which had continued from the afternoon
of the 26th ult, in daily series of engagements Who'll
y unparalled this continent for determination and
slaughter both sides.
The mutual loss in killed and wounded is enormous
that of the enemy ainly greatest. On Tuesday
morning, the LIST, army commenced Its movement
from Haxals to this point, line of defence there
being too extended to be maintained by weakened
forces. Our train was immense, and about P. NJ q,
on the ID, a heavy storm of rain began, which con.
naed during the entire day and until the forenoon OF
yesterday.
The roads became horrible Troops, artillery, and
wag ms moved steadily, and our whole army men
and material, was finally brought safely into CAMP
The last of the wagons reached here at yesterday
The exhaustion was very great but the army preserved
its morale and would have repealed any attack which
the enemy was in condition to make
We now occupy line of heights about two miles
from the James, plain extending from there to the
river. Our front is about three miles long. These
heights command our whole position, and must be
maintained. The gunboats can reader valuable sup
port upon both tanks. If The enemy attack us in
front we must hold ground best may, and 1T
whatever cost
Our position can be carried only by overwhelming
numbers The spirit of the army is excellent; sraggers
are finding their regime ns and the soldiers exhbet the
best results of discipline Oar position is by means
mpregnabe, especially morass extends on this aide
of the high ground from our centre to the James on
right. The enemy may attack il vast humber, and
if 60 our front will be the scene of desperate battle,
which, if lost will be decisive. Our army is earfIly
weakened by killed. wounded and prisoners. l cannot
approximate in my statement OF our losses, but we
were not bea en- 10 any conflict.
The enemy were unable by any tsorts to drive Us
from the field. Never did such change OF base invov-
ing retrograde movement and under incessant attacks
from most determined and vastly more numerous foe
parake so little of disorder We have lost no guns
cep twenty-five on the field OF BATTLE which were lost
by the giving away OF Nc Calls division, under the on
set of superior numbers
Oar Communications by The james RIVER are not Sc
cure There points here the enemy can este slsa
themselves with cannon mueketry, and command the
river and where it s not certain that boats can
drive them out In of this or In case our front
broken will still make every effort TO preserve at
least the personnel of the army and the events OF the
last few days leave question that the troops Will 90
| all that their country Con ask
Send such reinforcements as you can VIII &c
what can. We are shipping our wounded and Sck